The last big effort of the 2021 season. Seems like May is already a distant memory now that the crowds, heat and bugs have arrived in the high country. On my long but scenic approach via Rush Creek / Spookey Canyon I lost count of the huge numbers of PCT thru hikers - some doing sections, others going for the full enchilada. One thing I did not see this entire season is another climber. Kind of odd. Anyway, the std route on Lyell is a real classic. As usual it seems at odds with the Secor description of the route rated at class 2-3. While the summit ridge is indeed class two, the fine solid rock found on the face just left of the upper col is not class 3. If it is, it's 3+ no fall climbing. Steep, solid and gifted with holds in all the right places. Most likely there are other ways to go, but the intuitive way was even marked by several small cairns. Down-climbing the route is definitely the crux. The view from the top is not to be missed.
View Trip Map for loop details and campsite locations
EARLY MORNING VIEW OF CARSON PEAK FROM THE RUSH CREEK TRAIL
THE GEM LAKE DAM FROM THE SPOKEY CANYON TRAIL
SMALL TARNS NEAR THE CLARK LAKES, RITTER RANGE
THE MINARETS, RITTER AND BANNER AS SEEN FROM AGNEW PASS REGION
THE CLARK LAKES REGION NEAR AGNEW PASS, RITTER RANGE
THE MINARETS, RITTER AND BANNER FROM SUMMIT LAKE
CAMPSITE DAY 1 - ABOUT A QUARTER OF A MILE FROM THOUSAND ISLAND LAKE
EVENING DAY 1 - WANDERING AROUND LOOKING FOR PHOTO OPS
EVENING DAY 1 - A VIEW OF RITTER AND BANNER
MORNING DAY 2 - A VIEW OF RITTER AND BANNER
BANNER PEAK FROM THE TRAIL TO THOUSAND ISLAND LAKE
BANNER PEAK FROM THE TRAIL TO THOUSAND ISLAND LAKE
TREE ART ON THE WAY TO ISLAND PASS, RITTER RANGE
BANNER PEAK AND THOUSAND ISLAND LAKE FROM THE TRAIL TO ISLAND PASS
ANOTHER VIEW OFBANNER PEAK AND THOUSAND ISLAND LAKE FROM THE TRAIL TO ISLAND PASS
MELLOW WALKING ON THE TRAIL TO ISLAND PASS, RITTER RANGE
THE VIEW OF BANNER PEAK JUST KEEPS GETTING BETTER AS YOU NEAR ISLAND PASS
CLOSE UP OF BANNER PEAK FROM TRAIL TO ISLAND PASS
EVENING VIEW OF RITTER RANGE PEAKS FROM DONOHUE BASIN
FORECASE CALL FOR SOME CLOUDS, LOTS OF THEM AND A SHORT PRECIP EVENT
MY FAIRLY WELL PROTECTED CAMPSITE AS THE STORM MOVES IN
SUNRISE DAY 3 - CLEAR, COLD AND BREEZY
NORTHERN RITTER RANGE PEAKS: DAVIS TO ROGERS PEAK
MT DAVIS AND CAMPSITE MORNING DAY 3, RITTER RANGE
APPROACHING DONOHUE PASS IN COLD BREEZY CONDITIONS ON DAY 3, ANSEL ADAMS WILDERNESS
WATER EVERYWHERE AS THE SNOW PACK CONTINUES TO DISAPPEAR
FIRST VIEW OF THE CLASS ROUTE ON MT LYELL FROM THE NORTH SIDE OF DONOHUE PASS, YOSEMITE NP
CAMPSITE AT THE END OF DAY 3 - LYELL CANYON
EVENING STROLL AROUND UPPER LYELL CANYON, YOSEMITE NP
SUNSET ON CLIFFS IN UPPER LYELL CANYON, YOSEMITE NP
LATE DAY VIEW IN UPPER LYELL CANYON, YOSEMITE NP
PRE-SUNRISE LIGHTING ON THE BUTTRESS THAT SPLITS THE LYELL GLACIER INTO TWO PARTS
SUNRISE LIGHTS UP THE BUTTRESS THAT SPLITS THE LYELL GLACIER INTO TWO PARTS
LOW ANGLE SNOW ON THE APPROACH TO MT LYELL
ANOTHER VIEW OF THE BUTTRESS AND NOW THE NW RIDGE OF MT LYELL
FINALLY A FULL VIEW OF THE NORTHWEST SIDE OF MT LYELL
AT THE LOW COL BETWEEN LYELL AND MACLURE
A GOOD VIEW OF THE NATURE OF THE ROUTE ON THE NW RIDGE OF MT LYELL
THE NW RIDGE OF MT LYELL FROM THE DIVIDE
THE LONG SW RIDGE O MACLURE, YOSEMITE NP
LOOKING INTO HUTCHINGS BASIN AND THE DISTANT CLARK RANGE, YOSEMITE NP
ANOTHER VIEW OF MACLURE FROM NEAR THE BASE OF THE NW RIDGE ON LYELL
ANOTHER VIEW OF MACLURE FROM THE BASE OF THE NW RIDGE ON LYELL
ALPINE SELFIE FROM THE BASE OF THE NW RIDGE ON LYELL, YOSEMITE NP
ANOTHER ALPINE SELFIE FROM THE BASE OF THE NW RIDGE ON LYELL, YOSEMITE NP
LOOKING UP THE START OF THE DIFFICULTIES ON THE NW RIDGE OF MT LYELL, YOSEMITE NP
LOOKING DOWN THE LYELL GLACIER FROM THE START OF THE NW RIDGE OF MT LYELL
ANOTHER VIEW LOOKING DOWN THE LYELL GLACIER FROM THE START OF THE NW RIDGE OF MT LYELL
PLENTY OF REST SPOTS TO GRAB A QUICK PIC OF THE ROUTE
THE REALLY SWEET CLIMBING ON THIS ROUTE ENDS TOO SOON. HERE THE TERRAIN CHANGES AND THE REMAINDER IS A SHORT WALK IN THE SKY