OK. So, as part of a continuing chronicle of our travels in 2011, we headed to California, to Yosemite and the Evolution Basin area. This time we were lucky to have Lance Snead join us. Yaaay!
Here's my daughter looking over Yosemite Valley at the face of Half Dome, from North Dome:
Here's same daughter on Tioga Peak, looking down at Gardisky Lake; Mt. Conness and North Peak in the distance, right:
We end our stay in Yosemite and head to the Evolution Basin loop, which is in part on the John Muir Trail; near the beginning, this is the kids climbing Lamarck Col; pretty steep ice; had Moose Trax on and found out that they are NOT up to the task--we bought Kahtoola microspikes after this trip; when we got to the other side of Lamarck Col, we found a sign that said something like--"Lamarck Col: Mountaineering Route--Skilled Mountaineers Only" or some such. Why didn't they tell us earlier?!
The kids on 12,880' Lamarck Col, looking into Darwin Canyon and Darwin Lakes; Mt. Mendel to the left behind:
The Boy caught this gorgeous golden trout at a lake on Darwin Bench--it was returned unharmed:
That is our really sucky camp site at Sapphire Lake, below the huge Mt. Huxley; and for the sharp-eyed among you, that is the famous Lance Snead walking toward the camera:
This is just one of the jaw-dropping sights along the trail--at Wanda Lake, near Muir Pass:
The girls appraoching Muir Pass, which has Muir Hut built atop it; Muir hut is entirely built by stacking stones; no mortar; was built around 1930 by the Sierra Club in honor of John Muir; it is used as shelter by hikers/skiers during the winter:
As you can imagine,t here were waterfalls aplenty; this is a cascade of the Kings River--we are now in Sequoia/Kings Canyon N.P.:
Everything is REALLY big here--epicly so; this is LeConte Canyon:
This is my Bro (who is going with me to The Bend TODAY!) looking at the famous Palisades--14ers; Mt. Agassiz, Winchell, Thunderbolt, etc; from the equally famous Dusy Basin:
Lance Snead taking pics over Bishop Pass; Bishop Lake below and Mt. Goode above:
I hope you enjoyed these pics. Hopefully we'll have some good ones next week.
Ta Ta For Now!
