{"id":9035,"date":"2024-07-23T22:59:44","date_gmt":"2024-07-23T14:59:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/?p=9035"},"modified":"2024-11-06T11:15:55","modified_gmt":"2024-11-06T03:15:55","slug":"20240723mount-starr","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/2024\/07\/23\/20240723mount-starr\/","title":{"rendered":"Day 4 of July 2024 Trip to Sierra Nevada, Mount Starr"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Fourth day of my July 2024 trip to the Sierra Nevada. Given the weather forecast, my friend and I hiked Mount Starr today. Accompanying our hike were the enchanting views of alpine lakes that dotted Little Lakes Valley and the magnificent granite peaks that surrounded them.<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1475.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1475.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains Surrounding Little Lakes Valley\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains Surrounding Little Lakes Valley<\/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:68,gap:10,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:56,height:38,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider1 = new Splide( '#splide-major-1', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider1.sync( secondarySlider1 ).mount();\n\tvar secondarySlider2 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-2', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:67,gap:10,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:57,height:38,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider2 = new Splide( '#splide-major-2', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider2.sync( secondarySlider2 ).mount();\n\tvar secondarySlider3 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-3', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:67,gap:10,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:57,height:38,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider3 = new Splide( '#splide-major-3', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider3.sync( secondarySlider3 ).mount();\n\tvar secondarySlider4 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-4', {\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 primarySlider4 = new Splide( '#splide-major-4', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider4.sync( secondarySlider4 ).mount();\n\tvar secondarySlider5 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-5', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:67,gap:10,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:57,height:38,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider5 = new Splide( '#splide-major-5', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider5.sync( secondarySlider5 ).mount();\n\tvar secondarySlider6 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-6', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:68,gap:10,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:56,height:38,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:67,gap:10,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:57,height:38,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:67,gap:10,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:57,height:38,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:67,gap:10,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:57,height:38,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>After reaching Bishop, California the previous night, we had four whole days to explore the mountains nearby. Unfortunately, while I was under the impression that it <del>never<\/del> seldomly rained in the summer in Sierra Nevada, the weather forecast for the coming few days didn&#8217;t share the same view. Rain was in the forecast in the afternoon for both today and the next day, at about 25% probability. Having been hit hard by alpine storms during my trip to Colorado back in 2022, this time we decided to play it safe and plan our outdoor activities around the rain.<br \/>\nAs a result, we decided to check out Mount Starr today. This was a YDS class 2 mountain, whose trail was on the relatively shorter end (about 13km out-and-back, 800m elevation gain, or 8 miles and 2600ft). This meant if we started early, we should be able to get off the mountain before the afternoon storms rolled in. Its summit at about 3900m was one step further in acclimatization to the higher peaks in our plan in the coming days. To top things off, the views were spectacular along the trail and from the summit, a myriad of lakes and peaks that blended to make the best views we had in Eastern Sierra Nevada.<\/p>\n<p>On the morning of July 23, we left Bishop at 5:30am in the morning, just as the first rays of twilight were lighting up the horizon. We reached Mosquito Flat Trailhead just past 6am. The trailhead was in a valley and felt very cold as we stepped out of the car, with many plants covered in frost. After some warmup, we started our hike at 6:18am.<br \/>\nHere\u2019s GPS tracking:<\/p>\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=190806172&#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=190806172&#038;measures=on&#038;title=off&#038;near=off&#038;images=off&#038;maptype=H\" width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p>Not long after leaving the trailhead, we emerged into sunshine as the sun rose up and the trail headed up the hill, leaving behind the frosty chill from the trailhead.<\/p>\n<p>The first half of the trail largely followed Little Lakes Valley. A few spots along the way offered great views of the valley below and the mountains beyond, but with strong contrast between the shade and sunlight, they didn&#8217;t make great photos.<\/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\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1408.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1408.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains beyond Little Lakes Valley\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains beyond Little Lakes Valley<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1410.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1410.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains surrounding Little Lakes Valley\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains surrounding Little Lakes Valley<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/20240723_070820.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/20240723_070820.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Overlook along Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Overlook along Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1409.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1409.jpg\" alt=\"Peaks beyond Little Lakes Valley\" \/><\/a><\/br>Peaks beyond Little Lakes Valley<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1417.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1417.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Bear Creek Spire\" \/><\/a><\/br>Distant Bear Creek Spire<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1419.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1419.jpg\" alt=\"Eastern Side of Mount Starr\" \/><\/a><\/br>Eastern Side of Mount Starr<\/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\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_1408.