Great trip - report & more photos to follow, but wanted to get some up asap.

Keep em coming!

Edited by cbert on 07/17/2009 18:09:42 MDT.

Nice Cary! I will post some pics as soon as I can!!!!

How does Tony post pics one at a time instead of like these????????

North Lake Trailhead







Ascending Bishop Pass









South Side of Bishop Pass/ Upper Dusy Basin

Edited by Davidpcvsamoa on 07/20/2009 23:04:03 MDT.

You guys did a awesome hike-That region is spectacular- I did it a few years back and I am heading back the first week in August...I am doing Humphreys Basin-Bear lake Basin Loop about 45 miles starting at North Lake....Nice!!!!

Nice pictures guys looks like it was a good hike. I've never seen yellow and orange walking bananas in the wilderness though. COOL Hey Cary how did you get such nice pics of the fish under water? Jack

Edited by jumpbackjack on 07/20/2009 23:24:26 MDT.

This one is for Jay!

We ran into some Kayakers at the base of Bishop Pass who were spirited enough to hike over the pass with their Kayaks and gear, through Dusy Basin and down LaConte Canyon. The destination was the Middle Fork of the Kings River. For all self their promotion, this is the only video I could find of those crazy SOB's. It is from last year but it has to be the same group since the people we ran into also said they ran Upper Cherry Creek.
Kayak Video

Edited by Davidpcvsamoa on 07/27/2009 21:00:26 MDT.

Great video but those guys are straight-up hard core crazy!

thought I'd share this, rough form as it's in. I had a lot of trouble on this trip with elevation sickness - I've had my share of issues the last few years, and perhaps this trip was over ambitious in some ways for me. I was lucky, very lucky, to have two trip partners who were alert, aware, accommodating, easy going and sympathetic - Dave and Ken, I really, really can't ever thank you enough for helping me through a couple rough patches and being there. At times I felt great, which only magnified the times when things became very challenging very fast for me - you two guys really made it possible for me to finish this trip and changed my perspective somewhat on what matters, and it is exactly who you are that matters. It's people, friends, like Dave and Ken that make the trips - the challenges, the beauty are all essential and amazing elements, but it's the human element that makes the trip, that makes it a life experience. Thanks guys.

So Alive

I've never felt so vulnerable, so weak
so alive
the mountains, thin air, ice fields, boulders
the pounding sun
all at once magnificent
stark
gigantically gigantic
immesurably unbelievably vast
grey stone granite rock, lasting
age-d
cold

I look back down and there they are
keeping me going
Dave, much younger and stronger
staying behind
compassion I never knew at his age
only strive for now
he's making sure
he's keeping Ken in sight
and me in sight, in check
pacing me from behind
and there is Ken, too
with a smiling nod
we are all here
all climbing, climbing, climbing
heart pounding, pounding, pounding, pounding
and there is that last lake
before the big climb
ever smaller, ever smaller

gasping
I climb in front
amazed at what I do
especially after my earlier troubles
but I'm not in front to race
not to race Ken or Dave
only time
a race I know can't be won
I don't tell them
about the irregular heart beats
racing
the dizzy, nausea
up here, out here, this far
the cold stone and frozen snow
and miles left to go
so far
so cold

Up, up, up
to the top
it's not my day to die
which is a joy
I cannot lie
many miles to go
i think of Frost
many more miles to go
each step one more in time
each step is mine
for now

the stone, the sky, the rock, the ice
the vastness and beauty and timelessness
watches on
it's not my day to die
i've never felt so vulnerable, so weak
so alive

One of the harder trips that I have done. We all as a team did very well. This was one of the greatest trips that I have done. Still think about it, even a few weeks after this trip. Thanks for the compliment Cary, and yes the company was great huh!!!! Ready for the next adventure!!!

Cary, proving once again you are a physical specimen,a gentleman and a scholar. I still don't know how you bounced back after each of those nights with altitude sickness but your poem suggests you were feeling it a little more than you were letting on. The last day I didn't even want to ask you were doing and break your focus as your scouted the path, powered over the Col and finished off the last few miles in a hurry.

This trip will truly be difficult to top. Ken and Cary, you guys are both class hiking partners and friends. I look forward to next great adventure.

As a side, I am still working on putting back on the 3 lbs that I lost on this trip. More snacks for me next time.