Lyell Canyon Kuna Creek Backpack (07.30-31.2005)

July 30-31, 2005: Lyell Canyon Overnight Backpack

Getting packed up at the trailhead.
001a trailhead
Hmm...no listing for Mt Whitney!
002a trailmarker
The JMT-ers - John, Paige, and Taylor.
003a JMTHikers
The whole group
003b everyone
About a mile in is a gorgeous crossing of the Lyell Fork with clear green pools
004a atbridge
On the way back this made a perfect spot to dunk my head and cool down!
005a clearwater
Bridge at crossing.
006a bridge
Bex crossing the bridge.
006b bridgebex
The John Muir Footbridge and Steve
007a jmtbridge
One of the first open meadow views, with Mount Dana (2nd highest peak in Yose) in the distance
008a dana meadow
Green clear water of the Lyell fork
009a greenwater
Looking up the canyon - before any of the big peaks come into view
010a lookingupcanyon
Marmot
010b marmot
Marmot
010c marmot
Lyell fork.

I was dying to jump in all afternoon. When we got to camp, I did. Brrr!
011a river
Avalanche runout - I bet this place is beautiful in the winter
012a avalancherunout
The Trail Guard
013a squirrels
Perfect rest spot

In places the river cascaded over smooth granite slabs
014a lunchspot
Happy Feet

One spot made for a perfect lunch break - and a nice opportunity to cool off the feet.
015a freshfeet
Lunch break location
016a waveatlunchspot
Duane, Paige, Taylor enjoying the break
017a enjoyingabreak
David
018a davidatlunch
Duane was able to spend a few minutes fishing
018b fishin duane
The gang
019a thegang
View down canyon
019b lyell
019c lyell
020a lyellforkwide
Looking back down canyon toward Mt Conness
020b lookingbacktowardmammoth
The wide meadow of Lyell Canyon
020c downcanyon
Potter Point
021a trailandpotterpoint
A reminder
022a areminder
Looking down canyon
023a towardconness
Finally some of the larger peaks at the end of the canyon come into view
024a firstviews
Rodgers Peak
024b upcanyon
Mountains from left to right: Rodgers, Lyell, and MacClure (behind tree)
024d wholerange
025a davidontrail
David at camp
026a davidandtarptent
David's ID Bug liner as a makeshift rain shelter. Good thing it wasn't raining. :)
026b upsidedown
Taylor and Paige in the kitchen
027a paigeandtaylor
View of Rodgers peak from the trail next to the campsite at Kuna Creek
028a viewfromcamp
Skeeters were bad
029a bugsondavid
Evening fire to keep mosquitoes away.
030a campfire
Bugnet hats were useful, if a bit goofy.
030b bugcity
Darkness falls in the canyon earlier than sunset
031a earlyevening
Lyell before sunset.
032a lyell
Kuna Creek at sunset
032b kunacreek
Pano of peaks
032b panorama
Kuna Creek as the shadow falls over the canyon
033a kunacreek

calipidder

Lyell Canyon Kuna Creek Backpack (07.30-31.2005)