First day's hike in was a drive
to the end of the 4x4 short route 31E301 (by the way, Tom Harrison has a lot of these roads labeled differently from the Forest Service). Took us about 2 hrs from the start of the road to Coyote Flat in Bishop - nice mix of open gravel roads, massive erosion, and 10" pointy boulders to keep us on our toes. Eventually, the road fades out at the northeastern edge of Green Lake just below the Hunchback. The last section before this is forested with some up and down, but there weren't any snow patches like I've seen in past reports, and this was first week of July. 
You can faintly see the steep trail down to Green Lake
After a calm night (I would have a tent stake blown out the next night for the first time in my life), we hit Cloudripper. The hike is straightforward - we headed for the plateau above Green Lake, crossing the trail from Green Lake to N. Fork Big Pine Creek. After the first plateau, another similar climb follows to the saddle north of Vagabond, crossing west of Vagabond Peak, and down into a saddle below Cloudripper. The hike up from here is easy Class 2, but the last few feet before the summit block required Class 3.
Thunder and Lightning Lake from the way up to Vagabond
The first plateau with the saddle north of Vagabond Peak up top
The saddle between Vagabond and Cloudripper
Summit Block
View from the top. Awesome perspective on Palisade Glacier and Temple Crag.
View to the west - Ruwau & Long Lake. Margaret Lake perched above.
Looking forward to seeing this area again later this year, with a trip planned through Bishop Pass, looping back around to Green Lake... fire gods willing. Thanks to all for the content on HST, happy to be participating.
