The snow quickly loses its charm. After tromping through a little of it on Mount San Jacinto outside Idyllwild i was excited for the mountains. I was a bit disappointed not to see any in Big Bear but after slogging through it for more than 23 days following Kennedy Meadows I'm ready for bare trail again.
Crucial snow travel gear for me this year includes a whippet pole which combines a trekking pole and ice axe.
But first, there was the beautiful entry to the Sierra foothills from Kennedy Meadows headed north.
The south fork of the Kern River flowing above banks is a sign of things to come
Waking up to a thick fog over the valley
Sparrow Bridge. Sparrows nest under it and swoop back and forth
First little bit of Sierra snow on a low pass
Beautiful Ponderosa stands on gravelly grounds
Clouds are playing
Camp for the second night on top of a ridge in view of snowcaps
Valley view approaching Cottonwood Pass
Breakfast break with pour over coffee from Idyllwild Coffee Roasters
Cottonwood Pass sun cups
Cottonwood Pass
Morning view from another ridge camp
Lunch break
Approaching Mount Whitney camp at Crabtree Meadows
First light on the path up Mount Whitney after a 1:30 am start for the summit.
Strider silhouette
On top of Mount Whitney, highest point in the lower 48 states!
With these guys!
Sunrise on Whitney
On top of Forester Pass
Local marmot
Twisted
Forester Pass approach with miles of snow travel
Forester Pass--the narrow slot at the top left. Note the person just right of center starting the climb.
My friend Bob decided to climb the chute not knowing that the switchbacks were clear. At 66 years old and with a full pack and only one ice axe he's a braver man than me.
The scale of the descent
Glissading paths--the fine art of sliding down the slopes on your butt
Down to lower elevation to camp along the flooded river
Snow art everywhere
View up the valley back towards Forester Pass on the way out to Bishop to resupply
A little more snow travel before getting to civilization. Bullfrog lakes
Just another pass to cross
The exit off Kearsarge pass
The range from town
Resupplied rested and ready to go back into the Sierras for round 2