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains beyond Little Lakes Valley\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_1410.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains surrounding Little Lakes Valley\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails-s\/20240723_070820.jpg\" alt=\"Overlook along Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_1409.jpg\" alt=\"Peaks beyond Little Lakes Valley\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_1417.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Bear Creek Spire\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_1419.jpg\" alt=\"Eastern Side of Mount Starr\" \/><\/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\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1408.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1408.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains beyond Little Lakes Valley\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains beyond Little Lakes Valley<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1410.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1410.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains surrounding Little Lakes Valley\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains surrounding Little Lakes Valley<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/20240723_070820.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/20240723_070820.jpg\" alt=\"Overlook along Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Overlook along Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1409.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1409.jpg\" alt=\"Peaks beyond Little Lakes Valley\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Peaks beyond Little Lakes Valley<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1417.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1417.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Bear Creek Spire\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Distant Bear Creek Spire<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1419.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1419.jpg\" alt=\"Eastern Side of Mount Starr\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Eastern Side of Mount Starr<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>As we went deeper into the hike, the trail turned west away from Little Lakes Valley towards Ruby Lake. Shortly before reaching Ruby Lake, the trail to Mount Starr forked off the trail to Ruby Lake and entered a series of switchbacks. Vegetation became sparse along the switchbacks, allowing unobstructed views overlooking Ruby Lake below and the various surrounding mountains, such as the rocky spire in the background (Petit Griffon between Mount Abbot and Mount Mills) that&#8217;s shaped like a monument to behold.<\/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\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1423.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1423.jpg\" width=\"92.5%\" alt=\"Mount Abbot and Mount Mills\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mount Abbot and Mount Mills<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Petit Griffon is the gendarme in between them.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1426.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1426.jpg\" alt=\"Trail with Mountainous Backdrop\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail with Mountainous Backdrop<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1516.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1516.jpg\" alt=\"Ruby Lake before Abbot Group Mountains\" \/><\/a><\/br>Ruby Lake before Abbot Group Mountains<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1429.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1429.jpg\" alt=\"Southern Face of Mount Starr\" \/><\/a><\/br>Southern Face of Mount Starr<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/20240723_073426.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/20240723_073426.jpg\" width=\"89%\" 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\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1512.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1512.jpg\" alt=\"Ruby Lake before Abbot Group Mountains\" \/><\/a><\/br>Ruby Lake before Abbot Group Mountains<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/20240723_113155.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/20240723_113155.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Ruby Lake before Abbot Group Mountains\" \/><\/a><\/br>Ruby Lake before Abbot Group Mountains<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1448.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1448.jpg\" width=\"92.5%\" alt=\"Cliffs\" \/><\/a><\/br>Cliffs<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">To the west of the trail, they looked pretty imposing.<\/span><\/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\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_1423.jpg\" alt=\"Mount Abbot and Mount Mills\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_1426.jpg\" alt=\"Trail with Mountainous Backdrop\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_1516.jpg\" alt=\"Ruby Lake before Abbot Group Mountains\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_1429.jpg\" alt=\"Southern Face of Mount Starr\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails-s\/20240723_073426.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the South\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_1512.jpg\" alt=\"Ruby Lake before Abbot Group Mountains\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails-s\/20240723_113155.jpg\" alt=\"Ruby Lake before Abbot Group Mountains\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_1448.jpg\" alt=\"Cliffs\" \/><\/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\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1423.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1423.jpg\" alt=\"Mount Abbot and Mount Mills\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mount Abbot and Mount Mills<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Petit Griffon is the gendarme in between them.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1426.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1426.jpg\" alt=\"Trail with Mountainous Backdrop\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail with Mountainous Backdrop<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1516.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1516.jpg\" alt=\"Ruby Lake before Abbot Group Mountains\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Ruby Lake before Abbot Group Mountains<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1429.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1429.jpg\" alt=\"Southern Face of Mount Starr\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Southern Face of Mount Starr<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/20240723_073426.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/20240723_073426.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\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1512.