A quik note; more to follow later when I have more time.
A group of us went down (and up) 395 this last weekend -- Fri to Sun -- and met up at the E. Sierra trailhead of Mosquito flat. We took the trail (yes, the TRAIL) up and over Mono Pass and camped out at Trail Lakes. If you look up trail lakes, there are several surrounding peaks and ridges -- this is where Blooty and I scrambled up for a nice view of the sunset over Pioneer Basin (the Pic). THe next day, Saturday, we dropped down over a thousand feet into the Basin itself, so that we were able to inspect the meadows and lakes (so many of them) up close and personal. The most impressive visual was Fourth Recess, which there will be photos fourthcoming (my camera crapped out after the first picture, so I am relying apon the expertise of others). Laura, the trip leader, is preparing a slideshow that I will share with one and all. It was my first trip to the E. Sierra, and to say that it is different is the understatement of the year. As Laura puts it: "we don't need no stinkin' foothills". The mountains just rise from the valley straight up. The drive to the destination included a nice little side trip through Yosemite ala Tioga Pass AND a Post Script jaunt to the Whitney Portal to view the future of my backpacking endeavors.
Blooty and Bee on a ridge overlooking Pioneer Basin

Early stop

Hey, Goatpack! Lookie who has the smallest pack (second from back)

The Objective: Mono Pass

Tarn

Pioneer Basin

Pioneer Lakes (I believe)

Bee (all pix provided by Laura & Tracie)
Edited 9 time(s). Last edit at 08/06/2009 11:30AM by Bee.