(2010-September 29-October 2) Kearsarge Pass to Forester Pass. Sierra Nevada Range, California.
Began this trip at approximately midnight (Wednesday September 29, 2010) and exited Highway 395 at the Fossil Falls dirt road. Drove for a bit to a nice dry lake with a surrounding volcanic landscape. Caught some nice shots of the sun rising in this area. Continued driving up into Onion Valley and began my hike over Kearsrge Pass to the Kearsarge Lakes and Pinnacles. Very nice area, had it all to myself this late into the season. Caught some evening and morning shots and then continued down the canyon, passing Bullfrog Lake and into Lower Vidette Meadow.
Hiked up Bubbs Creek past Center Peak and to the base of Forester Pass. The weather was really getting rough with rain, hail, and sleet. Managed to get a break and set up camp at the high lake below the pass (12,300'). Got up at approximately 0300 hours and hiked up to the pass. The weather was horrible!!!! Extremely windy and large dark clouds. I reached the pass, took one photograph of the park service sign and scrambled back to camp, getting snowed on along the way. Hunkered down in my tent for the better part of the day. Late afternoon, the storm broke and I packed up my stuff and hiked back to Lower Vidette Meadow, which is where I spent the night.
Woke up at approximately 0200 hours, in another break in the storm, packed up camp and hiked up to Bullfrog Lake, where the storm began to clear. I threw my pack off and captured a few shots of the clearing storm at Bullfrog Lake and spent the rest of the morning crawling up and over Kearsarge Pass and back to my vehicle. Some pretty messed up weather for picture taking, but an incredible trip just the same (Saturday October 2, 2010).
Read MoreHiked up Bubbs Creek past Center Peak and to the base of Forester Pass. The weather was really getting rough with rain, hail, and sleet. Managed to get a break and set up camp at the high lake below the pass (12,300'). Got up at approximately 0300 hours and hiked up to the pass. The weather was horrible!!!! Extremely windy and large dark clouds. I reached the pass, took one photograph of the park service sign and scrambled back to camp, getting snowed on along the way. Hunkered down in my tent for the better part of the day. Late afternoon, the storm broke and I packed up my stuff and hiked back to Lower Vidette Meadow, which is where I spent the night.
Woke up at approximately 0200 hours, in another break in the storm, packed up camp and hiked up to Bullfrog Lake, where the storm began to clear. I threw my pack off and captured a few shots of the clearing storm at Bullfrog Lake and spent the rest of the morning crawling up and over Kearsarge Pass and back to my vehicle. Some pretty messed up weather for picture taking, but an incredible trip just the same (Saturday October 2, 2010).
