Group photo at Minaret Vista
(l to r): Bill Bushnell, Thomas Maslen, Frank Paysen, Beth Dawson, Greg Whitehead, Stella Hackell
The group presses up the road ahead of me.
San Joaquin Ridge can be seen in the background.
View up the road on San Joaquin Ridge
In the distance are: (l to r): Thomas Maslen, Greg Whitehead, Stella Hackell, Beth Dawson, and Frank Paysen.
The group presses up the trail ahead of me.
(l to r): Thomas Maslen, Greg Whitehead, Stella Hackell, Beth Dawson, Frank Paysen
We press up the final bit of road to the summit.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
We arrive at the summit under increasing clouds.
The group chats atop San Joaquin Ridge.
(l to r): Beth Dawson, Stella Hackell, Frank Paysen, Thomas Maslen, and Greg Whitehead.
The Ritter Range from San Joaquin Ridge
(l to r): The Minarets, Mt. Ritter, and Banner Peak
Bill and Stella start down the north side of San Joaquin Ridge to Deadman Pass.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
View north on San Joaquin Ridge toward the Two Teats
Frank pauses along the trail at the left.
Stella and Bill zig-zag down to the pass.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Stella at Deadman Pass under a darkening sky
Frank leads us on our mostly sunny route ahead.
Bill and Stella at Deadman Pass
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Frank and Stella climb north from Deadman Pass.
Frank and Stella (at lower right) press north on the trail to Two Teats.
Clouds roil over Mt. Ritter.
Frank and Stella hike ahead of me on the trail.
Storm clouds gather over the Ritter Range.
The Two Teats are at the right on the ridge in the foreground.
The calm and sunny shore of Lake Crowley
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Frank waits for me to finish snapping my photo under an increasingly threatening sky.
Two Teats and San Joaquin Mountain are in the background.
Bill and Stella at the lunch stop and our turnaround point.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Two Teats and San Joaquin Mountain (11600ft)
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Frank and Stella head down San Joaquin Ridge under the theat of virga.
Frank and Stella head down the ridge under increasingly heavy clouds.
Bill descends the trail.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Sunny Mono Lake lies in the distance.
Frank and Stella descend the trail.
Rain falls over Long Valley.
Stella and Frank descend the trail across the barren ridge.
Stella implores the rain gods to part the clouds.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
A storm brews over Mammoth Crest, while the summit of Mammoth Mountain remains for a time in the sun.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
The cloud over Iron Mountain has a definite edge.
Dramatic clouds over Mammoth Mountain
Rain or snow finally falls on Mt. Ritter
Stella pauses before the "spider" tree.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Frank and Stella descend to Deadman Pass.
Clouds over San Joaquin River
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Bill eats a snack while keeping an eye on the rain over Mt. Ritter.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Stella and Frank descend the road from San Joaquin Ridge.
The cloud behind Mammoth Mountain is producing lightning strikes on Mammoth Crest.
Stella and Frank descend toward the rain.
Yet the skies behind us are sunny and clear!
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
