Circle the Cirque Crest

Near our camp was this view...except for this day explained below it was dark and raining, and even snowing on the upper heights seen above. This is at the two small lakes near the largest lake, now off trail, and the official beginning of this section of cross-country travel on the Sierra High Route. This picture was taken after the rain day explained below.

Horseshoe Lakes: Dawn

Circle The Cirque Crest - By D.W.Donehoo (All rights reserved)

Day 4. Tuesday, September 2. We awoke to gray and blue sky, and as we finished packing it was just gray. We three set out for White Pass, and as we passed the northern Horseshoe Lake, the nearby mountains began to sock in and it began to drizzle. Kalon announced he would turn back to the trailhead and try to get out today due to the weather. We all went back to about mid-between-lakes and found a reasonably dry spot to stand and talk, then put on our rain gear. It was really beginning to rain in earnest. We bid Kalon a good trip back and he trotted off. After a short discussion, Dave and I decided we had better camp and get the tent up. Dave went to look for a sheltered spot and I finished getting on my rain gear. Eventually, we settled on a small grove of trees that had a leaning tree that gave some small shelter from the now serious downpour. Once we set up the tent and a bit of camp, we sat for a bit, but Dave had enough after awhile and piled into the tent. I was tempted to follow him, but I had good boots, gaiters, rain proof hat, good rain gear, and enough clothes to keep me nearly warm, so after I was geared up I sat in my chair to watch the show. John Muir said in storms nature is most revealing, so I sat to watch what was revealed. It rained, it poured, it hailed, it blew, and above it snowed. As the day wore on, my boots began to admit some moisture and cold. My gloves began to get wet, which meant my hands began to get cold. Moisture began to creep into exposed spots. Once in a while it would let up a bit, and I would explore, and I found a good route to the ridge on the way to Gray Pass, but the rain would always drive me back. At least I got warmer. Once, the sun came out, but soon it was back to driving rain. In the evening, we had a quick meal and cleanup, and then we both retreated to the soggy tent. I had to towel the tent on my side to get the water, and I wrapped my bag in my rain gear to keep it dry. Then lights out to listen to the rain pounding on the tent, watch the sudden flashes of lightening, and listen to the crashing and rolling thunder. A long day.