First view of The Hourglass
Peaks are (l to r) Bear Creek Spire, Pipsqueak Spire, and Mt. Dade.
Bill photographs The Hourglass.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Frank and Bill pause at Box Lake
Bill stands before Bear Creek Spire.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Frank crosses Rock Creek.
Snow from the day before dusts the side of the trail.
Bill waits at Long Lake.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Frank hikes past Long Lake.
Lookout Peak rises above Long Lake.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Frank captures the colors of the grass.
Colorful grass
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
We climb a canyon through thick willow.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Then we climb through rocks.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Rocks as far as we can see...
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Frank likes to scramble over boulders.
View of Long Lake, now in the distance.
Lookout Peak and Mt. Starr are at the left.
The canyon choked with rocks becomes steeper.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Snag and Boulder
Bill presses up through the talus.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Ah, an actual trail to follow!
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Frank and Bill relax by the shore of the lowest of the four Treasure Lakes.
In the background are Bear Creek Spire, Pipsqueak Spire, The Hourglass, and Mt. Dade.
Bill waits at the far end of the southwestern-most Treasure Lake.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Frank starts over to join Bill at the end of the lake.
Frank climbed a little ways up the cliff to get a better view of the lake.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Sierra Crest peaks from Treasure Lake (1)
(l to r): Pyramid Peak (12866ft), Bear Creek Spire (13720+ ft), Pip-squeak Spire (13268ft), and Mt. Dade (13600ft). The Hourglass is the chute between Pip-Squeak Spire and Mt. Dade.
The uppermost Treasure Lake
Mt. Morgan (13748ft) is at the right.
Mount Morgan rises massively to the east.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
The summit of Mt. Dade lies high above.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Clam-shell rock
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Frank makes his way though talus next to the lowest Treasure Lake.
We don't want to return this way over endless talus in the outflow of Treasure Lakes.
Frank climbs the ridge to the east of Treasure Lakes.
In the background are Pipsqueak Spire and Mt. Dade, with The Hourglass in between.
Bill starts down to Gem Lakes.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
One of the Gem Lakes lies far below.
Bill climbs over a fallen tree.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Bill then makes his way down a steep pile of rubble.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Frank follows close behind.
Wasps swarm near their nest (at the center of the nearest slab).
I had just trodden near their nest, rousing them to defense. Fortunately, I sustained only one minor sting.
Near Gem Lake we encounter a backpacker looking for a camping spot.
We assured him we were just passing through and that no one else would be coming our way.
Southernmost Gem Lake and Mt. Dade above.
The ridge we descended is at the right.
Frank marches ahead on the Gem Lakes Trail.
In the background is the unnamed peak between Morgan Pass and Mt. Morgan.
Bill nears the southern end of Long Lake.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Lookout Peak in afternoon light.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
Long Lake from its southern end
Frank snaps an evening photo of the Crest.
Bill drives the van back to Mammoth.
Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.
