The Element in its, ahem, element: the upper end of the Mineral King road, parked where the old road-end store used to be. Timber Gap in background.
Looking south to Farewell Gap from Eagle Lake trailhead.
East Fork Kaweah River, near Eagle Lakes trailhead; river was flowing cold, full, and fast! Farewell Gap (overexposed) in distance.
MK Pack Station, waiting for summer.
Late-afternoon clouds; towering thunderhead were to east. Road by Faculty Flat was wet, so rain had fallen earlier.
Bridge over stream near Tufa Falls on Eagle Lake trail.
Cascade coming down from Tufa Falls. Noisy!
Looking north to Timber Gap, from near Eagle Lake trailhead.
Cooking dinner at walk-in campsite #38, Cold Springs campground. Sticks and charcoal are fuel for stove. Punjabi Choli and tuna, mmmmm!
Trees just budding out in area just above MK Ranger station (where I parked my car to lessen the chance of (gasp!) Marmot Depredation!)
Strolling up the final mile of the MK road, looking east.
Sawtooth Peak to the east of MK valley. The hike to the top (12,343 feet) is just short of a 5000 feet elevation gain from this point.
East Fork Kaweah River, with lots of snow-melt. View is to southeast, from road.
Looking south to Farewell Gap, from just south of the Eagle Lake trailhead.
Brrr! Winter had not yet finished its retreat from the higher elevations.
This photo and the following two are of Crystal Creek descending from Crystal Lakes, as seen when looking east from the Eagle Lake trail.
A closer view of Crystal Creek. It was really booming quite audibly from this distance.
Telephoto shot of Crystal Creek falls, which had quite-visible spray garlands.
Looking back to north towards Timber Gap, from middle section of Eagle Lake trail after it forks off from the White Chief trail.
Moist and plush moss with sprouting plants, alongside the trail.
This photo shows how recently the rapidly-dwindling snow had melted back from the moss and sprouting greenery.
View to west towards vicinity of Eagle Lake, near the junction with the Mosquito Lakes trail.
Looking southeast towards Franklin Creek drainage area.
Looking east. The lighter-colored peak is Sawtooth; the darker pinnacle to the right is Mineral Peak.
Sawtooth Peak and Mineral Peak, with Crystal Lakes drainage on right, taken from unforested spot near saddle crest of Miner's Ridge.
Looking down from the north shore area of the lowest Mosquito Lake. Camping is not allowed next to the lake, but there are some legal sites about 1/4 mile away.
Mosquito Lake #1, from north side looking south.