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1512.jpg\" alt=\"Ruby Lake before Abbot Group Mountains\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Ruby Lake before Abbot Group Mountains<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/20240723_113155.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/20240723_113155.jpg\" alt=\"Ruby Lake before Abbot Group Mountains\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Ruby Lake before Abbot Group Mountains<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1448.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1448.jpg\" alt=\"Cliffs\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Cliffs<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">To the west of the trail, they looked pretty imposing.<\/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\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1436_DSC_1446-11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1436_DSC_1446-11.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Ruby Lake from Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Overlooking Ruby Lake from Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Not long after the top of switchbacks, the trail turned north, entering a valley between Mount Starr to the east and Ruby Peak to the west, that\u2019s where patches of snow replaced what little vegetation that used to line the trail.<\/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\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1450.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1450.jpg\" alt=\"Abbot Group Mountains\" \/><\/a><\/br>Abbot Group Mountains<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1451.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1451.jpg\" alt=\"Bear Creek Spire\" \/><\/a><\/br>Bear Creek Spire<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1452.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1452.jpg\" alt=\"Mount Dade and Mount Abbot\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mount Dade and Mount Abbot<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1454.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1454.jpg\" alt=\"Trail to Mono Pass\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail to Mono Pass<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/20240723_111910.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/20240723_111910.jpg\" width=\"83.7%\" alt=\"Valley\" \/><\/a><\/br>Valley<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Below the trail to Mono Pass.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1458.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1458.jpg\" alt=\"Trail to Mono Pass\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail to Mono Pass<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/20240723_110722.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/20240723_110722.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Trail from Mono Pass\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail from Mono Pass<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1455.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1455.jpg\" width=\"92.5%\" alt=\"Couloir\" \/><\/a><\/br>Couloir<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">On the mountain west of the trail.<\/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\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_1450.jpg\" alt=\"Abbot Group Mountains\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_1451.jpg\" alt=\"Bear Creek Spire\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_1452.jpg\" alt=\"Mount Dade and Mount Abbot\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_1454.jpg\" alt=\"Trail to Mono Pass\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails-s\/20240723_111910.jpg\" alt=\"Valley\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_1458.jpg\" alt=\"Trail to Mono Pass\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails-s\/20240723_110722.jpg\" alt=\"Trail from Mono Pass\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_1455.jpg\" alt=\"Couloir\" \/><\/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 slideshow<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1450.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1450.jpg\" alt=\"Abbot Group Mountains\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Abbot Group Mountains<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1451.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1451.jpg\" alt=\"Bear Creek Spire\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Bear Creek Spire<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1452.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1452.jpg\" alt=\"Mount Dade and Mount Abbot\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mount Dade and Mount Abbot<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1454.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1454.jpg\" alt=\"Trail to Mono Pass\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail to Mono Pass<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/20240723_111910.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/20240723_111910.jpg\" alt=\"Valley\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Valley<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Below the trail to Mono Pass.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1458.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1458.jpg\" alt=\"Trail to Mono Pass\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail to Mono Pass<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/20240723_110722.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/20240723_110722.jpg\" alt=\"Trail from Mono Pass\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail from Mono Pass<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1455.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1455.jpg\" alt=\"Couloir\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Couloir<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">On the mountain west of the trail.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>We reached Mono Pass at around 8:20am, about 2 hours after leaving the trailhead. There weren\u2019t any markings at Mono Pass, but it\u2019s an obvious saddle point that\u2019s impossible to miss.<br \/>\nFrom there, we would climb Mount Starr\u2019s western slope, which wasn\u2019t an easy journey. The slope was steep, made of a mixture of fine gravel and talus. This mixture presented minor traction issues. In addition, while there were faint traces of trail leaving Mono Pass (see p1 below), they were very hard to follow. It didn\u2019t take long before we gave up finding the trail, instead looked for the least resistant path onto the summit. Nonetheless, in my opinion the entire trail never exceeded YDS class 2.<\/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\/2024\/07\/23\/20240723_110533.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/20240723_110533.jpg\" alt=\"Western Side of Mount Starr\" \/><\/a><\/br>Western Side of Mount Starr<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/20240723_082509.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/20240723_082509.jpg\" alt=\"Valley\" \/><\/a><\/br>Valley<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/20240723_104402.