Sunrise HSC to Clouds Rest

During the first day we climbed from the Tioga Rd. trailhead at 8,500ft to 9,300ft at Sunrise High Sierra Camp.  Popular belief is the sunrises at Sunrise (get it?) were pretty spectacular... and they are right!  The sun just explodes on the scene.  A combination of pristine, clear air and sharp mountains to the East conspire to make the morning event like no other I've ever experienced.   Literally, one second it's twilight and the next it's time to break out the sunglasses. 

Morning was again C-R-I-S-P.  The temps overnight reached below freezing.  For proof, see picture of Andrew at left.  We packed our gear and headed out.  JD and I took point and immediately got lost... not seriously lost but just one of those maddening things where the trail junction is well marked and 100ft in, it branches five different ways.  After exploring each one, we finally went straight... naturally, logic should have given us the solution but numb nuts dull the mental faculties.

The hike on day 2 takes us westward to some very pretty lakes where we stopped early for lunch.  Some of the braver soles took the opportunity to cultivate goose bumps the size of mountain ranges by swimming in the lake.   Of course the more cerebral contingent took pictures.  After lunch the team broke into teamletts for the long trek up to Clouds Rest.  The trail courses through deep woods, and crosses several streams where we tanked up for the next night's dry camp.   The trail rises from the woods exponentially.  The last mile is very steep, a true test of grit when toting full battle gear.  The coup d' Gras, however is Clouds Rest itself.  The mountain narrows to a single hogs back ridge from which one can see forever.  Mounting Clouds Rest with full pack will straighten any hairs you have on the back of your neck, believe me.  Well, let's let the pictures speak for themselves.

And so begins day 2 of our adventure into bear country.

Day 2 Hike Agenda