Crystal Range 2006

Our route map. The parking lot by the trailhead was full, so we had to park in an overflow lot about a mile back up the road. This upped the one-way distance for our hike to about four miles ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sat, 15 Jul 2006 22:52:13 -0700

Frank Farmer
Our route map. The parking lot by the trailhead was full, so we had to park in an overflow lot about a mile back up the road. This upped the one-way distance for our hike to about four miles ...

Trailhead group photo. From left: Frank (me), Bree, Mary Anne, Jean (kneeling), Howdy, Rich, Karen (kneeling), Judy, and Marie.

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sat, 15 Jul 2006 23:01:24 -0700

Frank Farmer
Trailhead group photo. From left: Frank (me), Bree, Mary Anne, Jean (kneeling), Howdy, Rich, Karen (kneeling), Judy, and Marie.

The first leg of the hike takes us through forest. Even now, we are appreciating the shade. It will be a warm (but not hot) day up here. Down in the Sacramento Valley, it will be over 100 de ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sat, 15 Jul 2006 23:02:23 -0700

Frank Farmer
The first leg of the hike takes us through forest. Even now, we are appreciating the shade. It will be a warm (but not hot) day up here. Down in the Sacramento Valley, it will be over 100 de ...

We're glad all the mud is dried up through here. This was all flooded out just a few weeks ago.

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sat, 15 Jul 2006 23:03:46 -0700

Frank Farmer
We're glad all the mud is dried up through here. This was all flooded out just a few weeks ago.

Criss-crossing flow patterns across a slab. Soon the trail breaks out in the open, across (and up) massive and beautiful granite slabs.

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sat, 15 Jul 2006 23:04:57 -0700

Frank Farmer
Criss-crossing flow patterns across a slab. Soon the trail breaks out in the open, across (and up) massive and beautiful granite slabs.

Western panorama, looking toward Sacramento Valley.

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 04:32:27 -0700

Frank Farmer
Western panorama, looking toward Sacramento Valley.

Rich pursues photo-ops with flowers. Wildflower conditions today are excellent.

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sat, 15 Jul 2006 23:09:10 -0700

Frank Farmer
Rich pursues photo-ops with flowers. Wildflower conditions today are excellent.

The boundary for Desolation Wilderness is about one mile in from the Twin Lakes Trailhead. We have our wilderness permit! These are issues at a self-service kiosk at the trailhead.

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sat, 15 Jul 2006 23:10:12 -0700

Frank Farmer
The boundary for Desolation Wilderness is about one mile in from the Twin Lakes Trailhead. We have our wilderness permit! These are issues at a self-service kiosk at the trailhead.

Jean heads up the trail.

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sat, 15 Jul 2006 23:11:23 -0700

Frank Farmer
Jean heads up the trail.

Sheet flow shimmering

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sat, 15 Jul 2006 23:12:22 -0700

Frank Farmer
Sheet flow shimmering

Crossing the creek, heading out into the open.

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sat, 15 Jul 2006 23:13:22 -0700

Frank Farmer
Crossing the creek, heading out into the open.

Bree likes this hike!

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sat, 15 Jul 2006 23:14:37 -0700

Frank Farmer
Bree likes this hike!

Marie and Judy.

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sat, 15 Jul 2006 23:16:37 -0700

Frank Farmer
Marie and Judy.

Lots of little flowers among the rocks and grass

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sat, 15 Jul 2006 23:24:43 -0700

Frank Farmer
Lots of little flowers among the rocks and grass

Rich taking another picture

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sat, 15 Jul 2006 23:26:04 -0700

Frank Farmer
Rich taking another picture

Flowers, flowing water, granite.

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sat, 15 Jul 2006 23:27:29 -0700

Frank Farmer
Flowers, flowing water, granite.

We've reached Lower Twin Lake.

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sat, 15 Jul 2006 23:28:27 -0700

Frank Farmer
We've reached Lower Twin Lake.

Bree is enjoying this. It's her first time here.

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sat, 15 Jul 2006 23:29:31 -0700

Frank Farmer
Bree is enjoying this. It's her first time here.

