09-30-2017; 1:05pm
Hiking straight down the mountain brought me back to the PCT, a bit west of where I had left it.
09-30-2017; 12:09pm
09-30-2017; 12:09pm
09-30-2017; 12:09pm
330 feet from the top but still a great view.
09-30-2017; 12:09pm
Around 12,570 feet I decided to turn back due to being light-headed and nauseous from the elevation.
09-30-2017; 12:09pm
09-30-2017; 11:40am
But this was in my way.
09-30-2017; 11:22am
Cirque Peak, dead ahead.
09-30-2017; 11:03am
Around 12,300 feet I ran into a pack of ten or so Bighorn Sheep. They moved far away and are barely visible by the time I could take a picture.
09-30-2017; 11:01am
09-30-2017; 11:01am
09-30-2017; 10:38am
The route up was tedious at times and challenging to find a reasonable path.
09-30-2017; 10:12am
The last stunted trees topped out around 11,850 feet.
09-30-2017; 9:57am
This was were I left the trail and began my climb up to Cirque Peak.
09-30-2017; 9:48am
09-30-2017; 9:48am
09-30-2017; 9:48am
Fantastic view.
09-30-2017; 9:35am
09-30-2017; 9:35am
09-30-2017; 9:35am
The trees near the tree-line were all shaped funny.
09-30-2017; 9:25am
09-30-2017; 9:25am
Chicken Spring Lake. It was larger than it looked on Google Maps because of the extra snowpack.
09-30-2017; 9:19am
09-30-2017; 9:18am
The trail meets up with the Pacific Crest Trail here. I head north on the PCT.
09-30-2017; 9:01am
09-30-2017; 9:01am
09-30-2017; 9:01am
The top of Cottonwood Pass. ~11,150 feet
09-30-2017; 8:54am I loved how deep blue the sky was up here.
09-30-2017; 8:54am
09-30-2017; 8:30am
09-30-2017; 8:29am
09-30-2017; 8:25am
09-30-2017; 8:25am
Looking back east in the direction I came from.
09-30-2017; 8:22am
09-30-2017; 8:22am
09-30-2017; 8:01am
09-30-2017; 7:55am
09-30-2017; 7:55am
Starting the climb up Cottonwood Pass. It's a gentle incline with lots of switchbacks.
09-30-2017; 7:47am
09-30-2017; 7:47am
09-30-2017; 7:47am
09-30-2017; 7:29am
09-30-2017; 7:29am
09-30-2017; 7:29am
There were a couple of small streams to cross.
09-30-2017; 7:20am
09-30-2017; 7:20am
09-30-2017; 7:15am
09-30-2017; 7:15am
09-30-2017; 7:05am
Cirque Peak beyond that ridge.
09-30-2017; 7:05am
09-30-2017; 7:05am
09-30-2017; 7:02am
Trail Peak (11,605 feet) to the south.
09-30-2017; 6:59am
09-30-2017; 6:52am
09-30-2017; 6:52am I chose to take the Cottonwood Pass route.
09-30-2017; 6:49am A crisp morning in the 30s to start off with.
