The idea here was to use Mono Pass as a way to get to and cross the Silver Divide twice. On the way in I would use 'Shout of Relief' Pass on the SHR to cross over to the north side and after connecting to the JMT would cross back over via Silver Pass. After that I would have the option of getting back to Rock Creek in one of three ways: 'Half Moon Pass', Mono Pass or the longer but more interesting 2nd Recess to Gabbot Pass and on over the Divide at Cox Col. In the end I choose the way I'd come in mostly because I was tired and wasn't sure what kind of snow conditions to expect on Cox Col. I did not have an axe or micro spikes with me. As boring as that decision sounds it certainly was not. If fact it ended in high drama - weather wise that is.
FOLLOWING FISH CREEK ON THE ITS WAY TO A JCT WITH THE JMT
THE GORGE OF FISH CREEK ON THE WAY TO TULLY HOLE
ANOTHER STEEL BRIDGE IN THE SIERRA
THE JMT SOUTH OF FISH CREEK JUNCTION
THE STEADY GRIND UP TO SQUAW LAKE
EMERGING FROM THE FOREST AND ARRIVING AT SQUAW LAKE
LOOKING DOWN SQUAW LAKE DRAINAGE TO CASCADE VALLEY
LATE AFTERNOON LIGHTING AT A SMALL TARN NEAR CHIEF LAKE
EVENING LIGHTING ON A 12,000+ UNNAMED PEAK ABOVE WARRIOR LAKE
ANOTHER WELL PROTECTED CAMPSITE AT THE END OF DAY 3.
SUNSET ON PEAKS ON THE SILVER DIVIDE
SUNSET ON EVON PEAK ON THE SILVER DIVIDE
SUNSET OVER FARAWAY RITTER AND BANNER FROM THE NORTH SIDE OF SILVER PASS
DAY FOUR - MORNING VIEW OF PEAK WEST OF SILVER DIVIDE
ANOTHER MORNING VIEW OF PEAK WEST OF SILVER DIVIDE
FOREGROUND TARN AND FARAWAY RITTER RANGE
MORNING VIEW OF CHIEF LAKE AND SILVER DIVIDE PEAKS
MORNING VIEW OF FARAWAY RITTER AND BANNER
APPROACHING SILVER PASS FROM THE NORTH
A BIT OF SNOW AT THE TOP
SURE LOOKED LIKE THE SMOKE FROM A FIRE
MORNING VIEW NORTH TO RITTER RANGE FROM SILVER PASS
MORNING VIEW OF WARRIOR LAKE FROM SILVER PASS
MORNING VIEW SOUTH FROM SILVER PASS
A SMALL TARN ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF SILVER PASS
APPROACHING SILVER PASS LAKE FROM THE NORTH
SILVER PASS LAKE
LOOKING BACK UP TOWARDS SILVER PASS
A MEADOW ON THE JMT BELOW SILVER PASS LAKE
LOOKING UP THE NORTH FORK OF MONO CREEK TOWARDS MOTT LAKE
ANOTHER VIEW UP THE NORTH FORK OF MONO CREEK TOWARDS MOTT LAKE
BOTTOM SECTION OF DRAMATIC DROP OF SILVER PASS CREEK AS IT JOINS THE N FORK OF MONO CREEK
BIG PINE ON THE LONG WALK BACK UP THE MONO CREEK TRAIL
CRACKED SLABS AND MONO CREEK ABOUT A MILE BELOW JCT WITH LAUREL CREEK
MORNING VIEW OF THE MOUTH OF THE FIRST RECCESS
MORNING LIGHT ON AVALANCHE ZONE ALONG MONO CREEK
FOR EXAMPLE
APPROACHING TRAIL LAKES
INBOUND STORM
CAMPSITE AT TRAIL LAKES AFTER THE STORM
TRAIL LAKES AFTER THE STORM
CAMPSITE AT TRAIL LAKES AFTER THE STORM
SUNSET AFTER THE DELUGE.
ANOTHER VIEW AFTER THE STORM ENDED
ANOTHER VIEW AFTER THE STORM ENDED
3RD TENTSITE AS THE SUN SETS
COLD MORNING WALK TO MONO PASS
SWIRLING CLOUDS OVER ABBOT AND RUBY PEAKS FROM MONO PASS
SWIRLING CLOUDS OVER ABBOT AND RUBY PEAKS FROM SUMMIT LAKE AT MONO PASS
RUBY LAKE, BCS, DADE AND ABBOT IN AND OUT OF THE CLOUDS