{"id":10101,"date":"2025-09-01T22:59:28","date_gmt":"2025-09-01T14:59:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/?p=10101"},"modified":"2026-01-11T04:26:42","modified_gmt":"2026-01-10T20:26:42","slug":"20250901sawtooth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901sawtooth\/","title":{"rendered":"Day 1 of 2025 Labor Day Trip to California, Sawtooth Peak"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The first day of my 2025 Labor Day trip to California. I climbed Sawtooth Peak, an imposing and picturesque peak in Sequoia National Park. <\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_132914.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_132914.jpg\" alt=\"Sawtooth Peak from Sawtooth Pass\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Sawtooth Peak from Sawtooth Pass<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script src=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/splide.min.2.4.21.js\"><\/script>\n<link rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/splide-skyblue.min.css\">\n<script>\ndocument.addEventListener( 'DOMContentLoaded', function () {\n\tvar secondarySlider1 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-1', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:75,gap:10,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints 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secondarySlider5 ).mount();\n\tvar secondarySlider6 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-6', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:75,gap:10,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:56,height:42,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider6 = new Splide( '#splide-major-6', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider6.sync( secondarySlider6 ).mount();\n\tvar secondarySlider7 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-7', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:75,gap:10,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:56,height:42,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider7 = new Splide( '#splide-major-7', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider7.sync( secondarySlider7 ).mount();\n\tvar secondarySlider8 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-8', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:75,gap:10,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:56,height:42,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider8 = new Splide( '#splide-major-8', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider8.sync( secondarySlider8 ).mount();\n\tvar secondarySlider9 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-9', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:75,gap:10,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:56,height:42,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider9 = new Splide( '#splide-major-9', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider9.sync( secondarySlider9 ).mount();\n} );\n<\/script><\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>Sawtooth Peak stood as one of Sequoia National Park&#8217;s most singularly distinctive summits, revealing dramatically different characters depending on one&#8217;s perspective: its western face appeared inconspicuous, its eastern aspect unexceptional, yet when viewed from the north via Sawtooth Pass, its sharp summit emerged as a triumphant crescendo\u2014the culminating note after a wild traverse through an agitato fantasia of ridgeline that captivated me at first sight online. Fortunately, Sequoia&#8217;s proximity to Yosemite meant I could readily attempt this climb before tackling Half Dome later in the week.<\/p>\n<p>While planning this trip, I had allocated two days for Sequoia National Park. Ideally, I would explore the park&#8217;s more popular attractions, such as Moro Rock, Grant Forest, on Sunday August 31st, treating it as a warm-up for my attempt at Sawtooth Peak the following day, Monday, September 1st. Unfortunately, a weather system over Dallas severely disrupted my flights to California, and I only landed in Fresno on the morning of the 31st. Compounding matters, my checked bags were sent to the wrong airport, forcing me to spend time later that day buying clothes and supplies. This left me with only a single day for Sequoia National Park.<br \/>\nIt was Labor Day weekend, and I was joined by a friend from the San Francisco Bay Area who had been equally drawn to Sawtooth Peak&#8217;s commanding presence, who <del>insisted<\/del> suggested that despite our lack of proper acclimatization, we should still attempt the peak with our one remaining day in the park.<\/p>\n<p>So on the morning of September 1, with me dressed entirely in Walmart clothes, we set out for Mineral King, where the trailhead for Sawtooth Peak was.<br \/>\nMineral King was a very remote area of Sequoia National Park, the 24.5-mile access road from Highway 198 consumed us an hour and 45 minutes. The route was mostly paved but in deplorable condition, marred by countless lateral corrugations. (I suspected these undulations were the work of tree roots burrowing beneath the pavement, gradually warping the surface above.)<\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">As a sidenote, my camera was in my checked bags that were sent to the wrong airport, so all photos in this post were taken with my cell phone.<\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_090055.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_090055.jpg\" alt=\"Parking Lot at Mineral King\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Parking Lot at Mineral King<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Very full by the time of our arrival.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<p>After some warmup, we started our hike just past 9am. Here&#8217;s GPS tracking:<\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">(to accommodate my friend, I went slower than my typical pace, mostly between Monarch Lakes and Sawtooth Peak during ascent)<\/div>\n<div class=\"mobile-hide\" style=\"width:100%;aspect-ratio:6\/5;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" frameBorder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wikiloc.com\/wikiloc\/spatialArtifacts.do?event=view&#038;id=246591079&#038;measures=on&#038;title=off&#038;near=off&#038;images=off&#038;maptype=H\" width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<div class=\"desktop-hide\" style=\"width:100%;aspect-ratio:3\/5;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" frameBorder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wikiloc.com\/wikiloc\/spatialArtifacts.do?event=view&#038;id=246591079&#038;measures=on&#038;title=off&#038;near=off&#038;images=off&#038;maptype=H\" width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p>The first 7.3km (4.5mi) of trail to (Lower) Monarch Lake offered a leisurely walk through predominantly low-lying scrub. At several points along the way, the path opened onto sweeping views of the parking lot below and the East Fork Kaweah River valley, from which the long and bumpy Mineral King Road came from. The trail was in good condition throughout this section, and we reached (Lower) Monarch Lake after a comfortable 2.4-hour trek, where we paused briefly for a short rest.