JMT Day 17: Mather Pass

Sunday, August 07, 2011
	Destination: Lake Marjorie Starting Location: Upper Palisade Lake	Today's Miles: 11.50 Trip Miles: 168.60

We began our day as the sun shown over the mountains through the trees.

 Then we began our climb up to Mather Pass.

We soon were out of the trees into expansive views.

There was also lots of fairly steep snow, which caused conditions to be somewhat treacherous.

After some fun scrambling we made it to the top and discovered the view on the other side.

Looking back to Palisade Lakes from Mather Pass

Josh on Mather Pass

We tried to get a picture with the three of us but the camera fell and almost broke itself on the rocks so we didn't try again.

On the descent there was less snow, making it relatively easy. We hiked in a treeless canyon for many miles near the South Fork of the Kings River.

We even saw a dead deer in a stream that we crossed!

We climbed up to Marjorie Lake. The mountains have a different color, more red.

Small Lake North of Lake Marjorie

 Lake Marjorie

   This is our first campsite at over 11,000 feet. Austin did a cannonball into the snowmelt water, that made my foot instantly numb when it entered the water.