A Backpack Cross-Country Traverse of the Minarets

Dawn sun on the eastern Sierra. "The Watchtower" I believe, which we went all along. Deadhorse Pass is to the right below the rock teeth.

Deadhorse Pass

A Cross-Country Traverse of the Minarets, August/September 2006

Dawn was clear and sunny. There was, however, a complication for me. I walked down the short slope of the stream for water and when I walked back up the hill I was out of breath! How strange. I had been sick the week before but felt fine now. The problem was that part of the recovery process had filled my lungs with fluid, which I would be spending the next week hacking out. Ugh! Lying down at night made breathing worse, but if I stayed on my feet for a few hours I could breath easier.

The early morning view from near camp.

After breakfast and packing up, we headed for Deadhorse Pass. We walked up the slope (NNW) into the trees, with Dave showing the way since he had explored it the day before. Once in the trees we followed it upward, passing a steep gully going sharply to the right. We found a wider gully going upward that branched right near the top and followed that. This was particularly hard for me due to my breathing problem, but, it was the last problem for the rest of the day as I improved. Meanwhile, I got a lot of breathing exercise.

The way was pretty easy, steep, but not far to the top. Pretty soon it dumped out to the top of the pass and easy walking.