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-1\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_090433.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_090433.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_090731.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_090731.jpg\" width=\"93.2%\" alt=\"Looking Back at Parking Lot\" \/><\/a><\/br>Looking Back at Parking Lot<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The small hill in the background was called &#8220;Miners Nose&#8221;.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_093034.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_093034.jpg\" alt=\"First Sight of Sawtooth Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>First Sight of Sawtooth Peak<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_094150.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_094150.jpg\" alt=\"Monarch Creek\" \/><\/a><\/br>Monarch Creek<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_095127.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_095127.jpg\" width=\"93.2%\" alt=\"Valley\" \/><\/a><\/br>Valley<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Where Mineral King Road came from.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_095322C.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_095322C.jpg\" width=\"75%\" alt=\"Tree Grown on Rocks\" \/><\/a><\/br>Tree Grown on Rocks<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_100321.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_100321.jpg\" alt=\"Giant Mushroom\" \/><\/a><\/br>Giant Mushroom<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-1\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20250901_090433.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20250901_090731.jpg\" alt=\"Looking Back at Parking Lot\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20250901_093034.jpg\" alt=\"First Sight of Sawtooth Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20250901_094150.jpg\" alt=\"Monarch Creek\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20250901_095127.jpg\" alt=\"Valley\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20250901_095322C.jpg\" alt=\"Tree Grown on Rocks\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20250901_100321.jpg\" alt=\"Giant Mushroom\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-1, #splide-thumb-1 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_090433.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_090433.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_090731.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_090731.jpg\" alt=\"Looking Back at Parking Lot\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Looking Back at Parking Lot<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The small hill in the background was called &#8220;Miners Nose&#8221;.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_093034.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_093034.jpg\" alt=\"First Sight of Sawtooth Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>First Sight of Sawtooth Peak<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_094150.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_094150.jpg\" alt=\"Monarch Creek\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Monarch Creek<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_095127.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_095127.jpg\" alt=\"Valley\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Valley<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Where Mineral King Road came from.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_095322C.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_095322C.jpg\" alt=\"Tree Grown on Rocks\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Tree Grown on Rocks<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_100321.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_100321.jpg\" alt=\"Giant Mushroom\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Giant Mushroom<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-2\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_104906.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_104906.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_105744.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_105744.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the South\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the South<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_110241.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_110241.jpg\" width=\"93.2%\" alt=\"Mountain\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountain<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">An unnamed but colorful one.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_111107.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_111107.jpg\" width=\"93.2%\" alt=\"Hills\" \/><\/a><\/br>Hills<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Across Monarch Creek, Empire Mountain didn&#8217;t look that impressive in the background left.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_111111.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_111111.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_111950.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_111950.jpg\" alt=\"Monarch Creek\" \/><\/a><\/br>Monarch Creek<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_111344.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_111344.jpg\" width=\"93.2%\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Sawtooth Peak in the background.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_111952.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_111952.jpg\" alt=\"Mineral Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mineral Peak<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-2\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20250901_104906.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20250901_105744.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the South\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20250901_110241.jpg\" alt=\"Mountain\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20250901_111107.jpg\" alt=\"Hills\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20250901_111111.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20250901_111950.jpg\" alt=\"Monarch Creek\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20250901_111344.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20250901_111952.jpg\" alt=\"Mineral Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-2, #splide-thumb-2 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_104906.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_104906.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_105744.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_105744.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the South\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the South<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_110241.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_110241.jpg\" alt=\"Mountain\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountain<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">An unnamed but colorful one.