Sierra Nevadas Galleries

Cottonwood Lakes and New Army Pass : Cottonwood Lakes Trail to New Army Pass, Cottonwood Lakes and South Fork Lakes. On Sunday, September 20, 2009, I enjoyed a beautiful hike through pine forest, meadows, alpine lakes, and mountain passes. The hike began at the Cottonwood Lakes trailhead at 10,000 feet ascending to New Army Pass at 12,300 feet. I continued a bit further to the junction with Old Army Pass as I contemplated doing a loop via Soldier Lake and Cottonwood Pass, but as it was almost 3pm, I decided to go back the same way I came and not take any unnecessary risk. Instead, I spent some time around the South Fork Lakes area. The highlights of the day included the first glimpse of Cottonwood Lake #1 dominated by Mt. Langley, colorful Long Lake, and the panoramic vista of barren landscape around New Army Pass. Total miles: 17 Total elevation gain (including exploration up and around): 3000 feet.

Cottonwood Lakes and New Army Pass

Cottonwood Lakes Trail to New Army Pass, Cottonwood Lakes and South Fo ...

Updated: Sep 22, 2009 9:46pm PST

Kearsarge Pass, Kearsarge Lakes and Bullfrog Lake : Saturday, September 19, 2009: A beautiful journey ascending Kearsarge Pass to enter Kings Canyon National Park. The area on the western side of 11,760 Kearsarge Pass is spectacular featuring gorgeous lakes and peaks, particularly the Kearsarge Lakes and Bullfrog Lake. With a late start at about 11:30, I didn't have time to visit Charlotte Lake or get a glimpse of the Rae Lakes I have heard so much about. Lesson: start hikes earlier! Total mileage: 15.5. Elevation gain: 3800 feet.

Kearsarge Pass, Kearsarge Lakes and Bullfrog Lake

Saturday, September 19, 2009: A beautiful journey ascending Kearsarge ...

Updated: Sep 22, 2009 1:02am PST

Little Lakes Valley and Rock Creek : Amazing hike in the John Muir Wilderness filled with so much water and fantastic views of the Sierra Crest. Every 5 minutes you see a new lake in the aptly named Little Lakes Valley. This is probably one of the easiest hikes in the Eastern Sierras. 7 miles, not much elevation gain, and you never get bored because the lakes are amazing. My favorite lakes of the day were the Gem Lakes with a rich gorgeous green. Hike begins at Mosquito Flat at the end of Rock Creek Road and traverses through Little Lakes Valley up to Morgan Pass at 11,120 ft. August 30, 2008.

Little Lakes Valley and Rock Creek

Amazing hike in the John Muir Wilderness filled with so much water and ...

Updated: May 28, 2009 2:30pm PST

Tuolomne Meadows to Vogelsang to Merced Lake to Tenaya Lake :

Tuolomne Meadows to Vogelsang to Merced Lake to Tenaya Lake

Updated: Apr 06, 2009 11:45pm PST

Onion Valley to Flower Lake : On my way back to LA from Bishop, I stopped at Onion Valley outside Independence for a 5 mile hike up to Flower Lake (10,531 ft). Gilbert and Flower Lakes were both very pretty, but I can't say it was a match for the incredible adventure to 1000 Island Lake the day before. I didn't make it all the way to Kearsarge Pass given lack of time, which the region is famous for, but that will happen next year. Base elevation: 9200 ft. Highest elevation: 10,531 ft at Flower Lake September 1, 2008

Onion Valley to Flower Lake

On my way back to LA from Bishop, I stopped at Onion Valley outside In ...

Updated: Sep 01, 2008 11:22pm PST

Adventure to Thousand Island Lake and Many More Gorgeous Lakes : One of the most beautiful hikes I ever had the privilege of enjoying. 20.5 mile loop in the Ansel Adams Wilderness outside June Lake. Scenery was simply unparalleled: so many amazing lakes, gorgeous colors, glaciers, ragged Sierra Peaks. The hike starts from the Rush Creek Trailhead near June Lake and climbs to a beautiful wonderland full of water and incredible mountains. The highlight of the day was clearly Thousand Island Lake and Banner Peak with its glaciers. One of the most beautiful places I have ever been to. August 31, 2008 Starting elevation: 7200 ft. Highest elevation: 10,200 ft at Island Pass. Elevation gain: 4000 ft.

Adventure to Thousand Island Lake and Many More Gorgeous Lakes

One of the most beautiful hikes I ever had the privilege of enjoying. ...

Updated: Aug 31, 2008 11:04pm PST

Alta Peak, Sequoia National Park : Hike to Alta Peak, 11,204 feet near the Wolverton area of Sequoia National Park. Great seeing snow in July. 13.8 miles, 4300 foot elevation gain. July 2, 2006.

Alta Peak, Sequoia National Park

Hike to Alta Peak, 11,204 feet near the Wolverton area of Sequoia Nati ...

Updated: Feb 24, 2008 10:53pm PST

Mt Hoffman :

Mt Hoffman

Updated: Jan 15, 2008 9:15am PST

Mt Dana : An extremely difficult climb up Yosemite's second highest mountain: Mt Dana (13,061). Although the climb was just 3.5 miles, it was so steep and the lack of oxygen caused me to climb at a snail's pace, especially at above 11,000. But the scenery and vistas were staggering, and I can't wait to climb Mt. Dana again. Also nice that I made a friend at the top! September 4, 2004

Mt Dana

An extremely difficult climb up Yosemite's second highest mountain: Mt ...

