Upper Rae Lakes and Glen Pass

"Hit stride, with only some days to the finish line. Good timing for our big 17 miler, down the valley, across the Indiana Jones suspension bridge, up passed the curious trout in Dollar Lake. Up through the heavenly Rae Lakes before the evil Glen Pass. Oh Upper Rae, with your sandy white beaches, clear turquoise water surrounded by soaring granite peaks, a cool wind across the water—that complimentary meal of your choice before getting fried in the death chamber—switch, back, switch, back, shit. I could've sworn that was the top, but now whole 'nother mountain endlessly rising. Bitch, groan, and gripe to the top finally upticking the sides of my lips in an exhausted smile. Better enjoying the view 11,978 feet, amidst rants of some drunk Alabaman named Som' Peach extolling his sexual prowess and Crimson Tide dominance. Tumbled a couple thousand feet down the dry rocky mountain in the later afternoon sun, settling down at Vidette Meadow." - Taun Taun

Itchy atop Glen Pass

J Bear on top of Glen Pass

Going down the other side

Over Mather Pass and Pinchot Pass

On top of Mather Pass

"Finally feeling some peace of mind, sprung up bright and early for a double pass day. A quick jaunt got us up to 12,100 feet atop Mather Pass then down along the South Fork King River, the land changing more Martian-like at the higher elevations. Passed Bench Lake where the infamous Ranger Randy Morgenson had lost his mind, us also with screws loose but not quite crossing that line. A swim break on Lake Marjorie giving just enough mojo to get up pinche Pinchot Pass at 12,130 feet. After some aching and complaining and photo shoot, made it 15 miles on the day down to Sawmill Junction for the usual camp candor, lentils and ramen and...jokes." - Taun Taun

The group thaws out in the sun after shivering most of the night.

El Brujo investigates his broken hiking pole.

See the switchbacks?

My brothers heading down the south side of Mather Pass

Phyzio hugs Pinchot Pass

On Pinchot Pass

Up the Golden Staircase to Palisade Lakes

"Day 12, my morning dash took on a new flavor. Secretly flustered by the constriction of the groups when to leave, when to stop. This was my goddamn trip, not there's. Popped up in the morning and scalded my kind tentmate Phil, "get your shit out the tent." Packed up and hit the road. The embarrassment and triumph jolted me up the Golden Staircase, 1500 vertical of feet of rock stairs, the last gap of the JMT to be completed in 1938 under WPA, deemed "golden" for  it's $1 million price tag. I was here to do something special, looking out from the top of the stairs like Ayn Rand's Howard Rourke looking out from atop his in-progress building. Some hours later the group joined me lounging at Lower Palisade Lake, waking me from my individualist day dream. Reminding me the merits of collaborative living, especially tangible when I nearly froze that evening at 10800 feet, but for the shared warmth of my tentmate Phil." - Taun Taun

Itchy after climbing up the Golden Staircase

Palisade Lakes...

This night was cold; I didn't sleep in my hammock.

Above Upper Palisade Lake

Looking towards Mather Pass, which we tackled the next morning

South of Muir Pass

My brothers descending from Muir Pass.  Note that El Brujo has now joined the double knee-brace club with Deepak Chopat.  (Chopats are the heavy-duty knee-brace brand.)

Around Helen Lake...

"Slid down passed Helen Lake, and after the usual campsite controversy that happens betwixt 6 divergent minds, we landed on a dirt patch by a river just above Big Pete Meadow, making 15 miles on the day." - Taun Taun

During a discussion on where to camp, rationale and logic carried less weight than buffalo jerky bargaining.