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_111107.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_111107.jpg\" alt=\"Hills\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Hills<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Across Monarch Creek, Empire Mountain didn&#8217;t look that impressive in the background left.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_111111.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_111111.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_111950.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_111950.jpg\" alt=\"Monarch Creek\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Monarch Creek<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_111344.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_111344.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Sawtooth Peak in the background.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_111952.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_111952.jpg\" alt=\"Mineral Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mineral Peak<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">On the map, it seemed that we could reach Sawtooth Pass via a different trail through Glacier Pass, one that remained on the other side of Monarch Creek throughout. We didn&#8217;t choose that path for lack of information.<\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_112915.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_112915.jpg\" alt=\"Monarch Lake\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Monarch Lake<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Upon leaving Monarch Lake, the trail soon vanished into a vast field of scree\u2014an unstable expanse that demanded considerable effort, as each step forward was often accompanied by a half-step slide backward. Faint traces of a path could occasionally be discerned among the loose stones, but more often than not, we found ourselves picking our way upward along whatever route offered the least resistance. Two &#8220;paths&#8221; existed on the map between Monarch Lake and Sawtooth Pass; we largely followed the longer one, as its gentler gradient made for a far easier ascent. The unstable footing combined with the elevation took quite a toll on my friend, who took about an hour and 40 minutes to reach Sawtooth Pass from the lake below. <\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-3\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_114912.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_114912.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_115321.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_115321.jpg\" width=\"93.2%\" alt=\"Valley\" \/><\/a><\/br>Valley<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">A rich palette of colors, where Monarch Creek flew through.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_120615.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_120615.jpg\" alt=\"Trail from Monarch Lakes\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail from Monarch Lakes<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_122548.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_122548.jpg\" alt=\"Trail from Monarch Lakes\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail from Monarch Lakes<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_124205.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_124205.jpg\" alt=\"Trail from Monarch Lakes\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail from Monarch Lakes<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_125544.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_125544.jpg\" alt=\"Trail from Monarch Lakes\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail from Monarch Lakes<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_125547.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_125547.jpg\" alt=\"Empire Mountain\" \/><\/a><\/br>Empire Mountain<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_122553C.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_122553C.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the Southwest\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the Southwest<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_124208.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_124208.jpg\" width=\"93.2%\" alt=\"Mountains\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Mineral Peak in the right, an unnamed one in the left.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-3\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20250901_114912.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20250901_115321.jpg\" alt=\"Valley\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20250901_120615.jpg\" alt=\"Trail from Monarch Lakes\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20250901_122548.jpg\" alt=\"Trail from Monarch Lakes\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20250901_124205.jpg\" alt=\"Trail from Monarch Lakes\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20250901_125544.jpg\" alt=\"Trail from Monarch Lakes\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20250901_125547.jpg\" alt=\"Empire Mountain\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20250901_122553C.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the Southwest\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20250901_124208.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-3, #splide-thumb-3 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the trail from Monarch Lake to Sawtooth Pass.<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_114912.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_114912.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_115321.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_115321.jpg\" alt=\"Valley\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Valley<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">A rich palette of colors, where Monarch Creek flew through.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_120615.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_120615.jpg\" alt=\"Trail from Monarch Lakes\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail from Monarch Lakes<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_122548.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_122548.jpg\" alt=\"Trail from Monarch Lakes\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail from Monarch Lakes<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_124205.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_124205.jpg\" alt=\"Trail from Monarch Lakes\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail from Monarch Lakes<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_125544.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_125544.jpg\" alt=\"Trail from Monarch Lakes\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail from Monarch Lakes<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_125547.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_125547.jpg\" alt=\"Empire Mountain\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Empire Mountain<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_122553C.