Up to the top of Peak 4455, again looking back toward SVC. The climb up to 4455 is one of the easier portions of the traverse, and there tended to be less growth on the east side of the peaks than on the western slopes.

Up on Peak 4455 (where I had stopped on my last attempt at this travers) getting ready for the decent down to the next valley. This slope was a bit steeper than I had encountered thus far and I packed up my hiking poles and broke out my gloves.

A closer view of what some of this stuff looks like up close. This was one of the better sections and is actually on the firebreak.

Ventana Cone creeping closer, the rocky spot in the center of this shot is where I took the following shot.

The last minor peaklet before reaching the slopes of Ventana Cone itself.

Definate sign that I was still on the firebreak.

Reached the Ventana Cone summit shortly after noon. Kandlbinder, VDC (and the Ventana "Window" between them) now clearly visible. The summit had a USGS marker and an ammo box registry. The pacific ocean was visible off to the left.

Ventana Cone USGS survey marker, placed in 1955 and in pretty good shape as these things go.

The Big Sur River basin was fogged in, but it was otherwise a very clear day.