Day 4: Day Hike to Steelhead Lake

Early morning view from our 11,000-foot campsite, looking west across Elba Lake.

By mid-morning we're ready to leave on a dayhike to the upper lakes.

From the east end of Moon Lake, looking back towards our campsite (just beyond the far end of the lake).

From the plateau just west of L Lake, we enjoy expansive views in all directions.

Shoreline of L Lake at 11,100 feet.

Soaking up the 360-degree views.

Steve and Mike are looking south at the cross-country route Steve had taken out of Humphreys Basin a few years ago. Behind them are 13,000-foot Merriam Peak and Royce Peak.

We head to the northern edge of the plateau to get a view of tomorrow's cross country route.

Analyzing possible routes.

It looks fairly straightforward from this vantage point. Our objective is a narrow pass just below where the shadow lays across the peak.

We continue our dayhike up to Steelhead Lake.

Along the shoreline near 11,400 feet.

We climb the ridge north of the lake to get a better view.

Taking it all in.

Tomorrow's cross country route lies on the other side of upper French Canyon. Pine Creek Pass is on the right edge of the photo.

We climb up the 11,600-foot ridge northeast of Steelhead Lake to get a view of the five French Lakes. Lower and Upper Petite Lakes, shown in this photo, are little more than tarns just below the Sierra Crest.

Heading back down as dark clouds build.

By 2 p.m. we're nearly to our campsite.

We make our tents rain-proof as thunder echoes off the peaks.

So far the thundershowers remain near the higher peaks.

Approaching storm.

View across Elba Lake.

One last check of the weather before we make an early dinner.

Dinner is prepared as the rain begins, and we duck into our tents to eat.

A couple of hours later, the thundershower moves on and we enjoy the evening around our campsite.

The end of a fantastic day in the High Sierra. And to top it off, we enjoy an hour of viewing the Perseids meteor shower before clouds close in for the night.