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_122553C.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the Southwest\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the Southwest<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_124208.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_124208.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Mineral Peak in the right, an unnamed one in the left.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>Finally, Sawtooth Pass greeted me with the imposing silhouette of Sawtooth Peak, together with the serrated ridgeline ascending towards the summit-a magnificent sight now rendered authentic and breathtaking in person.<br \/>\nThe pass bustled with hikers, most heading east into the deeper reaches of the Sierra Nevada. We appeared to be the only party that afternoon bound for Sawtooth Peak itself. After a brief rest, we continued on our way.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-4\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_132050.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_132050.jpg\" alt=\"Sawtooth Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Sawtooth Peak<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_132323.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_132323.jpg\" alt=\"Sawtooth Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Sawtooth Peak<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_132235.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_132235.jpg\" alt=\"Columbine Lake and Sawtooth Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Columbine Lake and Sawtooth Peak<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_132056.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_132056.jpg\" alt=\"Columbine Lake\" \/><\/a><\/br>Columbine Lake<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_133101.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_133101.jpg\" alt=\"Needham Mountain\" \/><\/a><\/br>Needham Mountain<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-4\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20250901_132050.jpg\" alt=\"Sawtooth Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20250901_132323.jpg\" alt=\"Sawtooth Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20250901_132235.jpg\" alt=\"Columbine Lake and Sawtooth Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20250901_132056.jpg\" alt=\"Columbine Lake\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20250901_133101.jpg\" alt=\"Needham Mountain\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-4, #splide-thumb-4 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos from Sawtooth Pass.<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_132050.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_132050.jpg\" alt=\"Sawtooth Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Sawtooth Peak<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_132323.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_132323.jpg\" alt=\"Sawtooth Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Sawtooth Peak<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_132235.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_132235.jpg\" alt=\"Columbine Lake and Sawtooth Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Columbine Lake and Sawtooth Peak<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_132056.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_132056.jpg\" alt=\"Columbine Lake\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Columbine Lake<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_133101.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_133101.jpg\" alt=\"Needham Mountain\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Needham Mountain<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>Here&#8217;s a video that I took at Sawtooth Pass:<br \/>\n<video controls width=\"100%\" poster=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/Sawtooth_Pass_Thumb.jpg\" preload=\"none\"><source src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/Sawtooth_Pass_2160p60_H265_20Mbps.mp4\"><\/video><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: x-small;\">13 seconds, 2160p60fps, H265 only, 20Mbps\/35MB file size.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Departing Sawtooth Pass, we were caught somewhat off guard by the absence of any obvious trail toward Sawtooth Peak\u2014we hadn&#8217;t downloaded an offline map beforehand. A few cairns dotted the route, though I didn&#8217;t find them super helpful. Initially, I attempted to follow the ridgeline, but it soon grew too exposed, forcing me to veer slightly away. The optimal degree of deviation was uncertain to me. I discovered that, generally, straying farther from the ridge meant encountering more scree than boulders: while some boulders proved difficult to scale, those that could be scaled offered more stable passage than the loose scree.<br \/>\nThe route was officially rated YDS class 2, but I nonetheless executed one or two moves that were class 3. Perhaps our time constraints prevented us from scouting easier alternatives\u2014a luxury denied without offline maps. Luckily, I felt that the terrain allowed for some variations in routing, sparing us from anything overly technical.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-5\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_140317.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_140317.jpg\" alt=\"Boulders along Path to Sawtooth Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Boulders along Path to Sawtooth Peak<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_141456.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_141456.jpg\" alt=\"Sawtooth Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Sawtooth Peak<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_143128.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_143128.jpg\" width=\"93.2%\" alt=\"Boulders along Path to Sawtooth Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Boulders along Path to Sawtooth Peak<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">A bit hard to tell where the correct path was.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_153833.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_153833.jpg\" width=\"93.2%\" alt=\"Boulders along Path to Sawtooth Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Boulders along Path to Sawtooth Peak<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">A bit hard to tell where the correct path was.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_140322.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_140322.jpg\" alt=\"Trail to Sawtooth Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail to Sawtooth Peak<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_135308.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_135308.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Monarch Lakes\" \/><\/a><\/br>Overlooking Monarch Lakes<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_143126.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_143126.