After another starry night, we awoke to this
![Image](http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa110/lambertiana/Sequoia%202013/IMG_6406_zpsbeb7db83.jpg)
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We then went up to Sawtooth Pass (11,660'). From there, looking at Sawtooth Peak
![Image](http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa110/lambertiana/Sequoia%202013/IMG_6436_zps729a6f6f.jpg)
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My hiking pal is from Tennessee, and this was his first time in the Sierra, so we decided to take the side trip to the summit of Sawtooth (12,343'). Here are some views from the top:
![Image](http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa110/lambertiana/Sequoia%202013/IMG_6440_zps6a480900.jpg)
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![Image](http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa110/lambertiana/Sequoia%202013/IMG_6441_zpsba891c6c.jpg)
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![Image](http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa110/lambertiana/Sequoia%202013/IMG_6444_zps87c75769.jpg)
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![Image](http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa110/lambertiana/Sequoia%202013/IMG_6446_zps9b62ab98.jpg)
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![Image](http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa110/lambertiana/Sequoia%202013/IMG_6449_zps4cc7f8e1.jpg)
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After that, we headed down to lower Monarch Lake (10,400')
![Image](http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa110/lambertiana/Sequoia%202013/IMG_6454_zps9348ec6d.jpg)
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Farther down the trail, looking back at Sawtooth from the west
![Image](http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa110/lambertiana/Sequoia%202013/IMG_6462_zps9cd3854a.jpg)
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Empire Mountain from the south; on the other side is Cliff Creek
![Image](http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa110/lambertiana/Sequoia%202013/IMG_6465_zpsaada5692.jpg)
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And finally, Mineral King again
![Image](http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa110/lambertiana/Sequoia%202013/IMG_6477_zps83b53046.jpg)
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We had a fantastic time, and these pictures do not come close to giving a true feeling for the experience.
Now, my question for you well-traveled sierra hikers: Has anyone been to those two lake basins on the east end of Needham? Do you know of anyone who has? It has a truly remote feeling, and I saw no trace of any human presence there. I would put them on the top of the list of loneliest and least-visited sierra lakes.