I'll post a couple highlights, but there are a ton more photos/details on my blog. No ads or anything, just easier vs posting lots of photos here.
https://backpackandbeer.blogspot.com/20 ... -2022.html
Since someone usually asks, these photos are all with my Sony a7ii and the 24-105 lens. There are also cell phone photos on the blog.
Background: I had spent all winter thinking about the Sierra and decided that I wanted to try one of the other hard east-side passes after doing Shepherd Pass in 2021 (https://backpackandbeer.blogspot.com/20 ... -2021.html). I also wanted to try some easy cross-country passes after making the climb to Pickett Lake. Taboose Pass sound like it would put me in the middle of a lot of possibilities. And it looked like I might be able to meet some people at Maverick's Ladder Lake meetup.
So, here is what I planned for 11 nights
Taboose -> Upper Basin -> Mather Pass -> Cirque Pass -> Potluck Pass -> Knapsack Pass -> Dusy Basin -> JMT -> Ladder Lake -> JMT -> Amphitheater Lake -> Cataract Creek Pass -> Dumbell Lakes -> Dumbell Pass -> Lakes Basin -> Cartridge Pass -> Bench Lake -> Taboose Pass
Things did not go according to plans because it turns out the weather gets a vote
![smile :)](./images/smilies/smile.gif)
A preview of the trip
![Image](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3kDYQaVXzUlN_N2mbYpMfa3Qc1XQvWuhhsnTv6CO6pVE_LGIQt_ZsGiVYBBgQ1NCHMByN9uAhDUhYe_tPDtokpRb4B9hKqp0hToDg1U2droxz6V6_OOq90SvKbQKYz7jvk9BDOhhZmW1g81STSTWOKXGuMNmNaZg4g_By12LgRVjZNyZmPdJeDF2cUA/w640-h426/san%20joaquin%20gauge.png)
I flew into Reno, got a car, and drove south to tacos in Big Pine, and some beer and then drove to Taboose Road. God, what a terrible road. I gave up about a mile short of the trailhead when I found a small pulloff near the old corrals, figured I'd rather walk the last mile in the morning.
Weather did not look great, planning on cowboy camping by the car, hope I don't get wet.
![Image](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOmE05F-lArHTXDMdVHeO2SeXKRMUC2hOSOyUEbXc3VCL_iAdUyqxRsn7ToVwq6xh6a6wxsVlKiro_uAkn_rHPywkY42tgJHy3DaqYDTsaqSM19jOp5URiAbU2eXLMR8IGCAGdae3m8Qhym-D4GTfzC6QmxDpDN8Ae5qgOXvpvk5PDjBlcx6oISJdh0g/w640-h480/2022-07-27%2022.51.20.jpg)
Day 1 (Taboose Pass)
Woke to a beautiful sunset
![Image](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJdCvtnbvV3YvioiaSVBFbMh0xZGqwezCEuXZngU1n7LuucRfWO9RRcFj_0Fg0CmtRnrTLHYw-omQqfQm1YssggnnmWuHQxZ2RnvZODYP81Zt4MzTOUN6ncPN6izroLnEr5XK-OGERIkpf-QVy2_fKQeEuNSNqfPGnk9iwZciri5fdGuiH9QFfYZweATbl/w640-h426/Jul%2028%202022.jpg)
And started hiking early, clouds were building over the pass
![Image](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAiDItdGOHh2ly0gyP4YAd6Mwv_e3Gw5FpcqYYvBxps93vkjuK86afCgFtbaJEbdTnsMMi_Y6DIJlAgs8LYvVVNGKxTeGJSzUKtlPCweKsStA44986pEx_N0-6Y2F8szYw47anarv-3S0PzwEDOVF5WlrT8YgA7Q6JMjDa6upy0L00wkQ2TIJTP4k6Qe6I/w426-h640/Jul%2028%202022_4.jpg)
I got to the top of the pass in about 9 hours and quickly set up camp since rain was on the way
![Image](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIJRTRGJbZzKpdqMaK1V9qtXqYtQFKgVbpKMRE7Ci4vMJ3sVYouuzdgzt0GyRcFWnB1rP3RszkPQVtgZA3VBI2L2k7QvjsbWRDEDpgXS0fDCGpZ5UQjyRU8o-qFC4vB2qxtfwmtNIsYZcy9cu6iXe8d947LS_FXbheCCT4zGai6TQ3dykiryHgolGixWf2/w640-h426/Jul%2028%202022_17.jpg)
Day 2 (Upper Basin)
JMT through Upper Basin
![Image](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju3-iHzMGKKBg_b8nIcfr22Zo7uj_oXT4ONNVHM3fHoqG8sGRaDbM9-l31UCQfKO-2RWh23pY31w_BYwXMoK9MmmxSA3pM3qdujmp-XZ4sJAW93Zv7VjkE1PeWTn6JaCKDIUAl9qJtpfdrTQGvpFOCVkAALaLZnO_B-BV2H1diGrSn0S3agAM3YIKtF9ou/w640-h426/Jul%2029%202022_5.jpg)
Nice storm (rain, hail, graupel) came through not long after I set up camp below Mather Pass, thankfully did not last long and I was able to wander a bit.