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the South\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the South<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_143614.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_143614.jpg\" width=\"93.2%\" alt=\"Valley\" \/><\/a><\/br>Valley<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Where we came from following Mineral King Road.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-5\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20250901_140317.jpg\" alt=\"Boulders along Path to Sawtooth Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20250901_141456.jpg\" alt=\"Sawtooth Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20250901_143128.jpg\" alt=\"Boulders along Path to Sawtooth Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20250901_153833.jpg\" alt=\"Boulders along Path to Sawtooth Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20250901_140322.jpg\" alt=\"Trail to Sawtooth Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20250901_135308.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Monarch Lakes\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20250901_143126.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the South\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20250901_143614.jpg\" alt=\"Valley\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-5, #splide-thumb-5 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_140317.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_140317.jpg\" alt=\"Boulders along Path to Sawtooth Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Boulders along Path to Sawtooth Peak<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_141456.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_141456.jpg\" alt=\"Sawtooth Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Sawtooth Peak<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_143128.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_143128.jpg\" alt=\"Boulders along Path to Sawtooth Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Boulders along Path to Sawtooth Peak<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">A bit hard to tell where the correct path was.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_153833.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_153833.jpg\" alt=\"Boulders along Path to Sawtooth Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Boulders along Path to Sawtooth Peak<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">A bit hard to tell where the correct path was.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_140322.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_140322.jpg\" alt=\"Trail to Sawtooth Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail to Sawtooth Peak<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_135308.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_135308.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Monarch Lakes\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Overlooking Monarch Lakes<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_143126.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_143126.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the South\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the South<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_143614.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_143614.jpg\" alt=\"Valley\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Valley<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Where we came from following Mineral King Road.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>In the end, it took me an hour and 10 minutes to reach Sawtooth Peak from Sawtooth Pass (a bit longer than I had hoped). The (small platform off, see slideshow below) summit offered magnificent panoramic views, the most striking of which lay to the north: the serrated ridgeline from Sawtooth Pass, and the equally jagged Kaweah Peaks that dominated the horizon.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-6\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_145046.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_145046.jpg\" alt=\"Top of Sawtooth Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Top of Sawtooth Peak<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">On top of this rock, too small for me to get on.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_144756.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_144756.jpg\" alt=\"Top of Sawtooth Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Top of Sawtooth Peak<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">On top of this rock, too small for me to get on.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_144801.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_144801.jpg\" alt=\"Boulder on Sawtooth Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Boulder on Sawtooth Peak<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Slightly lower than its highest point, but large enough for us to rest our legs.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-6\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20250901_145046.jpg\" alt=\"Top of Sawtooth Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20250901_144756.jpg\" alt=\"Top of Sawtooth Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20250901_144801.jpg\" alt=\"Boulder on Sawtooth Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-6, #splide-thumb-6 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the summit of Sawtooth Peak.<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_145046.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_145046.jpg\" alt=\"Top of Sawtooth Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Top of Sawtooth Peak<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">On top of this rock, too small for me to get on.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_144756.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_144756.jpg\" alt=\"Top of Sawtooth Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Top of Sawtooth Peak<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">On top of this rock, too small for me to get on.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_144801.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_144801.jpg\" alt=\"Boulder on Sawtooth Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Boulder on Sawtooth Peak<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Slightly lower than its highest point, but large enough for us to rest our legs.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-7\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_151353.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_151353.jpg\" alt=\"Ridge to Sawtooth Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Ridge to Sawtooth Peak<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_145029.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_145029.jpg\" alt=\"Ridge to Sawtooth Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Ridge to Sawtooth Peak<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_145303.