Little Lakes Valley from Mono Pass Trail
The classic view
Mt. Morgan
Lookout Peak comes into view.
This photo is of the unassailable northeast face. Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Frank crosses the outlet of Ruby Lake.
Stella starts across the talus field.
Bill is at the distant shore. Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Frank and Stella work their way through the talus near the edge of Ruby Lake.
Mount Starr is in the background.
Stella waits for Frank near Ruby Lake.
Stella makes her way up alongside the creek flowing from Mills Lakes into Ruby Lake.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Petit Griffon is nestled between Mt. Abbott (l) and Mt. Mills.
Stella and Frank join me at my resting spot.
Bill starts toward the southwestern ridge of Lookout Peak.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Frank gazes toward Mt. Abbott from atop a high point on the southwest ridge to Lookout Peak.
Stella and Frank at a high point on the southwest ridge to Lookout Peak
In the background are Treasure Peak, Mt. Abbott, Petit Griffon, and Mt. Mills.
Lookout Peak (l) and Mt. Morgan
Bill, Frank, and Stella enjoy lunch on the shoulder of Lookout Peak.
Ruby Lake is below, and above that is Mt. Starr.
Bill starts up the southwest ridge of Lookout Peak.
I wanted to examine it up-close. Often an "impossible" wall becomes quite possible upon close inspection. Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Bill uses his sticks as far as he can.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Frank and Stella climb the southwest ridge of Lookout Peak.
Stella high on the southwest ridge of Lookout Peak
In the background are Treasure Peak, Mt. Dade, Mt. Abbott, Petit Griffon, Mt. Mills and Mills Lakes.
Stella on a lesser pinnacle atop Lookout Peak
The summit of Lookout Peak lies at the upper right.
Bill and Stella climb over granite rubble toward the summit. Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Mt. Morgan from Lookout Peak
Little Lakes Valley panorama from the summit of Lookout Peak
Ruby Ridge and Mt. Starr from Lookout Peak
Ruby Lake and Ruby Ridge from Lookout Peak
Frank and Stella approach the summit at the lower left.
Frank makes his final approach to the summit of Lookout Peak.
Bill sets up for a group photo atop Lookout Peak.
Morgan Pass and Chickenfoot Lake are in the background. Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Group photo atop Lookout Peak (11,902ft)
(l to r): Bill, Stella, Frank
Frank and Stella start down from Lookout Peak.
Northeast ridge of Lookout Peak
My plan was to descend diagonally across the west face of Lookout Peak, heading for the outlet of Ruby Lake. Our prior failed attempts to climb this peak started from the northeast side where we found the terrain too steep or loose.
Bill descends from Lookout Peak.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Stella and Frank make their way down from the summit of Lookout Peak.
Can you find our intrepid explorers amongst the rocks?
Stella follows Bill across the east face of Lookout Peak.
The terrain looks relatively smooth. But, what cannot be seen from this vantage point (and what I failed to recall from our earlier traverse across the bottom of this face along the lake) are the cliffs that lie between us and the forest ahead. Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Two candidate descent chutes.
I didn't explore either of these as I could not be sure they did not end at cliffs. (They did.) And, at this point I didn't want to expend extra energy in case I had to climb back up!
I am about to traverse a narrow ledge before me to a decent descent chute (the area with smaller rocks) at the northern end of the west face of Lookout Peak.
A broad chute full of loose rock but no cliffs!
Something I knew I could safely descend. But, it wouldn't be pleasant!
Stella wears holes in her pants sliding down from Lookout Peak.
Frank waits for her below.
Stella leaves a nice slide scar on Lookout Peak.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Bill waits for Stella and Frank to emerge from the talus field.
Since the sun had set behind Ruby Ridge, I donned all of my clothes to stay warm while I waited. Mt. Starr is in the background.
The last rays of the sun strike Petit Griffon and Mt. Abbot.
Frank and Stella start their way across the talus.
Sunset over Ruby Ridge
Stella and Frank labor through the last of the talus on the western face of Lookout Peak.
Half-moon rises over Lookout Peak.
Sunset on Mt. Morgan
Mt. Morgan, Rosy Finch Peak, and Heart Lake.
Last rays of sun touch Bear Creek Spire.
We are all happy to finish what should have been a half-day warm-up hike.
Frank's pantalon déchiré
Stella's pantalon déchiré
