Monday, August 15, 2016 - On Route

What a night!  What a morning! The silence is remarkable. Not a sound. So quiet my ears ring from the lack of noise. Not a breath of wind. The glow of sunrise from the east begins to light the world. Ed and Craig slept next to me last night. We lay in our sleeping bags and marvel at the morning, quietly exchanging expressions of awe. It is cold, near freezing, but no frost. It is good to be in the High Sierra again. 

We rose at 5:30 am and began the morning camp ritual. Stow gear. Cook breakfast. Lace up shoes. Get ready to walk. It is 6:45 am by the time we are all ready to go. We begin our climb from Grouse Lake up to Grouse Lake Pass, a gain of 500' over a distance of about a mile. We find frost on some of the vegetation as we pick our way up the ramps and meadows, a reminder of how cold it was this morning. Just before we crest the ridge the sun begins to shine directly on us, adding it's heat to the heat we have been generating due to our ascending the slope. 

Took group shot at the pass, two for real and one of our shadows. Denis feeling good, even after yesterday's tough climb. From the pass we can see Goat Creat Saddle to the north east. Descend the north side. A few trick spots on the sloping granite slabs. On the last 40 feet of descent on some broken rock, Ed's right foot slips out from under him. His left leg takes the strain of the sudden weight and he feels something tear on the outside of his knee. He does mention it and hopes it will go away as we spend the next hour ascending to the saddle. 

We took a long break at the saddle. From hear we can see our end of the week destination, Biahop Pass, about 20 air miles away. The 800' descent into Glacier Lakes is snow free over slabs and broken rock. At the lake we stop to swim. The lake is delightful. I cast a few times, but get no bites. Ed soaks his knee for 15 minutes. 

We descend to the lower Glacier Lake, then negotiate the cliffs below it to land on the long meadow. We follow it to the end where we enjoy a noon lunch in the shade with a view of the meadow and Goat Crest. 

Up over a small rise and we find the trail to State Lake. 45 minutes later we arrive at State Lake. I fish and catch quite a few, throwing all back. As a group we decide to continue on to Horseshoe lake, another mile and a half, to the end of the trail, thereby shortening tomorrow's distance. My memory of Horseshoe lake turns out to be highly inaccurate. I remember it as somewhat desolate, but we arrive to find a beautiful tree lined lake, loaded with fish. Craig and I catch six for dinner and cook them, just like last night for the other to supplement their dinner. 

Ed's knee has become very painful and we discuss options. He suggests he will hike out by himself tomorrow. This sits poorly with me. The idea of splitting the group and sending an injured member down 18 miles of trail alone, no matter how experienced is not good. 

Taking to Craig later, I find he offered to accompany Ed out, but Ed refused, not wanting to ruin The groups trip. Getting out is more than just hiking the 18 miles. It is also hitchhiking 80 miles from a very isolated dead end road to Fresno, then catching a bus to Yosemite Valley. 

We decide to sleep on it and decide in the morning.