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_145303.jpg\" width=\"89.9%\" alt=\"Mountains to the North\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the North<\/br>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">Columbine Lake in the lower-right, mountains of Great Western Divide in the center before Kaweah Peaks Ridge in the background right.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_145306.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_145306.jpg\" width=\"93.2%\" alt=\"Mountains of Great Western Divide\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains of Great Western Divide<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">A faint trail visible onto Black Rock Pass.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_145134.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_145134.jpg\" alt=\"Kaweah Peaks\" \/><\/a><\/br>Kaweah Peaks<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_145142.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_145142.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the Northwest\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the Northwest<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-7\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20250901_151353.jpg\" alt=\"Ridge to Sawtooth Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20250901_145029.jpg\" alt=\"Ridge to Sawtooth Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20250901_145303.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the North\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20250901_145306.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains of Great Western Divide\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20250901_145134.jpg\" alt=\"Kaweah Peaks\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20250901_145142.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the Northwest\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-7, #splide-thumb-7 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos from Sawtooth Peak.<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_151353.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_151353.jpg\" alt=\"Ridge to Sawtooth Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Ridge to Sawtooth Peak<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_145029.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_145029.jpg\" alt=\"Ridge to Sawtooth Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Ridge to Sawtooth Peak<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_145303.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_145303.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the North\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the North<\/br><\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">Columbine Lake in the lower-right, mountains of Great Western Divide in the center before Kaweah Peaks Ridge in the background right.<\/div>\n<p><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_145306.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_145306.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains of Great Western Divide\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains of Great Western Divide<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">A faint trail visible onto Black Rock Pass.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_145134.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_145134.jpg\" alt=\"Kaweah Peaks\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Kaweah Peaks<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_145142.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_145142.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the Northwest\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the Northwest<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>I had been treated to a preview of many nearby mountains during the previous day&#8217;s flight to Fresno, delightfully, that included Mt. Whitney, the highest peak in the lower 48, which stood with surprising humility on the eastern horizon. My friend was equally captivated by the abundance of alpine lakes scattered throughout the landscape, their presence offering a welcomed variation to the otherwise harsh rocky terrain.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-8\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_145205C.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_145205C.jpg\" width=\"93.2%\" alt=\"Mountains to the East\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the East<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Mt Whitney, the highest mountain in US&#8217;s lower 48, in the background left.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_145202.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_145202.jpg\" alt=\"Needham Mountain\" \/><\/a><\/br>Needham Mountain<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_145041.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_145041.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the Southeast\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the Southeast<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_145156.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_145156.jpg\" alt=\"Amphitheater Lake\" \/><\/a><\/br>Amphitheater Lake<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_145158.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_145158.jpg\" width=\"93.2%\" alt=\"Mountains to the South\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the South<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Along Great Western Divide.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_145328C.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_145328C.jpg\" width=\"70%\" alt=\"Summit Marker\" \/><\/a><\/br>Summit Marker<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Emm, someone swapped that with one from Grand Canyon.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-8\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20250901_145205C.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the East\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20250901_145202.jpg\" alt=\"Needham Mountain\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20250901_145041.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the Southeast\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20250901_145156.jpg\" alt=\"Amphitheater Lake\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20250901_145158.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the South\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20250901_145328C.jpg\" alt=\"Summit Marker\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-8, #splide-thumb-8 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos from Sawtooth Peak.<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_145205C.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_145205C.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the East\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the East<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Mt Whitney, the highest mountain in US&#8217;s lower 48, in the background left.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_145202.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_145202.jpg\" alt=\"Needham Mountain\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Needham Mountain<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_145041.