Great photos! You really got some nice ones. I was at Royce Lake in September and I appreciate your slideshow to relive the experience. If you are interested here is my account of the trip http://www.tedbeck.net/Sierra08.html - Ted Beck, Tue, 14 Oct 2008 8:26PM
7/27/08 - We hiked from Honeymoon lake thru an unknown pass to the south-west of golden lake down to the Royce Lakes. We saw no fish. I called the pass "What Now Pass" becaause it was quite a decline to the lake following the water course. We mainly stayed up on the shoulder to the west-north west and walked down the glacier. We then went thru another pass back north to Granite park. The west side of the larger south east lake of granite park was easier to walk, but of course soem uf us bolder hopped the east side. - Jeff Waguespack, Wed, 6 Aug 2008 10:09AM
Sounds like a great trip, and the photos really make me want to spend some time there. I'll watch for the marmot! Thanks for great description of your trip. - larry, Wed, 12 Sep 2007 10:43AM
1 Looking up through the aspen from the lower Pine Creek Trail.
2 The huge Pine Creek Tungsten Mill, with Morgan Creek rising above.
3 Looking up at Pk 12,245 with Pine Creek's waterfall in front. "Welcome to the playground of the God..." View Comments...
4 A view up a side drainage with unnamed peaks above.
5 Lower Pine Lake (9942'), with Pk 12563' ("Treasure") rising above.
6 Nameless spires from Lower Pine Lake.
7 Another view of Pk 12245', very atypical rock for this area.
8 Royce Pass (11760'+), with "Treasure" on the right and Pk 12470 ("Spire Peak") on the left.
9 "Treasure" from below.
10 Alpine columbines.
11 Looking down the Royce Lakes, with Merriam Peak (13130') [on left] and Royce Peak [on right] above. "Stunning" View Comments...
12 The final rocks toward the summit of "Treasure".
Note: it is sometimes called "Treasure" because that is inscribed on a USGS benchmark on the summit.
13 View to the NNE from the summit of "Treasure". Mt. Morgan (13748') stands tall in the distance. "This view is a worthy reward for you..." View Comments...
14 Psyched to be here. very much so.
15 The incredible summit pinnacle of "Treasure". The exposure on the left side is probably 25-30 feet. But on the right... 800-1000. Straight down.
16 Self-timer on the camera catching the action. Class 4+ for sure.
17 Royce [on left] and Feather above the Royce Lakes.
18 Merriam's North Face catching some rays.
19 Feather Peak in the early morning alpenglow.
20 The Royce Lakes Basin lit up when the sun rose.
21 Royce Peak with "Treasure"'s shadow on it.
22 The upper reaches of the NE Face/Ridge on Merriam Peak.
23 View from the summit of Merriam towards the Glacier Divide. Mt. Darwin (13831') is the tallest eminence to the left, and Mt. Goddard (13568') the tallest on the right.
24 The view over to Royce Peak, my next objective for the morning. "Taurus ,the bull (Royce Peak),broad ..." View Comments...
25 Looking back up at the NW Ridge of Merriam, which I descended. Easy Class 2-3.
26 Looking over LaSalle Lake (11562'). Gemini (12880'+) is the twin summitted, dark peak on the left. Seven Gables (13080'+) is the dark, striking peak on the right. Possibly Mt. Hooper (12349') is the light colored one in the back in the center?
27 The amazing view towards the Little Lakes Basin peaks. From left: Mt. Gabb (13741'), Mt. Abbot (13704'), Mt. Dade (13600'+), and Bear Creek Spire (13713').
28 Feather Peak, my next goal for the morning, with a bizzare red streak of fire retardant that was dropped from an airplane at some point recently.
29 The view down the NW Chute that I was about to descend.
30 The view back up the NW Chute, after descending.
31 The Feather/Royce Saddle, from the SW.
32 Looking down the drainage toward LaSalle Lake and beyond.
33 The sharp and difficult Southwest Ridge of Feather Peak.
34 Higher up along the SW Ridge, in the middle of the fire retardant stain. The going was tough and complex here.
35 View down the incredibly steep NE Face of Feather, from the summit.
36 Looking out over Royce Lake #3 toward Mt. Tom (13652') and the White Mountains beyond, with the Owens Valley lying in between.
37 Looking down the serrated N Ridge of Feather.
38 again looking toward the Little Lakes Valley peaks.
39 Looking back up the SW Chute of Feather.
40 Looking down the steep snow to Royce Lake #4 from the Feather/Royce Saddle (12560'+).
41 The beautiful Bear Lakes Bain opens up beneath me from Feather Pass (12360'+).
42 The jagged North Ridge of Feather Peak.
43 Bearpaw Lake (11480'+), with unnamed peaks beyond.
44 Looking back up at Feather Pass, with Feather Peak on the left.
45 Seven Gables rises high beyond Big Bear Lake (11440'+).
46 Mt. Tom gets some rain, as seen from Granite Bear Pass (12360'+).
47 Bear Creek Spire. beautiful.
48 Looking back up at Granite Bear Pass (on left), with unnamed peaks surrounding. This view from Granite Park.
49 Spire Peak [on left] and Royce Peak, above Lake 11480'+. Incidentally, this is the only shot I took of Royce where it looks as rugged as it really is.
50 Mt. Humphreys (13986'), across Royce Lakes Basin, French Canyon and Humphreys Basin. A striking peak from any distance.
51 The North Couloir of Feather Peak. Showing about 40% ice. "oooo that would be fun/scary to clim..." View Comments...
52 Looking down the Royce Lakes Basin (Royce Peak on right). "Yet another bold statement from Moth..." View Comments...
53 Red heather in bloom.
54 Feather/Royce Saddle, from the Royce Lakes side.
55 Ah, home sweet home. And a folding chair was already there! Sweet! "Hey, that chair was gone a couple of..." View Comments...
56 Merriam Peak getting hemmed in by the oncoming rain storm.
57 Merriam Peak at sunset, the with the Glacier Divide quietly glowing behind.
58 Another wave of storm rolls through and catches some late evening sun. The Glacier Divide is below.