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/20240723_104402.jpg\" width=\"93.1%\" alt=\"Western Side of Mount Starr\" \/><\/a><\/br>Western Side of Mount Starr<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">A sense of its gradient.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/20240723_103706.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/20240723_103706.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Mono Pass\" \/><\/a><\/br>Overlooking Mono Pass<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/20240723_104022.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/20240723_104022.jpg\" width=\"93.1%\" alt=\"Plants\" \/><\/a><\/br>Plants<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Seemingly coming out of nowhere from between the rocks.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/20240723_104409.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/20240723_104409.jpg\" alt=\"Valley and Mountains\" \/><\/a><\/br>Valley and Mountains<\/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\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails-s\/20240723_110533.jpg\" alt=\"Western Side of Mount Starr\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails-s\/20240723_082509.jpg\" alt=\"Valley\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails-s\/20240723_104402.jpg\" alt=\"Western Side of Mount Starr\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails-s\/20240723_103706.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Mono Pass\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails-s\/20240723_104022.jpg\" alt=\"Plants\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails-s\/20240723_104409.jpg\" alt=\"Valley and 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-4, #splide-thumb-4 { 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\/2024\/07\/23\/20240723_110533.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/20240723_110533.jpg\" alt=\"Western Side of Mount Starr\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Western Side of Mount Starr<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/20240723_082509.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/20240723_082509.jpg\" alt=\"Valley\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Valley<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/20240723_104402.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/20240723_104402.jpg\" alt=\"Western Side of Mount Starr\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Western Side of Mount Starr<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">A sense of its gradient.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/20240723_103706.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/20240723_103706.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Mono Pass\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Overlooking Mono Pass<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/20240723_104022.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/20240723_104022.jpg\" alt=\"Plants\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Plants<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Seemingly coming out of nowhere from between the rocks.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/20240723_104409.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/20240723_104409.jpg\" alt=\"Valley and Mountains\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Valley and Mountains<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>An hour later after leaving Mono Pass, we were at the top of Mount Starr, joining the cohort of impressively looking Sierra Nevada mountains that surrounded us.<\/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\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1468.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1468.jpg\" alt=\"Abbot Group Mountains\" \/><\/a><\/br>Abbot Group Mountains<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">A constant and impressive sight throughout the day.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1511.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1511.jpg\" alt=\"Mount Abbot and Mount Mills\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mount Abbot and Mount Mills<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Petit Griffon is the gendarme in between them.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1481.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1481.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the South\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the South<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Bear Creek Spire as the prominent peak in the right.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1470.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1470.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the South\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the South<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Deep into the Sierra Nevada.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1476.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1476.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains in Vivid Colors\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains in Vivid Colors<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Red and White Mountain (left) and Red Slate Mountain (right).<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1477.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1477.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains in Vivid Colors\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains in Vivid Colors<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The colorful ridgeline from Mount Baldwin (left) to Mount Morrison (right).<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1480.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1480.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the Southwest\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the Southwest<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">This one was actually unnamed.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1504.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1504.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the North\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the North<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Coincidentally, the peak in the right background of this frame was also called Mount Morgan.<\/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\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_1468.jpg\" alt=\"Abbot Group Mountains\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_1511.jpg\" alt=\"Mount Abbot and Mount Mills\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_1481.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the South\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_1470.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the South\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_1476.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains in Vivid Colors\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_1477.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains in Vivid Colors\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_1480.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the Southwest\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_1504.