We got some advice from hikers along the way about the best entrance to the lake.  This picture was taken just as we turned off of the main trail onto a trail-of-use leading to the east side of Soldier Lake.  Turns out it was good advice.  We found a bear box not more than 100 yards from this point and some pretty good camps sites.  

After pitching camp, some of the crew circumnavigated the lake, trying to find the best way over the ridge you see in the background.  The next day starts by climbing toward our off-trail objective just over that ridge into Miter Basin.  It was also at this camp that we ran into a guy from Phoenix with the same hike plan as us but via a different trail.  We would run into Glen several more times along the way to Whitney and beyond.