![Image](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm34wod3YhfZQWeE_KRJZqrUSKqvehYcXa5ctdARTkFTm3P1BbmmcXvXyQ3RY5MsF4SBUS7TOHAbLyEzqwIIxIXhBVWtZ8zvE3zuKXxW7TI_vfJOul0LzSFAbN8ryy-ahn3Wy5ZvR7cRxG2_WmlOXglsYX0f0oyjxO0abbMFn6v9s2xiTXLt3gD_kbe58a/w640-h426/Jul%2029%202022_6.jpg)
Day 3 (Mather Pass, Cirque Pass)
![Image](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7K_Jj6HXgFC4YeXlDBPvV3choR5dUxCh_8k7RvFV7bGa2nU-Vdu2DDlKCqBd5XOV0N_LLSC00mV0hCMW6o02eNhRHw4ZJKZB734_-8737l0fdDHYjMCpTnXaKsfLD214Qev9wirEWJ8Jt7rNM-oEcXSNJWZ-Wa3v2uN3NQQcZQxL2pQu4mipCiPct4wmZ/w640-h426/Jul%2030%202022_1.jpg)
Palisade Lakes
![Image](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguWqMusJsTiqFj7PYsFxxDT2nJrhhJCTaX33yA-rgqx6W5xbsX9Qu0NrGXZHdL6REsQSwyKmIrEWly4xfhi47aDsFrDCet2Rchq4DjtF0QWwLmeAFQ3DpOw67IDUp8pkXXtFt7XKfe0vPO6PT5eoc--ok7vV7Uqol5LJ8B_5Nz0h3lelQX4-wpMaxJQ6he/w640-h426/Jul%2030%202022_18.jpg)
Climbing towards Cirque Pass with Lower Palisade Lake below
![Image](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9EjmbSbo2K_XSpO35vXI42PgH-DX69MIYAD8xMyNP-yQ-Ypf6Ma78lmVrogvfqTwqrhz_IPvPR5w68GpvClLOVM_Ym0Vf6K-J3tUa4aSGxd0Ch5WjwPqjWBVOLXxeP75NIYkHy6jAdvwGq37t1KUfCnASqJbKwU8WTIn5Jn4U08aKLkgTO475UVMy4aL-/w640-h426/Jul%2030%202022_37.jpg)
A little bit of route finding and I made it over Cirque Pass (I really appreciate the info on the cross-country passes here on HST, thanks everybody)
Set up camp at the outlet of the lake that drains into Glacier Creek.
