HEading across Horseshoe Meadow. The bare peak to the right is Trailmaster (we climbed it Memorial Day weekend), and the low point to its left is Cottonwood Pass.

My destination - Trail Peak. I'll follow trail to Trail Pass (low point on left) and then head up the slope to the summit. Easy peasy.

Looking towards Trailmaster Peak, Cirque, and Langley.

Just below trail pass I found this awesome recliner rock. Sat here and had some snacks.

Trail Pass. I start west along the PCT for a short distance

The summit is out of sight but I'll head up that way.

Along the PCT - it contours along the north side of the peak so I can't follow it far before having to turn up towards the summit.

PCT marker

Turning off the trail and heading up. The terrain was like this the whole way - steep, but always easy to find a path through dirt.

Straightforward but I'm moving slow - it's my first weekend of peaks since injury and I'm out of shape.

The higher I get the better the trees get.

Looking towards the trailhead and Horseshoe Meadow. The little peak just right of center in the middle distance is Wonoga, last night's climb.

Looking back down the slope I just hiked up. (Wonoga on the left)

Up. Still blue skies, I think this was around 9:45 am.

I can see some buildup already over Mt Langley. It's been an incredibly stormy week.

Lots of sand between the rocks - easy terrain for x-country.

Almost to the treeline. Lots of old souls up here.

The trees in this area all seem to have personalities.

Popping out from the treeline - the summit is in view. Blue skies above me but storms are building quickly.

Looking north - Mt Langley

Looking east, back down the slope I've been climbing. Edge of the World peak in the distance.

Summit

A little wall of rock just below the summit.

Summit - with a giant pole (it's like a power line pole, not a small stick)

View north towards Cottonwood Pass, Trailmaster and Cirque, and Langley. About 10:15 am.

View west

And east

Summit benchmark

Owens peak

Mulkey Meadow. I talked to a few people who were part of a group going in to study recovery of the meadow after grazing was restricted.

Summit benchmark

Me on the summit. Yay!

Summit post and view northwest

View north - Cirque, Langley

Horseshoe Meadow

Heading back down.The clouds are building much faster now (though you can't see it from the blue sky in this photo) and I decide I want to get lower before any nasties have a chance to start.

I heard thunder as I got this view of Langley on my descent, around 11:30 am.

The dark cloud on the left was building over Trail Peak. Trailmaster on the right. Heard some big thunder here and decided to hoof it across the open horseshoe meadow.

Looking back at Trail Peak.