Frank and Stella prepare to start.
We start in the cold morning light.
Bill heads down to the River Trail from Agnew Meadows.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Mule train
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Stella and Frank stand at the Junction of the Shadow Lake (l) and River (r) Trails.
Bill and Stella head for Shadow Lake.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
San Joaquin River flows swiftly beneath the bridge.
San Joaquin Mountain and one of the Teats from the Shadow Lake Trail
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Stella climbs toward Shadow Lake.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Bill and Stella climb toward Shadow Lake.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
View down San Joaquin River Canyon
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Shadow Creek in its slot
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Stella and Frank (at right) climb to Shadow Lake.
Stella near the top of the cascade
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Stella and Frank continue up the trail. next to the cascade.
Frank admires the cascade.
Frank and Stella climb alongside Shadow Creek.
Mount Ritter reflected in Shadow Lake
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Stella passes through a stand of lodgepole pines.
Frank snaps a photo of the rapids.
Frank and Stella climb past a handsome cedar tree.
Bill and Stella at the big slab next to Shadow Creek
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
A wild bumblebee rests.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Stella takes a photo on her cellphone near Shadow Creek.
Stella turned around at this spot and returned to the trailhead while Frank and I continued on our loop.
Volcanic Ridge (l) and The Minarets
Desert mountain thistle (Cirsium arizonicum) seen along John Muir Trail
Frank enters the upper valley on the climb from Shadow Creek to Garnet Lake.
Frank climbs through the upper valley.
Bill crosses the pass between Shadow Creek and Garnet Lake.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Bill gazes upon a tarn below the pass.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
FIrst view of Garnet Lake from the south on the John Muir Trail
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Penstemon newberryi
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Bill descends to Garnet Lake.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Garnet Lake and island (1)
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Mounts Ritter and Banner rise above Garnet Lake and its island.
Garnet Lake and island (2)
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Bill on the bridge crossing the outflow of Garnet Lake
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Mount Ritter and Banner Peak (r) from Garnet Lake
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Bill climbs the trail north of Garnet Lake.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Bill approaches the pass between Garnet Lake and Ruby Lake.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Frank climbs to the pass north of Garnet Lake.
Last view of Garnet Lake (2)
on the John Muir Trail from the north
Frank photographs the reflection of the glacier in Ruby Lake.
Glacier and reflection in Ruby Lake
Another mule train passes.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
First view of a corner of Thousand Island Lake from the south.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Bill crosses the headwater of San Joaquin River.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Frank crosses the headwater of San Joaquin River.
Bill stands at a view spot for Thousand Island Lake and Banner Peak.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Thousand Island Lake and Banner Peak
The number of islands in the lake is actually between 80 and 100, depending on the water level of the lake.
Bill and Frank at Thousand Island Lake
Bill descends the trail from Island Pass.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Lunch stop by Thousand Island Lake
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Banner Peak stands over Thousand Island Lake
We ate lunch at this spot.
Fireweed (Chamerion angustifolium)
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Our last view of Banner Peak over Thousand Island Lake as we descend the River Trail
An unexpected toadstool seen near Thousand Island Lake (10000ft elevation)
Bill continues down the River Trail.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
View down the River Trail
To the left are San Joaquin Mountain and Two Teats.
Frank walks down River Trail next to San Joaquin River.
San Joaquin River flows over slabs.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Cascade and Log
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Rhinocerous log
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
River crossing on trail to Garnet Lake
The hikers in the background are preparing to cross to our side.
Typical section of the River Trail
Grouseberries (Vaccinium scoparium)
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
A tranquil meadow
Frank passes a handsome tree.
Shadow Creek
Frank descends the River Trail near Shadow Creek.
View down the canyon
Mammoth Mountain is in the background. Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
A long switchback on the River Trail
Connector trail to Agnew Meadows
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Frank climbs to Agnew Meadows.
A splash of Eaton's penstemon
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Agnew Meadow in the evening
Frank crosses the last bridge.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Balancing the camera on the side mirror
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Frank and Bill at the end of the hike