Amazing views to the west, clouds building
![Image](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnZrm6jOcIhbkctpdeNKqAzWQSOXjWDfmnoalKAPfbiwg60G4PXJgQwEu4Zrdng7QaZnGnSkt8bPwPIB2fz2wzxPMu7wsSYh7JeAiJeNu3qRVbyjncMaX3p7Fyv6R3y6vA--ngWx1PQ1n5RagWsz_qb3A9hTlulgQbt2LH7u9sev6M_WGvVwzfFT-1uZDP/w640-h426/Jul%2030%202022_39.jpg)
And to the east, clouds building
![Image](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeTZdoh5A-IRRgDV2ZMkvus1qBP5e1sFKlpgBALr5zfQw4pc9H-zYKJcTu9-7H3U3LYwkBAnx0DcrV4r6RWM7L5suv_EAsh5DKPAbjNuBqsu5Ybtm6iWZZAg0QwiZmeYbK2vefgoEYNI5J_l863dYZ90lfUEChbviLRFgG5pKyxoPzPT9rKF1krEAea6Mz/w640-h426/Jul%2030%202022_44.jpg)
Day 4 (Potluck and Knapsack Passes)
Clouds already
![Image](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDUpSiSGhhFIAaeH9VdwJC051gpRswxmYFOJ3Onx4n8OYc0O32EoaHRY16WMs0RZZr35bxcQdZNz7oBjXMTu-4ptJ2ZBo29Oss1yovFjqZTwFixO_xMEjBT0ULs9U0gAmXkWhozdNIyKviR82bCNfmepv71HZV2BZdq0VggMb2qQQIgsY5UKwLVQ-UBheO/w640-h426/Jul%2031%202022.jpg)
I'd really like to spend a couple nights in the Barrett Lakes Basin
![Image](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwoLAzRBrI4J5ViG7310n6BddNK2V7Wyk803AHNin9Fyq7x95__S0uslP8VFuRUPqgq77-rCniWREOYhlzUifv8IuWGDvQDhfXVvHPvCfzC6hZqU-Ogq7fXEybeMV6PM_vhcIg1DMuz03lzi8alPOx3LKOB9XjyRyvtMo2fqvB4sQBoNYwOjTTkfCZvtwo/w640-h426/Jul%2031%202022_11.jpg)
Looks like Dusy Basin is going to get hit
![Image](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj81tCzSXrIEi-zCuHXg5-dLbfXZd7E1j3Ha8ht_u2Gdc74_rdm3ycBXP6Pddrf7NHsKvx8Hrcik0C73wI0c_zyh9g6uPMfJrC5F3tko_Ty1KbFyF90mbj-e4LjOhsacSwCK9lSJyOOwUC7DHifRPNEXQE6f3cDeOaxivnrVxRd9SqZ-jESnxEdnfHJAAUs/w640-h426/Jul%2031%202022_14.jpg)
Day 5 (Dusy Basin layover)
After a ton of rain the previous afternoon, I woke up to lots of low clouds
![Image](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2RwGmVJee4BRBX3_6HwWcjRgbwIgRQc-3RnYa2tvvAlzO9SLX-iVXIw2wn6xqM5scsw3QE5xRN46RGecrnnUEkQflStwTcUYfk6zD7H2i9_j42U1o3Zo4XubJODLZu9XCqBvrbwxjvvKQMLG-2_ZeScYfoTXzWrD98OISzKyfagP5MpGunbnBQDUfh5gr/w640-h426/Aug%2001%202022_1.jpg)
Because of all the rain, when I went wandering I only took my cell phone
Day 6 (moving to lower Dusy basin)
Looks like better weather
![Image](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHRmHlRlSKJH5VE1wXhYv4VHY6iUgwlDALdkSm7m9VlNdDk7xiDGg1Rqlo9S3KJOgN0fgwhYRjpikAV0WhguZkiM0y-tDHCPmeYBl1Jd-KnnZgGZsd7zxNt9WRnUCL04L1oeJCWTXXjgkskP7d2G7MHNbpVJBo-j1wOZ0zxhABpjBX3D7iHjtZkhcQ4Fg-/w640-h426/Aug%2002%202022_5.jpg)
I set up camp at the end of the lower basin and dodged more rain, when it wasn't raining, it was beautiful
![Image](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5-r6nUlyCAbx5vvrBjQkNhpAd0w0Iisat2XQZFY2-d1BiqO5X80DPUr3GozWGoNOSiBke6YGwAfXqtDho6vVuDmrWZmdPY1XxJZW41xZ9kYbNpGb0pC4iUuwQPTOiLI8sSMnmcHvgek3Ge77lY02ODXvxEYiugrUSYVpdCqA7qfR0ocxRn2VX6YeNbrAf/w640-h426/Aug%2002%202022_33.jpg)
