Temple Crag reflecting in Second Lake at sunset
Second Lake is the second lake you'll encounter when hiking in along the North Fork of Big Pine Creek.
TempleCragreflectingSecondLakeSunset395Aurora HDRBackpackingBig PineBishopCaliforniaClimbingCloudsEastern SierraHDRHighway 395HikingHwy 395John Muir WildernessLandscapeLuminarMountainsMt AgassizNorth PalisadeOutdoorPalisade GlacierPalisadesPhotographyReflectionsSecond LakeSierra NevadaSnowSummerTemple CragVerticalpeakskylum
Second Lake and Temple Crag reflecting in the last light of the day
SecondLakeandTempleCragreflectingthelastlightday395Aurora HDRBackpackingBig PineBishopCaliforniaClimbingCloudsEastern SierraHDRHighway 395HikingHwy 395John Muir WildernessLandscapeLuminarMountainsMt. SillNorth PalisadeOutdoorPalisade GlacierPalisadesPhotographyReflectionsSecond LakeSierra NevadaSnowSummerSunsetTemple Cragpeakskylum
Jeff and Ryan soaking up sunset at the 2nd Big Pine Lake
In the John Muir Wilderness
395Aurora HDRBackpackingBig PineBishopCaliforniaClimbingCloudsEastern SierraHDRHighway 395HikingHwy 395John Muir WildernessLakeLandscapeLuminarMountainsMt. SillNorth PalisadeOutdoorPalisade GlacierPalisadesPeoplePhotographyReflectionsSecond LakeSierra NevadaSnowSummerSunsetTemple Cragpeakskylum
Temple Crag and Second Lake in the afternoon
Second Lake is the second lake you'll encounter when hiking in along the North Fork of Big Pine Creek.
TempleCragandSecondLaketheafternoon395Aurora HDRBackpackingBig PineBishopCaliforniaClimbingCloudsEastern SierraHDRHighway 395HikingHwy 395John Muir WildernessLandscapeLuminarMountainsMt AgassizNorth PalisadeOutdoorPalisade GlacierPalisadesPhotographyReflectionsSecond LakeSierra NevadaSnowSummerTemple CragVerticalpeakskylum
Looking down on First Lake
From Second Lake of the Big Pine Lakes.
395Aurora HDRBackpackingBig PineBishopCaliforniaClimbingCloudsEastern SierraHDRHighway 395HikingHwy 395John Muir WildernessLakeLandscapeLuminarMountainsMt AgassizNorth PalisadeOutdoorPalisade GlacierPalisadesPhotographyReflectionsSecond LakeSierra NevadaSnowSummerTemple Cragpeakskylum
Golden Lake as seen from Mono Pass
An alternate trail into Pioneer Basin and the Mono Creek drainage can be found by following the faint use trail that you can see in this picture. Just head North from the trail once you reach Mono Pas to the obvious cirque holding the lake.
GoldenLakeHiResJPEGAurora HDRBackpackingCaliforniaGolden LakeHDRHikingJohn Muir WildernessLuminarMono CreekMono DivideMono PassMosquito FlatMountainsPathPhotographyPioneer BasinSierra NevadaSpringSummerTrailWilderness
Awestruck
The view of the Mono Divide and the Third Recess from this spot in Pioneer Basin is one of the best vantage points in the entire Sierra Nevada
ThirdRecessSunsetHiResJPEGBackpackingCaliforniaForestFourth RecessHDRHikingJohn Muir WildernessLakeLandscapeMono DivideMono PassMono RockMosquito FlatMountainsPhotographyPioneer BasinSierra NevadaSpringSummerThird RecessWilderness
Taking in the sunset over Pioneer Basin
My good friend Jeff, soaking in one of my all time favorite camping spots in the Sierras
JeffadmiringtheSunsetoverPioneerBasinHiResJPEGAurora HDRBackpackingCaliforniaForestFourth RecessHDRHikingJohn Muir WildernessLakeLandscapeLuminarMono DivideMono PassMono RockMosquito FlatMountainsPeoplePhotographyPioneer BasinSierra NevadaSpringSummerThird RecessWilderness
Lupine in bloom
Lupine blooing near our camp in Pioneer Basin
LupinebloomingPioneerBasinHiResJPEGBackpackingCaliforniaFlowers PlantsHDRHikingJohn Muir WildernessLandscapeMono DivideMono PassMosquito FlatMountainsPhotographyPioneer BasinSierra NevadaSpringSummerWilderness
Lakes 1 and 2 in Pioneer Basin
Looking back at the Third and Fourth Recesses.
BackpackingCaliforniaForestFourth RecessHDRHikingJohn Muir WildernessLakeLake 1Lake 2LandscapeMono DivideMono PassMono RockMosquito FlatMountainsPhotographyPioneer BasinSierra NevadaSpringSummerThird RecessWilderness
Lake # 1 in Pioneer Basin with the Mono Divide in the distance
LakePioneerBasinwiththeMonoDividedistanceHiResJPEGAurora HDRBackpackingCaliforniaForestFourth RecessHDRHikingJohn Muir WildernessLake 1LandscapeLuminarMono DivideMono PassMono RockMosquito FlatMountainsPhotographyPioneer BasinSierra NevadaSpringSummerThird RecessWilderness
The last of the storm rolling through Fourth Recess Lake and Pioneer Basin
StormsrollingthroughFourthRecessLakeSunsetHiResJPEGAurora HDRBackpackingCaliforniaFogForestFourth RecessHDRHikingJohn Muir WildernessLandscapeLuminarMono DivideMono PassMono RockMosquito FlatMountainsPhotographyPioneer BasinSierra NevadaSpringSummerThird RecessWildernessstorm
Fishing Fourth Recess
Fishing at Fourth Recess Lake, one of my favorite lakes ever.
