Two warm-up acclimatization hikes before the real show began. Casual start for Bishop Pass. For Mono I started in the dark. Really cold at the pass until I found some sun and a place to sit out of the wind.
THE NOW FAMILAR VIEW OF WHEELER PEAK FROM THE WEST
SIERRA FROM MONTGOMERY PASS
LONG LAKE REFLECTION OF GOODE AND HURD FROM BISHOP PASS TRAIL
ICE OUT ON LONG LAKE, MT GOODE IN THE DISTANCE
MT GOODE NORTH FACE
MELLOW WALKING NEAR SNOWLINE IN THE TIMBERLINE TARNS REGION, BISHOP PASS TRAIL
HARD TO BELIEVE A RESONABLY NICE TRAIL EXISTS HERE AS YOU MOVE UP THRU THE MORAINE TO THE PASS
THE LAST RISE TO BISHOP PASS
THE BARREN AND ALMOST SNOWLESS BISHOP PASS AT 11,972FT
IRON RICH HILLSIDE BELOW 13,893FT MT AGASSIZ
LAST STEPS
SUNRISE ON A PARTIAL VIEW OF THE NORTH FACE OF MT DADE
EARLY MORNING VIEW OF MT MILLS FROM RUBY LAKE
THE MONO PASS TRAIL ZIG ZAGS UP THE SUNLITE HILLSIDE BEFORE TURNING THE CORNER AND FOLLOWING A LONG COLD VALLEY TO THE PASS.
MT ABBOT AND MILLS FROM MONO PASS TRAIL
DADE AND ABBOT IN THE DISTANCE WHILE A STILL FROZEN RUBY LAKE GETS IT'S FIRST RAYS OF THE DAY
DECIDEDLY COOL CONDITIONS EVEN IN THE SUNSHINE, MONO PASS TRAIL
DEFINITELY RATHER COLD AND WINDY ON THE FINAL STRETCH TO THE PASS
UP ABOVE THE PASS ON THE RUBY RIDGE SIDE OF THINGS
LOOKING DOWN TO RUBY LAKE FROM 12,700FT
LOOKING NORTH TO RED AND WHITE MT IN THE MAMMOTH HIGH COUNTRY REGION
LOOKING NORTHEAST FROM RUBY RIDGE