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John Muir Trail, August 2005
Day 15: Center Basin to the summit of Mount Whitney, over Forester Pass. 28 Miles. When I started this day, I did not intend to go all the way to Whitney. I was already one day ahead of schedule, and in no hurry. But the weather inspired me, as it was the first day of the entire trip that the afternoon clouds never appeared. Also, I knew this night would be the full moon. So as I tramped along, I formulated a plan to have dinner and a nap at Guitar Lake, then make a full-moonlight assent of Mount Whitney. I slept for only about 4 hours. On the climb, as the moon lit the west face of the mountain, my light was unnecessary. |
| Unnamed lake on the climb to Forester Pass, looking north. The closer ridge is Center Peak, with University Peak behind. |
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Again looking north, note the trail in the foreground. The background ridge is the Center Basin Crags. |
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View north from the top of Forester Pass. University Peak on the far left, Mt. Bradley on the right. |
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View south from the top of Forester Pass. Diamond Mesa on the far left, casting its shadow onto the lakes. The background canyon is the valley of the Kern River, which proceeds south as far as the eye can see. In the back far right are all the Kaweah Peaks. |
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Looking north up at the steep, narrow chute that is Forester Pass. |
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Ok, left to right: Centennial Peak, Milestone Mountain, Midway Mountain, Table Mountain (obvious), Thunder Mountain, Mt. Jordan. Also known as the north section of the Great Western Divide. |
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| View north back to Forester Pass. Caltech Peak is just left of center. The pass is the lower of the two notches right of center. |
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| Finally, my first glimps of the end, as Mount Whitney peaks out from behind Mt. Hale. |
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