Charlotte Dome

Location Description

73 photos

These huge red ants were all over the place at the Onion...
On August 31st, Joel and I drove to the Onion Valley...
On the first afternoon, we hiked in over Kearsarge Pass,...
On our way up to Kearsarge pass, our vertical progress...
Joel turned out to be in far better shape than I was......
Trying to spot Charlotte Dome: we think it is the tiny...
I have a funny feeling I camped at almost precisely this...
View of Bullfrog Lake.
John and Joel pausing for a self-portrait. Our plan had...
Joel finds a stake used by the Los Angeles Water...
Joel and I made camp at Charlotte Lake (10,500 ft) and...
As we made our way down the valley from Charlotte Lake,...
Zoomed out, so you can see the relative darkness we were...
Getting closer to Charlotte Dome. 7:15 a.m. We are...
Passing a small stream and one of the last chances to...
Charlotte Dome is now completely bathed in sunlight.
7:30am and still looking very far away.
Joel making his way down a steep hillside. Part of the...
Joel, getting closer to the dome. After 8 am.
View of our climb!
Joel, scouting the start.
Start of the climb! Tree is top of first pitch (of 12).
Joel, seconding the first pitch.
Top of second or third pitch. Almost lunchtime. Not a...
Smog getting worse.
View of the rather difficult face to the left / west of...
Top of the third pitch, I believe, Joel just cresting...
Joel at the top of pitch 3. Stopping for a snack.
Top of the fourth or maybe fifth pitch. Making good...
Another view to the west.
Self portrait at the top of the fourth or fifth pitch.
Joel making his way up. At this point, things became a...
We reached the base of the climb and packed up around...
Headed back to camp, we were treated with a brilliant...
Joel works carefully across an exposed granite ledge.
Alpine glow. We thought carefully about our route which...
... and before long total darkness descended. The moon...
The upshot was that we made what we hoped was a second...
We took turns tending the fire throughout the night,...
We were so exhausted we really couldn't motivate to get...
Joel, contemplating our surroundings and how we managed...
Showing our energy level the next morning: we took many...
We really weren't too far from our dome. I have never...
Back at Charlotte Lake, Joel and I take it easy and try...
Joel, a very happy man to see food.
Monica's tend stood the night without us, and ironically...
Joel, napping as best he could.
Out like a light.
So happy to have water.
Cleaning out our bear locker as we prepare for the trek...
Joel, walking west along the shore of Charlotte Lake.
Looking a wee bit tired.
Joel, trekking across a meadow where we cross the John...
Joel, doing his best to keep it together under...
Snow markers, at least 15 feet off the ground.
Taking a rest at the John Muir Trail junction.
Huh, so that's how it works.
Back at Bullfrog Lake on the hike out.
If Joel looks tired it's because he is. Bullfrog Lake in...
Neat pyramid-looking peak.
Hazy, hazy day.
Climbing back up to Kearsarge Pass. We were passed by a...
Joel, surveying the pass ahead.
Joel takes off for the pass while I limp along. See the...
Joel conquering the switchbacks.
High above Bullfrog Lake. I wish my camera had a built...
Joel, waiting at the 11,760 foot pass.
View down the eastern side of the pass. Now we get to...
Joel checking for cell reception. After this, it was...
Packed up the car and ready to roll out.
Driving down from the 9,000 ft Onion Valley to...
As luck would have it, our much anticipated Indian...
Not sure what we thought of the food. (Joel's salmon...