Howdy, with Marie and Mary Anne. We contemplated having lunch here, but decided to press on and hike to Island Lake. There are a few other people around the area, but not as many as we thoug ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sat, 15 Jul 2006 23:34:06 -0700

Frank Farmer
Howdy, with Marie and Mary Anne. We contemplated having lunch here, but decided to press on and hike to Island Lake. There are a few other people around the area, but not as many as we thoug ...

Hiking to Island Lake requires crossing the creek flowing out of Twin Lakes. Karen chooses the rock-hop, where the consequences of a fall to the right are a deep swim. Our first group, with ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sat, 15 Jul 2006 23:35:19 -0700

Frank Farmer
Hiking to Island Lake requires crossing the creek flowing out of Twin Lakes. Karen chooses the rock-hop, where the consequences of a fall to the right are a deep swim. Our first group, with ...

Karen finishes the crossing with no problems, other than wet feet. Howdy and Mary Anne tried going downstream to find a better crossing, but ended up returning here. Jean, Karen, and Bree an ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sat, 15 Jul 2006 23:36:28 -0700

Frank Farmer
Karen finishes the crossing with no problems, other than wet feet. Howdy and Mary Anne tried going downstream to find a better crossing, but ended up returning here. Jean, Karen, and Bree an ...

Jean and Karen. We're enroute to Island Lake.

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sat, 15 Jul 2006 23:37:41 -0700

Frank Farmer
Jean and Karen. We're enroute to Island Lake.

Jean looks out on Boomerang Lake. This is also the first place where we encountered snow.

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sat, 15 Jul 2006 23:38:47 -0700

Frank Farmer
Jean looks out on Boomerang Lake. This is also the first place where we encountered snow.

Snowbank at Boomerang Lake

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sat, 15 Jul 2006 23:39:42 -0700

Frank Farmer
Snowbank at Boomerang Lake

Emerging Corn Lillies. Soon these will have whitish-colored flowers.

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sat, 15 Jul 2006 23:41:30 -0700

Frank Farmer
Emerging Corn Lillies. Soon these will have whitish-colored flowers.

Karen on another snowbank. The first snowbank, near Boomerang Lake, did not need to be crossed. This other one, just below Island Lake, was unavoidable. Fortunately, there was no danger of b ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sat, 15 Jul 2006 23:42:16 -0700

Frank Farmer
Karen on another snowbank. The first snowbank, near Boomerang Lake, did not need to be crossed. This other one, just below Island Lake, was unavoidable. Fortunately, there was no danger of b ...

Another unnamed lakelet, just below Island Lake.

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sat, 15 Jul 2006 23:43:21 -0700

Frank Farmer
Another unnamed lakelet, just below Island Lake.

Unnamed lakelet below Island Lake. Very photogenic, no?

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sat, 15 Jul 2006 23:44:22 -0700

Frank Farmer
Unnamed lakelet below Island Lake. Very photogenic, no?

We're on the moraine just below Island Lake, waiting for the rest of the group. We stayed in the open so they could see us. Getting up here required zigzagging around several small slot-lik ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sat, 15 Jul 2006 23:45:39 -0700

Frank Farmer
We're on the moraine just below Island Lake, waiting for the rest of the group. We stayed in the open so they could see us. Getting up here required zigzagging around several small slot-lik ...

Scenic view. These people are with another group.

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sat, 15 Jul 2006 23:46:40 -0700

Frank Farmer
Scenic view. These people are with another group.

Zoomed in on Howdy crossing the big snowfield.

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sat, 15 Jul 2006 23:55:29 -0700

Frank Farmer
Zoomed in on Howdy crossing the big snowfield.

The rest of the group reaches the snowfield.

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sat, 15 Jul 2006 23:56:25 -0700

Frank Farmer
The rest of the group reaches the snowfield.

Firm footing on the snow.

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sat, 15 Jul 2006 23:57:21 -0700

Frank Farmer
Firm footing on the snow.

