This was an early season trip up to Sonora Peak a few weeks after the pass opened.
A later season hike of Sonora and Stanislaus can be found here
The main St Mary's Pass trailhead parking area was still snowed in, but the lot across the street was snow free so I parked there
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Looking back across 108 at the overflow parking lot. I was the only car in the morning, but there would be a half dozen or so when I returned.
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St Mary's Pass trailhead sign.
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An early look at Sonora Peak (right) on the route up to St Marys Pass. There were a couple of suncupped snowfiields along the path to the pass. (The pass itself is off to the left of this shot)
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Small snowfield on the final approach to St Mary's Pass.
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Up into St Mary's Pass. Stanislaus Peak now visiable in the distance. The wilderness boundary signs here are placed on long poles so that the snowmobilers can see them above the snowpack.
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From the pass it was a right turn to begin the mile long traverse up to Sonora. The use trail to the peak is on the far side of the snowfield, and I angled towards the break at the midpoint in the field. The bottom section was more or less a scree slog.
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Looking over at Stanislaus while stopping for a bit of rest on the slopes of Sonora. The snowfield on the bottom right is the largest remaining in the area and formed its own small lakelet and creek at its lowpoint.
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The Sonora Peak summit comes into view once again on the use trail to the summit.
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