MrBill's Albums - Mount Conness East Ridge Exploration, September 28, 2022

View up Lee Vining Canyon at sunset.

Fri, 07 Oct 2022 00:56:35 +0000

View up Lee Vining Canyon at sunset. / View up Lee Vining Canyon at sunset. Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.

Hikers are happy to arrive back at the trailhead.

Fri, 07 Oct 2022 00:56:17 +0000

Hikers are happy to arrive back at the trailhead. / Hikers are happy to arrive back at the trailhead.

Frank and Stella start across the dam at Saddlebag Lake.

Fri, 07 Oct 2022 00:55:49 +0000

Frank and Stella start across the dam at Saddlebag Lake. / Frank and Stella start across the dam at Saddlebag Lake.

Sunset over Hall Valley.

Fri, 07 Oct 2022 00:55:34 +0000

Sunset over Hall Valley. / Sunset over Hall Valley. Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.

Saddlebag Lake in the evening.

Fri, 07 Oct 2022 00:55:13 +0000

Saddlebag Lake in the evening. / Saddlebag Lake in the evening. Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.

Frank and Stella near the top of the climb from Hall Valley.

Fri, 07 Oct 2022 00:54:43 +0000

Frank and Stella near the top of the climb from Hall Valley. / Frank and Stella near the top of the climb from Hall Valley.

Mount Dana in evening light.

Fri, 07 Oct 2022 00:54:24 +0000

Mount Dana in evening light. / Mount Dana in evening light.

Frank and Stella return past the Hall Hut.

Fri, 07 Oct 2022 00:54:03 +0000

Frank and Stella return past the Hall Hut. / Frank and Stella return past the Hall Hut. At this point we know we are about a mile from the trailhead.

A deer foot found on the use trail.

Fri, 07 Oct 2022 00:53:37 +0000

A deer foot found on the use trail. / A deer foot found on the use trail.

Somewhere on this face is a passable route to the hanging valley above Alpine Lake.

Fri, 07 Oct 2022 00:53:11 +0000

Somewhere on this face is a passable route to the hanging valley above Alpine Lake. / Somewhere on this face is a passable route to the hanging valley above Alpine Lake. When I stood at the edge of the valley above I could see no easy way down that gave me confidence we would not be "cliffed-out". But, apparently there is a route. From below it looks like a passable route follows the faint stream that flows from this valley, zig-zagging down the ledges. We will explore it on a future outing.

Frank and Stella enjoy a well-deserved rest before starting the return hike to Saddlebag Lake.

Fri, 07 Oct 2022 00:52:50 +0000

Frank and Stella enjoy a well-deserved rest before starting the return hike to Saddlebag Lake. / Frank and Stella enjoy a well-deserved rest before starting the return hike to Saddlebag Lake.

Frank and Stella near the bottom of the descent from Alpine Lake.

Fri, 07 Oct 2022 00:52:14 +0000

Frank and Stella near the bottom of the descent from Alpine Lake. / Frank and Stella near the bottom of the descent from Alpine Lake. Can you see them in the photo?

Bill waits at the established use trail.

Fri, 07 Oct 2022 00:51:36 +0000

Bill waits at the established use trail. / Bill waits at the established use trail. Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.

Frank and Stella below Alpine Lake work their way across some talus.

Fri, 07 Oct 2022 00:51:07 +0000

Frank and Stella below Alpine Lake work their way across some talus. / Frank and Stella below Alpine Lake work their way across some talus.

Frank and Stella start down the horribly loose use trail to Alpine Lake.

Fri, 07 Oct 2022 00:50:37 +0000

Frank and Stella start down the horribly loose use trail to Alpine Lake. / Frank and Stella start down the horribly loose use trail to Alpine Lake.

Weather station in the valley.

Fri, 07 Oct 2022 00:49:54 +0000

Weather station in the valley. / Weather station in the valley.

Bill explores for an alternate descent route.

Fri, 07 Oct 2022 00:49:17 +0000

Bill explores for an alternate descent route. / Bill explores for an alternate descent route. Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.

Frank crosses the valley.

Fri, 07 Oct 2022 00:48:52 +0000

Frank crosses the valley. / Frank crosses the valley. The flank of the East Ridge is to the right.

Frank and Stella arrive at the hanging valley below the East Ridge.

Fri, 07 Oct 2022 00:48:22 +0000

Frank and Stella arrive at the hanging valley below the East Ridge. / Frank and Stella arrive at the hanging valley below the East Ridge.

Frank and Stella make their retreat from the East Ridge.

Fri, 07 Oct 2022 00:47:55 +0000

Frank and Stella make their retreat from the East Ridge. / Frank and Stella make their retreat from the East Ridge.