High Sierra Topix

In August I got to spend 10 days on the trail (and off-trail) doing a loop around Mt Brewer. There's no official name for this route, but it includes part of the Circle of Solitude, thus my name. Our route was:

Day 1: Onion Valley to Kearsarge Lakes
Day 2: Kearsarge Lakes to East Lake
Day 3: Mt Brewer dayhike from East Lake
Day 4: East Lake to Lake Reflection (rest day at Lake Reflection)
Day 5: Lake Reflection to Upper Cunningham Creek via Longley Pass (with a climb of South Guard from the pass)
Day 6: Upper Cunningham Creek to Sphinx Basin via Cinder Col and Sphinx Pass
Day 7: Mt Francis Farquhar attempt and Sphinx Lakes dayhike
Day 8: Sphinx Lakes to Juntion Meadow (along Bubbs Creek)
Day 9: Junction Meadow to Kearsarge Lakes
Day 10: Kearsarge Lakes to Onion Valley

I've finally finished with my photos and trip reports. Lots of details and photos available here!

A couple of comments about the route:
The East side of Longley Pass was easy this year because there was no snow. I hated the descent on the west side, however (steep and loose).
Loved the east side of Sphinx Pass, hated the west side (boulders boulders boulders)
Sphinx Lakes are gorgeous. The descent down Sphinx Creek was much better than expected. Still not sure if I'd want to go up it, though.
Smoke really sucks.

What a fantastic trip report. I really enjoyed all of the words and beautiful photos. You have some of the finest images and description on the web of Brewers east ridge.

I had scheduled a trip to the same area, but alas the Rough fire had other ideas. Glad to see you made it in and out of there unscathed.

Thanks, the east ridge was a beautiful route, I would go back in a heartbeat!

Wonderful report and photos. You inspired me to put Sphinx Lakes and the Brewer region on my bucket list.