More rain, talked to some other people who were sort of nearby, everyone was happy with this view
![Image](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGZtvsnG_tEyBJ6Olo_DfoqWXQYgBtpXx1rgOAcVT2U4TQTiSEBHaZNd7pC7Epc5Tziqq25t8puAAldG08Fs8HDfSP528ZUAZmBGhBa1owV47bz78j3TSJxnZXKmpFfGcLrk_kghgCXPSwfgqtVIwl0jbdmwTpbGPxZ-v-0xs2OW_dX18KhJ87yipYsh8R/w640-h426/Aug%2002%202022_80.jpg)
Finally, a nice sunset
![Image](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6pd2LvCOhBEuXD7FrEOKebPITan6AVoKCNwc2aLIGNiKnQklauu-P6C3xDOZvWfqi9u56sEI-Qd7FZnFtnb678yG6k8abRGtqoRNmJUnLZDPc-qee-YpWBpmwbUP_5ihi-TWbtCEu50Va4jG4ACAjBm4QwNSyn7eMr_bdjx3_NJmew6djQYUk_4n1-Yu-/w640-h426/Aug%2002%202022_123.jpg)
Day 7 (down to the JMT)
Great views from the Dusy Basin trail looking west
![Image](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQnsesQBk4o6vYkWMAX3fTvsbq2IA_PYRmF4oTQiUlRwCIa6oMlaNWO-1JEOkyc3xQAp7lK3jhQSM8WZzS92rmHI1nmRi1gbZ_XmTRd59Oe0lYmDXr-CBBF53pCTUqdK5bENz6PDGSE8RvPMk80q7Epa1w0wMINsAqp2omvAaR7sAhvuy8tG363sVkagTY/w640-h306/Aug%2003%202022_48_Panorama.jpg)
Skipped Ladder Lake, didn't seem to make sense to make that climb just to hang out in my tent, set up camp on the edge of Grouse Meadow
![Image](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDnJSK6n9D90XQ9cRCrXC2eV-5cE-bjQbM7uOlzvJjBHgwu6AMw6XJVPZgzP3DLIAQX1s2fB2t7tzFfOixy2DtFGJv3MIkTDj8wLoFI5KWH0TFqqBesdRtZjKREY9A_DdyGOXJGjfZhYG-SnYeOXNT1SGZgM3JixT0qesyPNj12jkoCrRkhXArXbVkyo38/w640-h426/Aug%2003%202022_66.jpg)
Day 8 (South on the JMT)
![Image](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFAXOVIobWiolBi_Ro28N6n-fPxZxPvE_s-fYCajXVC3zLo0TMmi4_bx420w7DceGiQpzGRnsjpwZYfXZfrHTnMA4TuPXYa20o8OsOdhHZc9sOOtzvq61amrIcKcomGzLWC_F1jIViX8sgUFl_IGWVCQ70bMWnEdJs7nNj_GHMgej9KPgZg2G8p_8ndV-g/w640-h426/Aug%2004%202022_11%201.jpg)
I got to the decision point for Amphitheater Lake and decided to skip given the weather, so up the Golden Staircase to the Palisade Lakes and a swim
![Image](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWhjGubZJh1lhA7MO3fO6cvbKVz8_bapCybKbF8N2_kR9Y1ZACeWWHX97CuNz4puRFR-mAcw1ctVeIc8ILvi7-tblgyEXDNuybAw92j2ag_rAGNnPddl5NTVE5iLOA42gleYsqZ3THxPN2Bokf_4iAMSkHnXS8gOUgPVjE1V1DHvz9F3E9BJR8VYOySxcS/w640-h426/Aug%2004%202022_30.jpg)
No swim, I barely got my tent set up before the sky opened up. After a couple hours, the rain stopped and I crawled out to find four guys had set up right next to me. They said they were in a hurry to get of the trail once the lightning was right on top of them. I didn't mind a little company for dinner and then the rain came back with a vengeance.