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the North\" \/><\/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 from the summit of Mount Starr.<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1468.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1468.jpg\" alt=\"Abbot Group Mountains\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Abbot Group Mountains<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">A constant and impressive sight throughout the day.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1511.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1511.jpg\" alt=\"Mount Abbot and Mount Mills\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mount Abbot and Mount Mills<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Petit Griffon is the gendarme in between them.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1481.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1481.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the South\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the South<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Bear Creek Spire as the prominent peak in the right.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1470.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1470.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the South\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the South<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Deep into the Sierra Nevada.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1476.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1476.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains in Vivid Colors\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains in Vivid Colors<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Red and White Mountain (left) and Red Slate Mountain (right).<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1477.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1477.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains in Vivid Colors\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains in Vivid Colors<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The colorful ridgeline from Mount Baldwin (left) to Mount Morrison (right).<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1480.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1480.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the Southwest\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the Southwest<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">This one was actually unnamed.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1504.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1504.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the North\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the North<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Coincidentally, the peak in the right background of this frame was also called Mount Morgan.<\/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\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1483_DSC_1502-20.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1483_DSC_1502-20.jpg\" alt=\"View from Mount Starr Summit\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>View from Mount Starr Summit<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The summit ridge of Mount Starr largely followed north-south direction. The two valleys to its east and west had drastically different landscapes. Little Lakes Valley to the east, where we came from, abounded in water and was lush in vegetation. The (unnamed) valley to the west was barren and (mostly) dry. I guessed that&#8217;s how snowmelt from the mountains surrounding Little Lakes Valley breed all its varieties of life.<\/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\/2024\/07\/23\/20240723_095851.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/20240723_095851.jpg\" width=\"89.05%\" alt=\"Little Lakes Valley before Mount Morgan\" \/><\/a><\/br>Little Lakes Valley before Mount Morgan<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/20240723_095854.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/20240723_095854.jpg\" width=\"89.05%\" alt=\"Little Lakes Valley before Sierra Nevada Mountains\" \/><\/a><\/br>Little Lakes Valley before Sierra Nevada Mountains<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1472.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1472.jpg\" alt=\"Lakes in Little Lakes Valley\" \/><\/a><\/br>Lakes in Little Lakes Valley<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1473.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1473.jpg\" alt=\"Lakes in Little Lakes Valley\" \/><\/a><\/br>Lakes in Little Lakes Valley<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1482.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1482.jpg\" alt=\"Lakes in Little Lakes Valley\" \/><\/a><\/br>Lakes in Little Lakes Valley<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1503.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1503.jpg\" width=\"93.1%\" alt=\"Summit Lake\" \/><\/a><\/br>Summit Lake<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">An alpine lake at the foot of Mount Starr.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1506C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1506C11.jpg\" width=\"90.8%\" alt=\"Fellow Hikers\" \/><\/a><\/br>Fellow Hikers<\/br>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">They headed up further south along the summit ridge of Mount Starr. Much to my surprise, their dog also managed to climb this mountain.<\/div>\n<\/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\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails-s\/20240723_095851.jpg\" alt=\"Little Lakes Valley before Mount Morgan\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails-s\/20240723_095854.jpg\" alt=\"Little Lakes Valley before Sierra Nevada Mountains\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_1472.jpg\" alt=\"Lakes in Little Lakes Valley\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_1473.jpg\" alt=\"Lakes in Little Lakes Valley\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_1482.jpg\" alt=\"Lakes in Little Lakes Valley\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_1503.jpg\" alt=\"Summit Lake\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_1506C11.jpg\" alt=\"Fellow Hikers\" \/><\/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 from the summit of Mount Starr.<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/20240723_095851.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/20240723_095851.jpg\" alt=\"Little Lakes Valley before Mount Morgan\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Little Lakes Valley before Mount Morgan<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/20240723_095854.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/20240723_095854.jpg\" alt=\"Little Lakes Valley before Sierra Nevada Mountains\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Little Lakes Valley before Sierra Nevada Mountains<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1472.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1472.jpg\" alt=\"Lakes in Little Lakes Valley\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1473.