Kearsarge Pass and beyond...

The view from Kearsarge Pass of the Kearsarge Pinnacles, Bullfrog Lake, and King's Canyon National Park.

Hitchcock Lakes and Mt HItchcock

Mt Brewer rising over Bullfrog Lake

Washing up in Tyndall Creek

It was when washing up at Tyndall Creek that I realized how much smoke was in the valley. I don't think I realized yet how bad it would get the next couple days.

East Vidette and Bubbs Creek, our destination for the night. Looks like there may be some rain.

Looking South from Mt Whitney

A fire in the Golden Trout Wilderness makes it look like a bunch of fog in the valleys below

The top of the world

It's hard not to feel that with nothing higher anywhere in the lower 48.

Great Western Divide

Taken from near the summit of Mt. Whitney

Kern Canyon

Glowing in the early morning sunshine

Mt Whitney Summit Marker

Sunset at Guitar Lake

The smokey air made for an amazing sunset

Kaweah Sunset (BW)

Sunset at Guitar Lake 1

The smokey air made for an amazing sunset

Sunrise on Guitar Lake

Watching the last bit of the sun come up over Guitar Lake and the Kern Canyon

East Vidette and Bullfrog Lake

Soaking up the sunrise

The best sunrise ever

Watching the sunrise over the Sierra Crest and slowly start illuminating the entire range was absolutely amazing

Nearing Trail Crest on the JMT

Whitney Window #1

Looking down towards Whitney Portal from the first Whitney Window

Whitney Window #2

Looking down towards Whitney Portal from the first Whitney Window

Window to Diamond Mesa

Looking down one of the chutes from Forester Pass towards Diamond Mesa.

A new day is dawning

What a magical feeling setting off for Mt. Whitney. A trip 20 years in the making.

University Peak Reflecting in Gilbert Lake

A beautiful early morning hike up Kearsarge Pass, excited to be on our way towards Whitney!

University Peak and Gilbert Lake (Vertical)

Taken from the ascent up Kearsarge Pass

Camp at Upper Crabtree Meadows

Whitney Creek (Vertical)

Taken from Upper Crabtree Meadows

Whitney Creek

Taken from Upper Crabtree Meadows

Bubbs Creek

Setting off along Bubbs Creek towards Forester Pass.

5:00am, the most beautiful morning ever

Watching the sunrise over the Sierra Crest and slowly start illuminating the entire range was absolutely amazing

Looking back towards Guitar Lake

Watching the sunrise over the Sierra Crest and slowly start illuminating the entire range was absolutely amazing

The Hitchcock Lakes from the summit of Mt. Whitney

Bighorn Plateau and the Great Western Divide

Taken from near the summit of Mt. Whitney

Ascending towards Forester Pass

This hike just keeps going and going. Good thing the scenery isn't boring.

Junction Peak

Our stop for lunch today. Just below Forester Pass but still a long ways up.

Bubbs Creek from just below Forester Pass

I thought we were almost there when eating lunch, but things move slow above 12,000 feet.

Looking back down the Bubbs Creek drainage

Looking back at Forester Pass from Diamond Mesa

And there she is...

Our first view of Mt. Whitney. In a 3 days I'll be there.

Tyndall Creek

Ascending towards Bighorn Plateau

Looking back at Forester Pass from near Bighorn Plateau

Waiting on Bighorn Plateau

Looking North along the JMT from Bighorn Plateau

This was when the smoke started to really impact the photos so I used some texture effects to make it look more natural.

Shooting Mt. Whitney through the haze (BW)

More textured looks to deal with the smoke in the air

Chillin at Bighorn Plateau

Almost there...

A close up of Whitney from the descent down towards Wallace Creek

Mt Whitney from near Wallace Creek

Once again adding textures to combat the smoke and poor detail of the photos

Soaking up Mt Whitney

More smoke, this one I used a canvas texture.

Hazy Meadow

The smoke was really bad today as we got towards Timberline Lake