JMT-

We're getting closer to the end. Day 14 was Pinchot Pass, one of the easier passes in my book. The descent to Woods Creek is one of the places I could do without, and as usual, I took no photos there in 1989.

Morning view, looking at Mather Pass from our camp site:

at the top of Pinchot Pass, looking south

Colorful lichen and flower on Pinchot Pass

The view up towards Sawmill Pass from the alpine valley south of Pinchot Pass

Flowers exploding out of ever crack

Here's a reason to get up early – early light from our camp site above Woods Creek, looking north. Glen Pass was on the menu that day.

Although we were moving well before 7am, the sun soon was catching up to us:

Fin Dome awakens while we enjoy the final stretch of shade that day

Classic Muir Trail – can't have a report without this shot

Painted Lady and Mount Rixford over Rae Lakes

Sky pilot at the top of Glen Pass

Part of 60 Lakes Basin from the top of Glen

Approaching East Vidette

Bubbs Creek, near our camp for that day

That day was the longest hiking day we ever did. We started at Bubbs Creek at the bottom of Forester and finished at 3am on the summit of Mount Whitney, using the light of the full moon to climb from Crabtree Ranger Station to the summit. It was super bright and cool. Will never forget that day…

The morning at Bubbs Creek – vintage JMT

Climbing higher towards Forester Pass

Perfect skies, thin air, short break near the pass

Forester Pass

Sky pilot at the pass yet again

Not wasting much time, we're heading down the south ramp well before lunch

Forester Pass is pretty darn impressive

Looking back from the climb to Bighorn Plateau

The trees just before Bighorn Plateau have to exist at the edge of what is possible for trees – some don't make it

Lone outpost before the plateau

I liked the place so much, we made camp there the next year in 1990. Bighorn Plateau and the barren high country are what sets Sequoia apart from Kings Canyon