Zoomed out a little

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 00:00:02 -0700

Frank Farmer
Zoomed out a little

Howdy makes sure everyone crosses safely.

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 00:00:56 -0700

Frank Farmer
Howdy makes sure everyone crosses safely.

Mary Anne and Judy.

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 00:01:51 -0700

Frank Farmer
Mary Anne and Judy.

We've all reached Island Lake and now it's time for lunch. I ate quickly and headed out to a small dam at one of the lake's outlets. Everyone else is out on this little point in the center.

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 00:08:22 -0700

Frank Farmer
We've all reached Island Lake and now it's time for lunch. I ate quickly and headed out to a small dam at one of the lake's outlets. Everyone else is out on this little point in the center.

Bree checks out the dam.

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 00:05:59 -0700

Frank Farmer
Bree checks out the dam.

An old rusty gate structure, under water.

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 00:04:47 -0700

Frank Farmer
An old rusty gate structure, under water.

Zoomed in on our group

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 00:07:13 -0700

Frank Farmer
Zoomed in on our group

Willow shrub growing out of the dam.

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 00:09:40 -0700

Frank Farmer
Willow shrub growing out of the dam.

Zoomed out on the dam, with water flowing over

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 00:10:58 -0700

Frank Farmer
Zoomed out on the dam, with water flowing over

Water over the dam.

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 00:12:40 -0700

Frank Farmer
Water over the dam.

Folks are starting to stir. Howdy, Mary Anne, Bree, and Karen took off before everyone else, allowing Howdy and Mary Anne to go home early. Bree and Karen got separated from the fast-walking ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 00:13:57 -0700

Frank Farmer
Folks are starting to stir. Howdy, Mary Anne, Bree, and Karen took off before everyone else, allowing Howdy and Mary Anne to go home early. Bree and Karen got separated from the fast-walking ...

Waterflow. I tried shooting a long exposure on the flowing water, but had problems getting it all to work in the extremely bright light. There is a lot of stuff that I don't know about with ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 00:14:44 -0700

Frank Farmer
Waterflow. I tried shooting a long exposure on the flowing water, but had problems getting it all to work in the extremely bright light. There is a lot of stuff that I don't know about with ...

Waterflow

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 00:15:36 -0700

Frank Farmer
Waterflow

Water flowing through the breach

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 00:20:58 -0700

Frank Farmer
Water flowing through the breach

A big piece of quartz. The rest of our group is heading back now.

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 00:24:23 -0700

Frank Farmer
A big piece of quartz. The rest of our group is heading back now.

White flowers

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 00:25:40 -0700

Frank Farmer
White flowers

Yellow flowers

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 00:26:35 -0700

Frank Farmer
Yellow flowers

Water flowing below Island Lake

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 00:27:57 -0700

Frank Farmer
Water flowing below Island Lake

Water flowing below Island Lake

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 00:29:24 -0700

Frank Farmer
Water flowing below Island Lake

Another view of the photogenic lakelet

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 00:30:32 -0700

Frank Farmer
Another view of the photogenic lakelet

Sulfur Flower?

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 01:08:17 -0700

Frank Farmer
Sulfur Flower?

Rich. He told me what most of these flowers are, but my memory is like teflon and I didn't take notes.

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 01:09:22 -0700

Frank Farmer
Rich. He told me what most of these flowers are, but my memory is like teflon and I didn't take notes.

Heading down

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 01:12:14 -0700

Frank Farmer
Heading down

Heading down

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 01:13:12 -0700

Frank Farmer
Heading down

A last photo back up toward Island Lake

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 01:14:14 -0700

Frank Farmer
A last photo back up toward Island Lake

pano-3125-3131.jpg

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 04:34:40 -0700

Frank Farmer
pano-3125-3131.jpg

Cama.

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 01:15:17 -0700

Frank Farmer
Cama.

Rich crosses the dam at Lower Twin Lake, while Jean waits.

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 03:50:38 -0700

Frank Farmer
Rich crosses the dam at Lower Twin Lake, while Jean waits.

