Day 158 - JMT Donahue Pass

As we climbed the hillside trail towards Donahue Pass and our exit out of Yosemite, the vista opened up, exposing high arête, glacier-carved walls and a rocky path up to a mountain pass. We took this portrait showing the color scope of the Sierras--pink flowers, yellow grasses, green trees, grey mountains and blue skies.

Near the first pass, the trail climbed further left, passing a high lake, and then up past the green trees to the rocky alpine tundra above. You always have further to climb than you think.

The view at the pass was spectacular. Blue mountains in the distance chanted to us--beckoning us forward, but smoke far in the distance reminded us of the challenges and likely early-ending that our trip could face.

After a few miles of dusty paths leading through pretty but mainly just rocky terrain, the view changed: a powerful, mystical, compelling mountain began to dominate our view and our minds. The blue mountains spiked into the sky, their sharp edges countering the smoothness of the lower grounds with masculinity and power.

Mount Ritter finally came into clear, epic view at Thousand Island Lake. We stood in awe.

We considered camping here but continued instead to the next lake, called Garnet Lake. We had been told by a friend that Garnet was the most beautiful lake in this area. How it could top Thousand Island was beyond imagination.

But it did. Ritter towered over the lake like a general over his army. We found a hillside camp with narrow, level camp spots perfect for us.

We settled in, cooked a great dinner, setup our bear hang and watched the sun set over Mt. Ritter and Garnet Lake, our first true show of nature's divine glory, since setting out yesterday. What a great life?! What a wonder?! I felt blessed and so very happy. This trip was going to be special.

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Day 51 - Canyonlands Needles Pt 3

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