JMT: Piute Bridge to Humphreys Basin (08.13.2007)
Group photo at Piute Creek
Mary, Michael, and Kerry head south along the JMT today while I head up Piute Canyon
Morning colors on Piute Creek
The Piute Creek Bridge
An enormous dead tree fell across the trail...
...but trail crews had chainsawed right though it
Sun starts to hit the surrounding peaks
The morning light in the narrow canyon made it difficult to take photos
But I still tried. Here is one steep stretch of trail.
With 3000+ feet to climb today, I was hoping it wouldn't all be like this
Looking down on the river from the same spot that the previous photo was taken
Piute Canyon was simply stunning - but quite a climb, especially at this beginning stretch!
I'm finally in the sun - and manzanita
I'm glad it's still early in the morning since this would be a hot stretch even an hour later in the day
Looking back down Piute Canyon
Our campsite was down where the three canyons/valleys come together
I stopped here to doctor my feet
The only blister I had bother me for the whole trip was killing me here, but a bit of repair work and I was on my way again
It was a perfect place to stop and soak the feet.
This was a beautiful stretch where the trail passed right next to the cascades
There was a perfect swimming hole and campsite just above this fall
I'd be happy to come back here someday and spend a leisurely afternoon soaking in the creek
Random gates...
Killer views
Oooh - are those clouds I see over Pilot Knob?
Found approximately 15 miles from the nearest trailhead.
Why would you carry something like this for 15 miles and then dump it? This is the kind of stuff you usually see a mile in... Hmm, maybe I'll label my trash 'FREE' and someone else will carry it out for me!
Impressive granite peaks line Piute Canyon
Once I get higher up the canyon I find myself in the shade and beneath lots of trees
Another random gate...
A very cool cloud formation over Humprey's Basin
Tape + Leathery Hiking Hands = "The Mummy", my new trail name.
It was so dry that the skin on my fingertips kept cracking. I found that wrapping them in climbing tape helped a lot...the tape just got dirty quickly.
Uh oh - the first menacing looking clouds of the trip
Finally I get above treeline and the views open up
Small lenticular clouds
I finally get a view of the colorful Mt Humphreys
Lower Golden Trout Lake
I cut off the trail here and head down to the lake to find a campsite
Mt Humpreys
Muriel Peak from Camp
Camp above Upper Golden Trout Lake
After setting up I went swimming - oh so refreshing!
Happy me after a swim
As the sun set the smoke that had been in the distance became much more obvious
I didn't know where it was coming from - I was glad to be heading back to civilization the next day so I could find out if our plans were in danger
Early evening on Mt Humpreys from my campsite
Sunset glow on my Tarptent
And now, the best sunset in my 7 years of backpacking the Sierra
But first I had to wait for the sun to get past the smoke.
Sunburst
Sunset glow on Muriel Peak
The brilliant colors of sunset on Humpreys Basin
And then on Mt Humphreys itself
The smoke starts to reflect in shades of yellow and orange
The smoke reminded me of thunderstorm clouds over Lake Michigan
The colors got even better.
Humpreys basin with Mt Humphreys
Sunset colors reflected on Upper Golden Trout Lake
Upper Golden Trout Lake