Jean crosses the dam, while Judy and Marie catch up

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 03:51:39 -0700

Frank Farmer
Jean crosses the dam, while Judy and Marie catch up

Crystal Range panorama from Lower Twin Lake. This is a beautiful place.

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 04:35:49 -0700

Frank Farmer
Crystal Range panorama from Lower Twin Lake. This is a beautiful place.

Marked trail across the slabs. Just follow the rock borders and ducks!

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 03:52:44 -0700

Frank Farmer
Marked trail across the slabs. Just follow the rock borders and ducks!

Passing through the trees

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 03:54:02 -0700

Frank Farmer
Passing through the trees

Back out on the slabs

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 03:55:13 -0700

Frank Farmer
Back out on the slabs

Lake in a boggy meadow. Also known as a mosquito factory.

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 04:01:39 -0700

Frank Farmer
Lake in a boggy meadow. Also known as a mosquito factory.

Water pocket in a meandering creek

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 03:56:44 -0700

Frank Farmer
Water pocket in a meandering creek

Water pocket in a meandering creek

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 03:59:01 -0700

Frank Farmer
Water pocket in a meandering creek

Water pocket in a meandering creek

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 04:00:28 -0700

Frank Farmer
Water pocket in a meandering creek

Stepping stones to minimize damage to the meadow and hikers crossing it.

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 04:03:10 -0700

Frank Farmer
Stepping stones to minimize damage to the meadow and hikers crossing it.

Scenic view of peaks, trees, rocks, and water.

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 04:04:23 -0700

Frank Farmer
Scenic view of peaks, trees, rocks, and water.

Trees and water

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 04:04:55 -0700

Frank Farmer
Trees and water

Hiking through the trees.

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 04:07:55 -0700

Frank Farmer
Hiking through the trees.

There was LOTS of pink penstemon all around

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 04:09:08 -0700

Frank Farmer
There was LOTS of pink penstemon all around

Ice polish on the granite

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 04:10:21 -0700

Frank Farmer
Ice polish on the granite

Pink penstemon

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 04:11:49 -0700

Frank Farmer
Pink penstemon

Pink penstemon

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 04:13:00 -0700

Frank Farmer
Pink penstemon

Waterfall over the slabs

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 04:14:16 -0700

Frank Farmer
Waterfall over the slabs

Waterfall over the slabs

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 04:17:49 -0700

Frank Farmer
Waterfall over the slabs

Zoomed in on the waterfall

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 04:19:10 -0700

Frank Farmer
Zoomed in on the waterfall

IMG_3159.JPG

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 04:20:12 -0700

Frank Farmer
IMG_3159.JPG

Wrights Lake

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 04:21:17 -0700

Frank Farmer
Wrights Lake

Zoomed in on Wrights Lake

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 04:22:02 -0700

Frank Farmer
Zoomed in on Wrights Lake

Looking back toward the Crystal Range

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 04:23:08 -0700

Frank Farmer
Looking back toward the Crystal Range

Crystal Range

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 04:24:37 -0700

Frank Farmer
Crystal Range

Bridge at Wrights Lake inlet

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 04:26:05 -0700

Frank Farmer
Bridge at Wrights Lake inlet

Canoeists at Wrights Lake

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 04:27:04 -0700

Frank Farmer
Canoeists at Wrights Lake

Trailhead sign for Twin Lakes. This is a very nice trail. It is very popular, and can get crowded, but there is no taking away the genuine High Sierra beauty that it offers.

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 04:28:15 -0700

Frank Farmer
Trailhead sign for Twin Lakes. This is a very nice trail. It is very popular, and can get crowded, but there is no taking away the genuine High Sierra beauty that it offers.

Desolation Wilderness sign board. We did not realize quite yet that Bree and Karen were still out there. Happily, they joined us in a few minutes. We would have realized a problem existed, h ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 04:29:00 -0700

Frank Farmer
Desolation Wilderness sign board. We did not realize quite yet that Bree and Karen were still out there. Happily, they joined us in a few minutes. We would have realized a problem existed, h ...