A Short Trip in the Pioneer Basin Area

A panorama of the Mono Creek Canyon in the alpenglow in two pictures. In both pictures, Mono Rock fairly glows and provide a reference point. The top picture reveals a part of Fourth Recess and the waterfall above Fourth Recess lake. Above Fourth Recess is Mono Pass. The bottom picture is of Third Recess. In the woods of that canyon to the right is a hidden lake, and where the trees end up in that canyon (below the snow) is Third Recess Lake. Mt. Mills is on the left horizon. The far right peak is Recess Peak. Interestingly, most of the peaks in these pictures are un-named.

A View From the Edge

A Pioneer Basin Trip from Edison Lake, June 2003

After dinner we headed out past the small tarn near camp to a flat granite ledge, a perfect spot for our chairs and books to comfort us while we admired the stupendous view of the Mono Creek Canyon. I also brought a map to identify the many peaks and points of interest.

I showed you this picture at the beginning of this feature, but here it is again in context. This is a small lawn surrounded tarn near our camp where I enjoyed taking many pictures over its reflective waters. Here it reflects stunted trees and part of the Mono Divide. Off to the left we took our chairs and books to a ledge to admire the alpenglow on the  Divide.

This was a true highlight of the trip, but more would come. We thoroughly enjoyed the mind-altering panorama and watched as the alpen-glow unfolded, revealing the bold topography before us. Conditions were near perfect: clear, not too cold, calm with just the right amount of snow decorating the mountainsides. That view alone insured a successful hiking season, and that season was just beginning.

After a time the glow crept upward and dimmed and the after-glow set in and became the time of day when what light remained washed all color from view in a new monochromatic beauty. Then even that light dimmed and the stars began to shine, little jewel harolds of the coming night. We picked up our belonging and headed for camp after experiencing a fitting end for a stellar day in the Range of Light.