At the end of August, I set out on another solitary backpacking trip into the Tuolumne back country in Yosemite National Park. Day one climbed from Tuolumne Meadows up to Townsley lake via the Rafferty creek trail. It was a great climb with absolutely no mosquitoes. Day two I climbed off trail over an 11000 foot pass to the remote and fantastically beautiful Ireland lake. I summited a gorgeous 11500 foot unnamed peak as well as the splendid 12000 foot Amelia Earhart Peak. Third day was spent strolling (briskly) 12 miles down to and out of Lyell Canyon back to Tuolumne Meadows. Following are some of the images I took along the way. If there are any packbackers out there who are interested in 3-6 day trips into the Sierras, please let me know.

Jim Affinito
jamesaffinito@yahoo.com

The images below are large and very detailed. They should be viewed at full size. Clicking on the images will expand them larger than your screen so that you can scroll around them. Enjoy

Yosemite mules.

Unnamed peak in the distance is another 1500 foot climb. Tomorrow.

Vogelsang peak is visible on the right. My first night camp was in the green patch left of center above the lake. It was a truly splendid campsite.

The noble Marmot in repose

Fletcher lake at dusk

Forest fire sunset

A good morning.

Townsley lake.

First view of Ireland lake.

Wind on Ireland lake.

From the summit of unnamed 11,500 foot peak above Ireland lake. View is Southwest.

Tent

Marmot, alert.

Packbackers getting water.

Find my tent.

Tarns below Ireland lake.