Backpacking Galore

Over the last 6 weeks i have gone on 3 backpacking trips. A 3 day trip in the San Gorgonio Wilderness and two 3 day trips in the Eastern Sierras. It was great fun. If you want to get into backpacking and back country hiking I suggest you take the Wilderness Travel Course
offered by the Sierra Club. They teach you all you need to know to live in the back woods for days at a time and more importantly the confidence to do it.
The first trip in the Sierras was to the Big Pine Lakes and the Palisades Glacier. The lakes are an awesome turquoise color due to the glacial silt suspended in them.

Sierra Ridges on HWY 395

I have been up and down HWY 395 millions of times. This was the first time I did it in the evening. The setting sun in Owens valley makes some great sights. I took this at the rest stop south of Olancha at the Coso Junction.

Middle Palisades in the far back

This is taken on the trail up to the lakes. You can see the Middle Palisades on the right in the far back.

Lon Chaney's Cabin Door

Lon Chaney and his son Lon Chaney Jr. are old time actors and when I say old time I mean Lon Chaney Sr. did silent films. Lon Chaney Jr. is known for the old monster movies such as Wolf-Man. This cabin was built by Lon Chaney Sr. as a summer get away cabin and still sits high on the trail today.

The Vibrant 2nd Lake

Upon reaching the lakes on the trail, you are greeted with the most stunning turquoise blue color. It is from the glacial silt that is suspended in the water.

Glacier Blue

Lake and Pine Tress

Afternoon Sun on 2nd Lake

The Top of Temple Crag

First, Second and Third Lakes

On the way up to the Palisade Glacier I was able to snap this picture of First, Second and Third Lakes.

Inclimate Terrain

Here is some of the rocky terrain we had to cross to get to the glacier.

Our final destination

Our final destination at over 12,300 ft elevation. What a site it was!

The Palisade Glacier

The Palisade Glacier is the largest glacier in the Sierras and also the southern most glacier in the United States.

Sierra Tiger Lily

On the hike out I stopped to take a picture of this Sierra Tiger Lily

Mule Pack

The Hike back to the cars I had to climb off the trail to clear out for this Mule Pack to come by. Now that's the way to hike!