A Backpack Cross-Country Traverse of the Minarets

One last look at Minaret Lake, looking towards the minaret of the lake.

On to Cecile Lake

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

After giving the high view above Minaret Lake a good look, we headed back towards Cecile Lake.

Our high view perch was across this tarn and beyond the bush-like trees at the end of the tarn. This section is sketchy as a trailed route, but pretty obvious and fairly easy. Cecile Lake is behind me up a small slope.

We found the trail again which swept around to the west corner of the rocky bowl and faded away. the way was pretty obvious and we picked our way up the slope to the edge of the bowl.

Cecile Lake, a rocky talus embraced bowl of exposed water and stone. Right of mid picture you can  see the snowy summit slope of Mt. Ritter. To the right of Mt. Ritter is Banner Peak.

At the top of the slope, at last, Cecile Lake. Not a bad lake, but I have seen much better on this trip. It probably serves its best purpose as a jumping off point for climbs of the Minarets, in particular Clyde Minaret. In a sheltered area amid stunted trees is a crude camp and passably level ground for tents. Water is nearby.