Brewer Basin in Kings Canyon

North Guard for the summit of Mt. Brewer. Mt. Goddard can be seen on the far horizon.

Retreat

Crushed, I began the steep descent and incidentally found the easiest route up. I would keep this in mind if I returned armed with a rope. This was the second time this had happened to me when I hit an exposed Class 3 section with no rope. I vowed, if a peak is on our trip itinerary, a rope will be brought along, I swear! Naturally, it probably won't be needed making it so much dead weight, but that is a better risk to take.

The summit block of Mt. Brewer.

My funk was not so great I did not have time to glory in the near-summit views. Large East Lake looked like no more than a small puddle below. The route up to Harrison Pass was easy to see, along with the other passes such as "Milly's Foot Pass", and "Thunder Pass". Everywhere I looked I saw peaks, lakes and features I have studied a thousand times on maps and dreamed of seeing. It was topographic heaven...

All photographs on this page by Dave E.

The summit register on Mt. Brewer.