With my little one’s summer break quickly approaching its end we tried to squeeze in a quick trip to complete our earlier goal. We previously tried to reach the peaks at Sonora Pass. As my little one wrote in her diary, Falling Down a Mountain, we were defeated by the 6 to 12 feet of snow that remained from some late storms. We tried but only made it about two-thirds of the way to the top.
But then my work forced me to cancel. Actually, since it was too late to get a refund from the lodge I set the trip back a couple weeks. By this time my little one was back at school and trying to adjust to her new schedule...really any schedule after having a couple months off. So remembrance and I decided we would take advantage and get some us time. Did remembrance really know what she was getting herself into? Probably not.
The air is always thin when you’re up at 10,000 feet plus, it’s only worse when less than 24 hours ago you were at sea level. At least there was parking at the trailhead, last trip it was snowed in.
Able to actually use the trail this time, we headed up. Okay, we had to do some downhill first, which meant we ‘d finish the day with some uphill. Right at the end...ugh.
The first half of the trail meandered through some areas offering the shade of small trees and nice streams. The next half would only provide exposure...both to steep slopes and lots of sun. If you look closely you can see a couple people traversing the trail across the talus slope under the face of the peak.
After traversing the talus slope and couple of small ice fields we reached the ridge on the right of the peak. We made it up to behind the peak but getting to the very top would be a scramble, one remembrance (nor myself) was not eager to attempt.
Instead we enjoyed a nice lunch on the ridge. Hundreds if not thousands of butterflies passed over the ridge...and our heads. Pretty sure they were Painted Ladies migrating over the pass. Looking south, you can see down the Pacific Crest Trail that travels hundreds of miles through the Sierras.
Of course, what goes up...must come down. This was looking over the edge of the prominent ice field seen in the title picture, just to the right of the peak.
We made it down. And oh yes, happiness also blooms in a soft bed after that workout.