Topo and GPS tracks from today's 11 mile route from the Glen Alpine trailhead. That loop near the summit is me losing the trail in the summit scree and then taking the Cathedral lake trail back up. Had some more routefinding issues on the slopes above Gilmore. The western tracks were my uphill route and marked by a series of ducks. The eastern tracks are the current trail, and it looks like the original trail was a bit further east.

Got to the Glen Alpine trailhead parking lot shortly before 7am after the 4 hour drive from the Bay Area. Did a pretty poor job of backing into this parking space.

Stopped to self-register at the entrance kiosk. (Sign text is readable if you view the full size image)

We were a few days past the full moon, and it hung in the sky for the early portion of the hike.

Trailsign marking the boundary of the Desolation Wilderness

Into the pines on and winding steadily upward.

The trail met up with the creek coming down from Gilmore Lake and then started stair stepping more steeply up the slope.

Junction of the PCT. Left turn takes you toward Lake Aloha. My route was right towards Lake Gilmore.

Almost to the treeline and getting glimpses of the surrounding peaks. Think thats the Crystal Range and Price Peak