Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Park, CA
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