Ominous sky right before the storm
![Image](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-pDluCzblFMUKh_KFWi8VRTdrxF_ic67opndmT9cZvx_-egfMWtrivDR4jEeceO8akjt7jnHXkxjD7pFZUmck-98kylEsZN33HiLjkRXgyHh0HQD484jO_-8ykMlFyrq-QNDc3F0RoADdLD4ThW-8ZoJJZQHBztMkuQcmiy3DbJ8xUPr2EFKwfx9kWnMM/w640-h426/Aug%2004%202022_39.jpg)
Day 9 (Mather Pass)
Rained all night, still raining in the morning. I said goodbye to the guys and headed south
Every little trickle was raging, the trail was a small creek below Mather (cell pic)
![Image](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMqzd3VyvBdrcCTWTwdWFgZwX_qtvKUG50fumXSYNR8gslAVOE-LaAxucyrsBDys5XkAgYSWOxdCX13UElXbKqn4K4iVcZPJyBYeQZcqD2I3sYZZ2fCh0UotFXQkbZSjtbQiu-OB4Lz0eWS1Fhs_8inBmwtMTEYYnXUSLyFSsWYzghY_zoVbXOeIdaog/w640-h480/2022-08-05%2011.58.59.jpg)
Upper Basin under the clouds (cell pic)
![Image](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd-7vS53k3dmfocnHnpLdIn5g6BIVtl-1k2DU52h9XCrkQ-4cGQpU9p2V29xjoZha790z7BEo2ocOczZZ8xUVtRMgiIuDeoRO8d4rm2-W1OJEMn7JVNiQwJCzTTynvwqneZ9DuLqGt6j_C6k1ce4ygK4GiCmg_-URr5dDLhTAVVHCqvhl8JNIE4Kcrbw/w640-h480/2022-08-05%2012.34.58.jpg)
The South Fork of the Kings was raging at the JMT crossing. I was very glad I had crossed to the east side high in the basin. I decided that aiming for Bench Lake just looked wet so I went over Taboose with the hope of less rain lower down. I set up camp in a small site I had noticed on the way up.
Day 10 (trailhead)
Looking down on the Owens Valley
![Image](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNZEFanKvoSZIZ-942ufVyR9L_wAvJzLN5jDSDvsSkeBMVoov6HNU1SiA8HfgSv55RNcH71wkgA0RLZsqX-EUwtr31xr_-IU61t9WhKFfudp2la1uniq4q-ra_eGlIR-bqoSr63-sGkBTHWOxi-yAbrLBpQfoBsxZbYldHoD6lIY-pDVmGwA3nIG5ladNu/w640-h426/Aug%2006%202022_1.jpg)
Back towards Taboose
![Image](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNtG9d8HMyQqDXYNytXgH7X6ndI-4H95ZvnwCF1TaHNFjCTKzT8w_e4iAO81w33MJJSWZkVylPjDk7dWCJSakRQNiQb_azQlNyZcyLsbkg-Ah4MqfKMVqVPz3wiTgGEJae1U6jvstcJyUkOPOsN6xbiHjX6sU9Knb4FbsxY-wpfOgQr8Gnx9BkUbj5hoJv/w640-h426/Aug%2006%202022_6.jpg)
Got to the car and the battery is dead, I had a cell signal so I was going to die, but a crappy way to finish the trip
![Image](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRs40yRE8Qj2gpBzbFZuytFNcQ4IlR-JtlkRBIo7fRPsN_FCyjkMbgGNsx4QTJEsrK9NL0w-0csaHjAynsjNuGHp_JZZewQq10yu30954YvalhhoGwBtH0ss2C_QkVBVam0sQX6Iv71U_OO55C9X6TycU_OvKf489GY_pmB9ewoNMPdpYCI-ZYfId0jQ/w640-h480/2022-08-06%2015.53.30.jpg)
Got a hotel in Bishop for the last two nights and did a short dayhike near Lake Sabrina and then back to Reno (with a stop at Mono Lake) and then home.
Not exactly the trip I had planned but still a pretty good experience. It turns out the storm that hit me in the Palisade Lakes also creamed Death Valley https://www.nps.gov/deva/learn/nature/d ... e-2022.htm