A Backpack Cross-Country Traverse of the Minarets
Dave hangs out by Fern Lake with breakfast as the sun rises. I wondered if that snow field lingered so late in a normal year?.
Morning at Fern Lake
A Cross-Country Traverse of the Minarets, September 2006DAY 2, 6 Miles, 2483 feet of gain, 1860 feet of loss of all travel totaled.
A warmish night led to a clear and sunny typical Sierra daybreak. As usual, we got up at the crack of dawn, which is pretty easy to do on the east side of the Sierra because you get full-on sunshine as soon as the sun comes up. Morning alpine-glow is particularly nice on the eastern Sierra slopes.
Morning alpine-glow reflected on the still waters of Fern Lake west shore.
This was going to be an awesome day in the high country, and it was starting out in grand style with the golden sunlight reflected on the calm waters of Fern Lake. It looked like if you had time to hang around the lake, it would be a worthwhile to trek up to the ridge-top above the lake, and there might be several ways to do it. I think there was fish in the lake, but not too many: it seems to be a popular lake judging from the signs of use. Still, this late in the season, the lake was in pretty good shape.
After packing most of my gear, I joined Dave for breakfast. We were anxious to get going, looking forward to seeing something new in an area we had yet to visit. There is getting to be precious little of the Sierra we have not yet seen. All of this trek was going to be new for Dave, and about 70% new for me. I was looking forward to seeing Dave's reaction to the part I had previously visited, and I knew that would be grand.
The shaded outlet east end of Fern Lake.
The morning-glow had hardly grown to full daylight when were packed and ready to hit the trail.
