Muir
Pass 11955
ft-
Deer Meadow8880
ft...14.5
miles
day
13 : 12 July 2003
the
i-team
like
in the old archival photographs, the I-Team posing at Muir Hut
the
east side
snow
may linger on the east side of Muir Pass throughout the summer
helen
lake
named
after the other of Muir's daughters, Helen Lake is a blue near-circular
lake in a treeless, rusty-brown landscape
in
the cracks
treeless
it may seem but there is still traces of life everywhere; herbs and grasses
hang onto existence here in the cracks and crevices
lakeside
stroll
on
the banks of the unnamed lake below Helen Lake, the first few stunted trees
since Evolution Lake may be seen growing
wild
onions
Steve
harvesting wild spring onions to supplement our fast depleting food supply
stratification
the
Middle Fork Kings River rumbles violently down as numerous torrent cascades
as we descended
le
conte
looking
ahead is the lush Le Conte Canyon where a summer ranger is stationed
dusy
water
Leon
filters water from Dusy Branch, a tributary of the Middle Fork Kings River;
behind him is Langille Peak (12018 ft)
grouse
meadow
Tim
and Octavia were having a picnic at Grouse Meadow when we caught up with
them
palisade
canyon
the
JMT leaves Le conte Canyon and turns eastward up the beautiful canyon following
Palisade Creek, this canyon is rich with patches of forest and open meadows
chefs
at work
our
campsite for the night was in the shaded lodgepole forest just east of Deer
Meadow
my
niche
this
is the life! relaxing with the soothing sounds of the cascading Palisade
Creek nearby