Every time I reach this point along this section of the John Muir Trail, I stand in awe. I lover the Sierra, and of this range, Yosemite (and the Ansel Adams Wilderness) the most. Aside from perhaps the Alps, I know of no other place on earth that consistently provides such stunning views around nearly every turn.

This particular picture was taken on my first trip to this part of Yosemite in 2004, while hiking a section of the JMT with Teresa and our dear departed friend, Bob. Alas, I only had one of the early generations of a digital camera with resolution ranging from 500K to 1 megapixels. But, here in my online studio, that is still quite sufficient to hang here in my virtual gallery.

The glacier is behind us as we look back over the route we took through Lyell Canyon along the Lyell fork of the Merced River on the John Muir Trail. (2004)

Looking back down at our previous night’s campsite on the Lower Meadow below Lyell Glacier, from a vantage point at the edge of the Upper Meadow with Lyell Glacier just behind the camera.

This photograph taken from the upper of two alpine meadows below Lyell Glacier was captured in 2004 during our first ascent (of several more to come) to Donahue Pass from Lyell Canyon out of Tuolumne Meadows.

Alternate framing of the previously posted photograph.

Looking back toward Kuna Crest and Lyell Canyon from the meadow below Donahue Pass.

Came across this scene on our first backpacking trip in Yosemite in 2003. Teresa and I took a circle route up the Mist Trail and then around and down to Tuolumne Meadows. At this point in the path we left an open area and entered an almost mystical environment that quickly became more wooded as we set off for Cathedral Peak some miles out ahead. I recall stopping and in seeing the trail curve into the wilderness that we were finally not only leaving civilization behind, but any connection to it as well.

Looking back from whence we came (toward Kuna Crest and Lyell Canyon) provided a spectacular view with the clouds cooperating to build a fantastic backdrop. Lyell Glacier is just behind us, as the John Muir Trail winds past it on the way to Donahue Pass at 11,000+ feet – our next destination.

Easily visible along several of the trails that spread out around Yosemite Valley, Vogelsang Peak is easily identifiable with its pointy top. It oversees an unspoiled land, essentially unaltered from the natural course of its creation an evolution.