Circle the Cirque Crest

The Muro Blanco! Looks like nice and easy cross-country doesn't it, huh? Well read on. The reason for its name can be see below with its sheer white granite walls. The shaded area down canyon is the doorway mentioned below.

Muro Blanco down below...

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

The first order of business was to find a most excellent camp site, and after crossing the outlet we found many possible camps and one that really was most excellent. Dave pitched the tent on a large level grass and gruss bench while I set up the kitchen on flat granite. Our packs were leaned up against the granite bench on clean granite. A nearby tree held the waterbag and filter, and other trees propped up or held various items.
For our dining pleasure we had a stupendous panorama of Bench Lake, Arrow Peak and a multitude of peaks on the horizon, all waiting on the evening alpen-glow for our enjoyment. We were home.
We had plenty of time and after we set up and had some kick-back time, we set out to explore the basin. First we traversed south and found an overlook down into the majestic Muro Blanco. It looked green and inviting, and from this great distance, it looked like easy going. We could see it narrow down canyon to a passage that looked like a great open door. Little did we know the green below was bush over 6 foot tall, and it would take us 6 hours to get to the great open door, and getting through the door would not be easy.