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1473.jpg\" alt=\"Lakes in Little Lakes Valley\" \/><\/a><\/br><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1482.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1482.jpg\" alt=\"Lakes in Little Lakes Valley\" \/><\/a><\/br>Lakes in Little Lakes Valley<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1503.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1503.jpg\" alt=\"Summit Lake\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Summit Lake<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">An alpine lake at the foot of Mount Starr.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1506C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1506C11.jpg\" alt=\"Fellow Hikers\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Fellow Hikers<\/br><\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">They headed up further south along the summit ridge of Mount Starr. Much to my surprise, their dog also managed to climb this mountain.<\/div>\n<p><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>And here&#8217;s a video taken from the summit:<br \/>\n<video controls width=\"100%\" poster=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/095810_170.jpg\" preload=\"none\"><source src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/Mount_Starr_2160p30_H265_10Mbps.mp4\"><source src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/Mount_Starr_2160p30_H264_11Mbps.mp4\"><\/video><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: x-small;\">24 seconds, 2160p30fps, 10Mbps\/32MB for H265, 11Mbps\/33MB for H264.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>We spent an hour on the summit of Mount Starr enjoying the views and some snacks, during which time we watched a few patches of clouds forming above the mountains deep in Sierra Nevada, as expected by the weather forecast. However, with the clouds few and sparse, we weren&#8217;t in that much of a hurry to get off the mountain.<br \/>\nOnce started our descent from Mount Starr, it took us 50 minutes to reach Mono Pass, after which it took us 1 hour and 40 minutes to get back to the trailhead.<\/p>\n<p>Along the way, the clouds got denser, but luckily it never rained. The distant mountains beyond Little Lakes Valley made stunning photos under soft light through overhanging clouds.<\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left;line-height: 130%\">In hindsight, the hike to Mount Starr would be much more enjoyable had we left later. It would be warmer when we started, more clouds to serve as my sunscreen, softer light to make the mountains more visually appealing. But given the weather forecast we choose to err on the side of caution.<\/div>\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\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1542.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1542.jpg\" alt=\"Little Lakes Valley\" \/><\/a><\/br>Little Lakes Valley<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/20240723_122245.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/20240723_122245.jpg\" width=\"89.05%\" alt=\"Trail overlooking Little Lakes Valley\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail overlooking Little Lakes Valley<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1526.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1526.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains beyond Little Lakes Valley\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains beyond Little Lakes Valley<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1525.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1525.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Bear Creek Spire\" \/><\/a><\/br>Distant Bear Creek Spire<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1519.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1519.jpg\" alt=\"Ruby Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Ruby Peak<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1518.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1518.jpg\" alt=\"Mount Morgan\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mount Morgan<\/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\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_1542.jpg\" alt=\"Little Lakes Valley\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails-s\/20240723_122245.jpg\" alt=\"Trail overlooking Little Lakes Valley\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_1526.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains beyond Little Lakes Valley\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_1525.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Bear Creek Spire\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_1519.jpg\" alt=\"Ruby Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_1518.jpg\" alt=\"Mount Morgan\" \/><\/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 of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1542.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1542.jpg\" alt=\"Little Lakes Valley\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Little Lakes Valley<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/20240723_122245.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/20240723_122245.jpg\" alt=\"Trail overlooking Little Lakes Valley\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail overlooking Little Lakes Valley<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1526.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1526.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains beyond Little Lakes Valley\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains beyond Little Lakes Valley<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1525.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1525.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Bear Creek Spire\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Distant Bear Creek Spire<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1519.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1519.jpg\" alt=\"Ruby Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Ruby Peak<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1518.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1518.jpg\" alt=\"Mount Morgan\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mount Morgan<\/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\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1527_DSC_1537-11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1527_DSC_1537-11.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Little Lakes Valley\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Overlooking Little Lakes Valley<\/p><\/div>\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\/2024\/07\/23\/20240723_121057.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/20240723_121057.jpg\" width=\"89.05%\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1524.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1524.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1540.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1540.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1538.