Updated: Jan 14, 2008 12:04am PST

Mono Pass and Parker Pass :

Mono Pass and Parker Pass

Updated: Jan 13, 2008 11:50pm PST

Saddlebag Road to Gardisky Lake and Tioga Peak : An easy hike from Saddlebag Road to Gardisky Lake and 11,526 ft. Tioga Peak just outside the Yosemite Park boundary. September 4, 2005

Saddlebag Road to Gardisky Lake and Tioga Peak

An easy hike from Saddlebag Road to Gardisky Lake and 11,526 ft. Tioga ...

Updated: Jan 13, 2008 11:26pm PST

South Lake to Long Lake, Ruwau Lake and Chocolate Lakes : I spent Labor Day 2005 enjoying solitude and tranquility in the Bishop Pass area thanks to my boss Craig's recommendation. For a short 7.4 hike, I got to enjoy 7 outstanding alpine lakes, with Long Lake being my definite favorite. Elevation gain was just over 1500 feet, with the hike starting at 9820 and the high point at around 11,300.

South Lake to Long Lake, Ruwau Lake and Chocolate Lakes

I spent Labor Day 2005 enjoying solitude and tranquility in the Bishop ...

Updated: Jan 13, 2008 11:07pm PST

Tuolomne Meadows to Yosemite Valley via Cathedral Lake : A 26 mile hike from Tuolomne Meadows to Yosemite Valley passing by Cathedral Lake and Cathedral Rocks. I had covered some of the area before, especially Little Yosemite Valley down to Nevada and Vernal, so I didn't take too many pictures. September 3, 2006.

Tuolomne Meadows to Yosemite Valley via Cathedral Lake

A 26 mile hike from Tuolomne Meadows to Yosemite Valley passing by Cat ...

Updated: Jan 13, 2008 10:41pm PST

Palisade Glacier and the Amazing Big Pine Glacial Lakes : I'm still in awe about how beautiful today's hike was -- I'm listing it among my all time favorites thanks to the amazing lakes. The hike follows Big Pine Creek up to a series of lakes called First Lake, Second Lake, Third Lake, Fourth, etc... I had heard in advance that these lakes were something else thanks to minute deposits of granite from the Palisades Glacier (largest glacier in the Sierra Nevadas, and southernmost glacier in the USA). But I really was not prepared for the sheer beauty. I'm adding First Lake through Third Lake as places people should visit once in their lifetime. After making a curve and finally spotting the unbelievably pure turquoise color of First Lake, I just stood in awe and kept exclaiming "Oh my God!" I was mesmerized by the lake's brilliant colors -- which I had never seen before. Truly inspiring. I took a moment to thank God for creating such a beautiful world, and also thanking Him for my health that allows me to visit these places. Aside from the lakes, my other destination was the Palisades Glacier. After Third Lake, I spotted the trail to the glacier, which means I didn't see Lakes 4-7. All went smoothly until the trail disappeared as I had expected based on the guide books. I'm comfortable hiking off trail, so I tried making my way up a steep canyon to reach the highest points to eventually reach the glacier. My first choice turned out to be infeasible thanks to an ice field, so I had to go back down. I found another route a bit to the east and worked on that one. This was unbelievably tough. Already at over 11,000 feet in altitude, I basically climbed over 1000 feet over rocks and boulders using my hands and feet, gasping for air and needing to take breaks to recapture my breath. Very challenging. Climbing over boulders, with glacial water everywhere, the rocks being highly unstable -- took a lot of concentration and time. I finally made it to 12,100 feet, and could see the Palisades Glacier so close by. The best viewpoint is apparently from 12,400 feet, so I was just 300 feet below that! So close......... But alas, it was almost 5pm and I had no choice -- I had to turn back (I started just before 11am, which is pretty late). While it was tempting to keep climbing over boulders to reach the 12,400 foot mark and make it to the boulder -- that would have been unwise. It probably would have taken at least 30 minutes, and at least 1 hour roundtrip. Given that I was already gasping for air, getting pretty tired, and still had to scramble down the unpleasant 1100 foot mountain of boulders, the choice was clear -- safety first. The rocks and boulders were extremely unstable and dangerous, so I had to be especially careful, meaning that it took me almost 2 hours just to descend back to the hiking trail. At 6:30, finally hiking again, I still had about 6 miles to go. I ran into a guy who sprained his ankle, and I really don't know how he and his friend were going to make it back at his extremely slow pace. Anyway, at least they were together. My goal was to race back to the car and make it safe. It took about 2.5 hours down the mountain, which means about 1.5 hours with the flashlight -- not my favorite activity. It's in going down that you get hurt, especially in the dark, so had to be really careful. Although I didn't get to touch the glacier as I hoped, I did make it pretty darn close, and there's always next year (even with global warming, I've been told this glacier should be around for quite some time).

Palisade Glacier and the Amazing Big Pine Glacial Lakes

I'm still in awe about how beautiful today's hike was -- I'm listing i ...

Updated: Jan 08, 2008 9:57pm PST

Lake Sabrina and Blue Lake : I loved the colors at Lake Sabrina, and Blue Lake was really special. Pretty easy, relaxing day, with just 3 hours of hiking roundtrip. My favorite part was relaxing by Blue Lake, taking a nap there, and watching some young adults and seniors actually take a swim in the freezing cold waters of Blue Lake (located at 10,400 feet elevation). Blue Lake was pretty inspiring, and allowed for some important personal reflection.

Lake Sabrina and Blue Lake

I loved the colors at Lake Sabrina, and Blue Lake was really special. ...

Updated: Jan 08, 2008 9:49pm PST

Climbing Mt Whitney : An amazing day up to the highest peak in the 48 states. An enduring adventure filled with lightning, thunder, hail and some great company.

Climbing Mt Whitney

An amazing day up to the highest peak in the 48 states. An enduring a ...

Updated: Jan 08, 2008 8:58pm PST