It was a frozen morning and ice lined our tent walls. We had camped higher than planned and this morning the meadows were a glistening, frosty white.
Hiking felt natural as we sped along, both of us moving easily over even the most difficult and cobbled terrain.
Near midday, as we descended from our first big climb up and over Bear Ridge -- nice and easy, all under Pine cover with padded, pine needle tread -- we started coming upon great, rustling groves of yellowing, autumn Aspen trees, the lean, sinewy, muscular trunks reflecting silver and white in the sunlight. The deciduous trees are a nice change of scenery after spending so many months under virtually consistent evergreen cover.
We lunched and dried our gear out alongside the South Fork San Joaquin River. I had been feeling drowsy and fatigued towards the end of the morning, almost like I may be coming down with a cold or something.
We climbed Selden Pass in late afternoon, again at 10,900, enjoying a spectacular view back north over Marie Lake as we gained our last bit of elevation.
The peaks are a flat, concrete grey and lakes speckle the canyon floors. One big poof of cumulus hangs far over the talest of the big mountains. Ahead of us, whispy mare's tails are brushed over the sky, left of the now setting sun.
The evening cools down quickly, almost immediately as the sun disapears behind a nearby ridgeline. We make for Senger Creek and set camp.
We have our schedule mapped out for the next week. The high passes are next after a short stop at the Muir Trail Ranch. As it stands, we expect to be finished on the 1st and back in Lone Pine by the 2nd.
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