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1538.jpg\" alt=\"Heart Lake and Box Lake\" \/><\/a><\/br>Heart Lake and Box Lake<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1545C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1545C11.jpg\" alt=\"Rock Creek\" \/><\/a><\/br>Rock Creek<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1547.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1547.jpg\" alt=\"Rock Creek\" \/><\/a><\/br>Rock Creek<\/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\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails-s\/20240723_121057.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_1524.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_1540.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_1538.jpg\" alt=\"Heart Lake and Box Lake\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_1545C11.jpg\" alt=\"Rock Creek\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_1547.jpg\" alt=\"Rock Creek\" \/><\/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 of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/20240723_121057.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/20240723_121057.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1524.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1524.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1540.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1540.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1538.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1538.jpg\" alt=\"Heart Lake and Box Lake\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Heart Lake and Box Lake<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1545C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1545C11.jpg\" alt=\"Rock Creek\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1547.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1547.jpg\" alt=\"Rock Creek\" \/><\/a><\/br>Rock Creek<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>Finally, we were back at the trailhead at 1pm, after which we drove back to Bishop to conclude the day.<br \/>\nAlong the way, US395 passed a scenic overlook (Sherwin Grade Vista Point), where we stopped and took a look. By that time, clouds looked rather tumultuous overhanging Sierra Nevada Mountains to the west. Having already finished our hike without having to worry about being caught in them, it&#8217;s just a magnificent sight to behold.<\/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\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1552.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1552.jpg\" alt=\"Owens Valley\" \/><\/a><\/br>Owens Valley<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1551.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1551.jpg\" alt=\"Mount Tom\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mount Tom<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1556.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1556.jpg\" alt=\"Four Gables Mountains\" \/><\/a><\/br>Four Gables Mountains<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Looking majestic under the clouds.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1555.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1555.jpg\" alt=\"Sierra Nevada Mountains\" \/><\/a><\/br>Sierra Nevada Mountains<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Round Valley with its patches of green in the foreground.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1554.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1554.jpg\" alt=\"Town of Bishop before Distant Inyo Mountains\" \/><\/a><\/br>Town of Bishop before Distant Inyo Mountains<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">From this angle, the town with all its vegetation felt like an oasis in a desert.<\/span><\/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\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_1552.jpg\" alt=\"Owens Valley\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_1551.jpg\" alt=\"Mount Tom\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_1556.jpg\" alt=\"Four Gables Mountains\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_1555.jpg\" alt=\"Sierra Nevada Mountains\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_1554.jpg\" alt=\"Town of Bishop before Distant Inyo 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-9, #splide-thumb-9 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos from Sherwin Grade Vista Point.<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1552.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1552.jpg\" alt=\"Owens Valley\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Owens Valley<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1551.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1551.jpg\" alt=\"Mount Tom\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mount Tom<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1556.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1556.jpg\" alt=\"Four Gables Mountains\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Four Gables Mountains<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Looking majestic under the clouds.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1555.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1555.jpg\" alt=\"Sierra Nevada Mountains\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Sierra Nevada Mountains<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Round Valley with its patches of green in the foreground.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1554.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1554.jpg\" alt=\"Town of Bishop before Distant Inyo Mountains\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Town of Bishop before Distant Inyo Mountains<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">From this angle, the town with all its vegetation felt like an oasis in a desert.<\/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\/2024\/07\/23\/DSC_1558_DSC_1569-12.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2024\/07\/23\/thumbnails\/DSC_1558_DSC_1569-12.jpg\" alt=\"Owens Valley from Roadside Overlook\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Owens Valley from Roadside Overlook<\/p><\/div>\n<p>We only got to our hotel in Bishop at 10:30pm last night, and having to leave early this morning, we didn&#8217;t get much sleep. So once we were back at the hotel, we went straight back to bed and called it a day.<br \/>\nEND<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Fourth day of my July 2024 trip to the Sierra Nevada. Given the weather forecast, my friend and I hiked Mount Starr today. Accompanying our hike were the enchanting views of alpine lakes that dotted Little Lakes Valley&#8230; <a class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/2024\/07\/23\/20240723mount-starr\/\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[427,651,2],"tags":[664,665],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9035"}],"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=9035"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9035\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9176,"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9035\/revisions\/9176"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9035"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9035"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9035"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}