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_145041.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the Southeast\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the Southeast<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_145156.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_145156.jpg\" alt=\"Amphitheater Lake\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Amphitheater Lake<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_145158.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_145158.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the South\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the South<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Along Great Western Divide.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_145328C.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_145328C.jpg\" alt=\"Summit Marker\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Summit Marker<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Emm, someone swapped that with one from Grand Canyon.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_145213_145251.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_145213_145251.jpg\" alt=\"View around Sawtooth Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>View around Sawtooth Peak<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Here&#8217;s a video around Sawtooth Peak:<br \/>\n<video controls width=\"100%\" poster=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/Sawtooth_Peak_Thumb.jpg\" preload=\"none\"><source src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/Sawtooth_Peak_2160p60_H265_20Mbps.mp4\"><\/video><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: x-small;\">13 seconds, 2160p60fps, H265 only, 20Mbps\/34MB file size.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>We stayed at Sawtooth Peak for about 35 minutes before starting our descent at 3:20pm, a bit short on time since there was only 4 hours of daylight left.<\/p>\n<p>While descending towards Sawtooth Pass, I took a slightly different route that was more to the west, in more scree territory. Emm, I didn&#8217;t like that.<\/p>\n<p>Fortunately, descending through the scree field between Sawtooth Pass and Monarch Lake was much easier than climbing through it. After reaching Monarch Lake, we quickened our pace considerably compared to the ascent.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-9\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_173746.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_173746.jpg\" width=\"88%\" alt=\"Trail from Monarch Lakes\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail from Monarch Lakes<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_180138.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_180138.jpg\" width=\"88%\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_182908.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails-m\/20250901_182908.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Trail\" \/>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_184530.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails-m\/20250901_184530.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Binary Tree along Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_190700.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_190700.jpg\" width=\"82%\" alt=\"Deer\" \/><\/a><\/br>Deer<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The only animal encounter of the day.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_192116.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_192116.jpg\" width=\"88%\" alt=\"Monarch Creek Gorge\" \/><\/a><\/br>Monarch Creek Gorge<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_193751.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_193751.jpg\" width=\"88%\" alt=\"Returning to Trailhead Parking\" \/><\/a><\/br>Returning to Trailhead Parking<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-9\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20250901_173746.jpg\" alt=\"Trail from Monarch Lakes\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20250901_180138.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20250901_182908.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20250901_190700.jpg\" alt=\"Deer\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20250901_192116.jpg\" alt=\"Monarch Creek Gorge\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails-s\/20250901_193751.jpg\" alt=\"Returning to Trailhead Parking\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-9, #splide-thumb-9 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_173746.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_173746.jpg\" alt=\"Trail from Monarch Lakes\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail from Monarch Lakes<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_180138.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_180138.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_182908.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails-m\/20250901_182908.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_184530.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails-m\/20250901_184530.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Binary Tree along Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_190700.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_190700.jpg\" alt=\"Deer\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Deer<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The only animal encounter of the day.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_192116.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_192116.jpg\" alt=\"Monarch Creek Gorge\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Monarch Creek Gorge<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/20250901_193751.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/01\/thumbnails\/20250901_193751.jpg\" alt=\"Returning to Trailhead Parking\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Returning to Trailhead Parking<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>In the end, we got back to the parking lot at 7:55pm just as civil twilight was ending, concluding the entire hike in just under 11 hours.<br \/>\nAnd it was followed by another not-so-pleasant ride through the bumpy Mineral King Road back.<br \/>\nEND<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The first day of my 2025 Labor Day trip to California. I climbed Sawtooth Peak, an imposing and picturesque peak in Sequoia National Park.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[427,677,2],"tags":[678],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10101"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10101"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10101\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10186,"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10101\/revisions\/10186"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10101"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10101"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10101"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}