After our aborted attempt at going over the right shoulder of Finger Peak, we decided to traverse along the side of the mountain toward Hummingbird Pass rather than downclimb along our original route. A large scree and talus slope forced us to eventually lose all of the elevation we had previously gained. We came down a very steep slope covered in grass atop large boulders where a stream flows from snowmelt further up Finger Peak. While absolutely gorgeous, it was also rather treacherous with backpacks on.
Coming back down into upper Blue Canyon.
We followed a series of lush, wet benches amidst the rough granite cliffs and ridges toward Hummingbird Pass.
Looking down toward the bottom of Blue Canyon, Tehipite Valley, and way out in the distance (if there weren’t smog), Fresno.
A few of the lakes we hiked by the day before. Not many people ever see these lakes from this viewpoint.
Looking back toward the pass that we couldn’t get over due to snow.
Crossing another seasonal creek. The dry grass my dad is standing in was great fun to play with as a kid. I used to build birds nests out of it wherever we camped.
We had to navigate around this bowl of granite on our way over to Hummingbird Pass. It took us some time to pick our way through safely. Had we not found a way through, we could have had to backtrack down into Blue Canyon to find another route through.
Looking up toward Hummingbird Pass. If we can’t get through this pass, we have to backtrack back down Blue Canyon and try going over Coyote Pass.
Walking through a big fissure in the rocks. This area only melted out from the snow a few days ago.
At the lake just below Hummingbird Pass. When I was much younger, I looked down on this lake from above while having lunch on the ridgeline. Now we get to hike around it and explore the area a bit. Near the edge of the lake in the foreground, we found a very old campfire ring. Fires are banned at this elevation now but back in the 1970s when the area saw heavy backpacking use, many people passed through and camped at this lake. Now we might be the only people to go this way this year.
This unnamed high altitude lake sure is pretty.