FishingFourthRecessLakeHiResJPEGBackpackingCaliforniaForestFourth Recess LakeHDRHikingJohn Muir WildernessLandscapeMono DivideMono PassMosquito FlatMountainsPeoplePhotographyPioneer BasinReflectionsSierra NevadaSpringSummerSunsetWilderness
A storm passing through Fourth Recess and Fourth Recess Lake
In the John Muir Wilderness and the Mono Divide
FourthRecessLakethestormpassesHiResJPEGAurora HDRBackpackingCaliforniaFishingForestFourth Recess LakeHDRHikingJohn Muir WildernessLandscapeLuminarMono DivideMono PassMosquito FlatMountainsPeoplePhotographyPioneer BasinReflectionsSierra NevadaSpringSummerSunsetWilderness
Crossing above Golden Lake
Taking the cross country route from Mono Pass the the Mono Creek Drainage by passing above Golden Creek to the headwaters of Mono Creek
CrossingaboveGoldenLakeHiResJPEGAurora HDRBackpackingCaliforniaGolden LakeHDRHikingJohn Muir WildernessLuminarMono CreekMono DivideMono PassMosquito FlatMountainsPathPhotographyPioneer BasinSierra NevadaSpringSummerWilderness
Pioneer Basin and beyond
As seen from along the Coast Trail from near Mono Pass. Red Slate and Red and White Peak rise up in the distance.
PioneerBasinandthepeaksbeyondHiResJPEGBackpackingCaliforniaForestFourth RecessHDRHikingJohn Muir WildernessLakeLake 1Lake 2LandscapeMono DivideMono PassMono RockMosquito FlatMountainsPhotographyPioneer BasinSierra NevadaSpringSummerThird RecessWilderness
Hiking in shorts, in the snow, in July, felt like a dream
A snowman was welcoming my friend Jeff and I to a snowy Mono Pass.
JeffandsnowmanJulythetopMonoPassHiResJPEGBackpackingCaliforniaHikingJohn Muir WildernessLakeLuminarMono DivideMono PassMosquito FlatMountainsPathPeoplePhotographyPioneer BasinSierra NevadaSnowSpringSummerSummit LakeTopaz ImpressionTrailWilderness
The trail over Mono Pass after an early July snowstorm
I've hiked this pass multiple times and this time was by far the most beautiful.
MonoPassandSummitLakeafterearlyJulysnowstormHiResJPEGAurora HDRBackpackingCaliforniaHDRHikingJohn Muir WildernessLuminarMono DivideMono PassMosquito FlatMountainsPathPhotographyPioneer BasinSierra NevadaSnowSpringSummerSummit LakeTopaz ImpressionTrailWilderness
A barren trail...
Heading up Mono Pass from the Mosquito Creek Trailhead. This is one of those section where you feel like you're in the High Sierra, especially with the added summer snow.
AscendingMonoPassHiResJPEGBackpackingCaliforniaHDRHikingJohn Muir WildernessMono DivideMono PassMosquito FlatMountainsPathPhotographyPioneer BasinSierra NevadaSnowSpringSummerTrailWilderness
Ruby Lake at sunset
After a cloudy, rainy day a break in the clouds made for an incredible evening.
RubyLakeSunsetHiResJPEGBackpackingCaliforniaHDRHikingJohn Muir WildernessLandscapeMono DivideMono PassMosquito FlatMountainsPathPhotographyPioneer BasinReflectionsRuby LakeSierra NevadaSpringSummerTrailWilderness
A break in the weather
After a cloudy, rainy day a break in the clouds made for an incredible evening.
CampRubyLakeHDRResJPEGBackpackingCaliforniaCampingHikingJohn Muir WildernessMono DivideMono PassMosquito FlatMountainsPhotographyPioneer BasinRuby LakeSierra NevadaSpringStarburstSummerTentWilderness
Nothing like a summer snow storm...
Hiking to Ruby Lake from Mono Pass after an early Summer snow storm
RubyCreekandSpringSnowHiResJPEGBackpackingCaliforniaHDRHikingJohn Muir WildernessLandscapeMono DivideMono PassMosquito FlatMountainsPathPhotographyPioneer BasinRiverRuby LakeSierra NevadaStreamSummerTrailWilderness
Jeff hiking into Ruby Lake
We had a nice surprise on the hike in... snow left over from a snowstorm earlier that morning.
JeffHikingintoRubyLakeafterearlySummersnowstormHiResJPEGAurora HDRBackpackingCaliforniaHDRJohn Muir WildernessLandscapeLuminarMono DivideMono PassMosquito FlatMountainsPathPeoplePhotographyPioneer BasinRiverRuby LakeSierra NevadaSnowSpringStreamTrailWilderness
Little Lakes Valley
Taken after a July snowstorm came through. Luckily we were starting at the end of the storm.
LittleLakesValleyafterJulysnowstormHiResJPEGBackpackingCaliforniaHDRHikingJohn Muir WildernessLandscapeLittle Lakes ValleyMono DivideMono PassMosquito FlatMountainsPathPhotographyPioneer BasinRiverSierra NevadaSnowSpringStreamSummerTrailWilderness
