High Sierra Topix

Posted: **Tue Dec 13, 2005 9:52 pm**

Close. The wall is Spring Lake Wall and drops down to Spring Lake. The lake in the photo is Columbine Lake.

Posted: **Tue Dec 13, 2005 10:35 pm**

From the Sawtooth / Needham ridge?

Posted: **Tue Dec 13, 2005 10:59 pm**

No, I was standing on the ridge between Columbine and Lost Canyon. Here was the view at the same time looking down Lost Canyon to the east.
(Sorry about the bad scan on this one)

Posted: **Tue Dec 13, 2005 11:47 pm**

Thanks, got it now!

Posted: **Wed Dec 14, 2005 9:42 pm**

Well, I was wondering about Mountaineers' photo too. I'm slow on the draw, but here's Columbine Lake from Sawtooth Peak to put it in perspective:

Posted: **Wed Dec 14, 2005 10:41 pm**

Haaaa, Shaun! Perfect! The only time I've ever seen Columbine Lake in daylight was from the summit of Sawtooth. Every other time we, or I saw it was pulling in very late, trying to make it back to MK. Has anyone done the XC pass between Crystal Lake and Amphitheater Lake? Quite interesting from the east. I also did the XC pass in the next basin north of Franklin Lakes, over to the large unnamed lake in the Soda Creek drainage. Also, crossed the ridge east of Amphitheater Lake to the unnamed tarn just to the south of Needham. All out of the MK area. Saw no one for 3 days back there. Made a fun little loop trip.
http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?z=11&n= ... ayer=DRG25

Posted: **Wed Dec 14, 2005 11:18 pm**

Well, I haven't done the XC pass between Crystal Lake and Amphitheater Lake but when I was up at Sawtooth we came down via the south ridge and then scrambled down via the Monarch lakes to the trail. Afterwards I was kicking myself for not wandering over to and down around Crystal Lake. Anyway, I stood there above Amphitheater Lake for quite some time just admiring the beauty of the thing; I have a photo of it (below) as my screen saver on this PC.

A favorite view - Amphitheater Lake

This is where I was standing when I took the picture from above Amphitheater Lake - but now looking over to the traverse to Crystal Lake.

Posted: **Wed Dec 14, 2005 11:46 pm**

Ahhhhh, yes! I love that view south of Sawtooth. That peaklet that looks like a huge Sharkfin. Interestingly, I traversed on ledges below the outlet of Amphitheater Lake. It was sidewalk like. At one point, you actually pass through a tunnel in the rock, where the pack just fit without taking it off. Completely natural, and very cool!

Posted: **Thu Dec 15, 2005 12:06 am**

Whitney:
http://community.webshots.com/photo/955 ... 4128lkOUnn

Bright Dot Lake:
http://community.webshots.com/photo/467 ... 5190bPNIqN

Little Bear Lakes:
http://community.webshots.com/photo/463 ... 0700ttsVVe

Seven Gables from Ursa Lake:
http://community.webshots.com/photo/463 ... 1418oCXZIS

still can't post photos, sorry!

Posted: **Thu Dec 15, 2005 12:46 am**

Mountaineer, might it be Cyclamen Lake? Just have never seen Columbine from that side, in daylight anyway. The Shooting Stars (Dodecatheon Jefferyii) are spectacular at Columbine Lake in season. That wild Cyclamen, is to die for.

High Sierra Topix

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