Pyramid Peak Desolation Wilderness

August 3, 2015

Well, I tested my limits on this one; but I could have gone out again today if necessary.  I feel great, but a bit sore.

First photo, already 1500 feet up near the wilderness border

Tunnel Tree
Getting off the scenic detour

First view of the objective

Break time, halfway up

Water, water everywhere

500 feet to go

Mount Agassiz, with a guy standing on top    ⇔

300 feet to go

200 feet to go

The summit, at 9983'

I can see seven lakes in Desolation Valley, plus five others

Round Top is 15 miles south

Mozelle and Noelle Lakes — my favorite shot of the day

Shangri-La is behind the distant little U-shaped formation at top-center above, yet is just over two miles away.

Starting back

The only flowers I shot today are newcomers to my collection:

Bolander's Milkvetch
Tidy Tips

Highway-50 is 3,500 feet down

Nifty cairns abound
The squirrels' dining table

Lovers Leap, 6944'

§: I trust that the next time you view Pyramid Peak from over on Highway-88 or Mormon Emigrant Trail, it will have more meaning for you.

• Trailhead: 0.9 miles east of Strawberry on US-50
• Distance: 8½ miles — 6 hours up, 3½ hours down
• Elevation: 5890' to 9983'

Scenery
Difficulty
Personality
Adventure
Solitude

Our two detours are clearly evident

These two photos, shot from the top of Lovers Leap in 2012, add a little perspective to our trek:

The Rocky Canyon route

Zoomed in on Pyramid Peak

Sep. 2021: Most of the Rocky Canyon route has burned.