
Big Valley Lake on the left as we start along the Green Creek Trail.

Entering the Hoover Wilderness.

The trail ascends on the north side of Blue Lake, seen left. Above is Peak 11568, our second peak of this outing.

Passing Cooney Lake.

A couple of easy creek crossings.

View back toward Dunderberg Mountain.

Frog Lakes. The saddle we're headed to is seen center.

Black Mountain seen left and the scary-looking ridge to its west.

Ascending to the saddle on a tame trail.

At the saddle, view back down the valley we hiked up. Dunderberg Mountain seen top left.

Excelsior Mountain ahead. We left the trail and dropped down to these tiny lakes before ascending to the orange-colored slope ahead.

View back along a social trail from the tiny lakes.

Steep trail up the northeast ridge of Excelsior Mountain.

View back, Burro Lake seen far right. Dunderberg Mountain top left, Peak 11568 (our next peak) seen below it.

Close-up toward Burro Lake.

On a lump along the east ridge, view toward Excelsior Mountain (left), and its false northern summit (center).

View back toward the orange lump along the east ridge as we approach the false summit of Excelsior Mountain. Virginia Lakes Trailhead is in the valley in the center.

Wider shot. Mono Lake in the distance.


A little rockier toward the summit.

Summit of Excelsior Mountain, view back along the ridge.

Excelsior Mountain summit, view toward Saddlebag Lake and Mount Conness.

Excelsior Mountain, looking toward Tuolumne Meadows.

Close-up toward Virginia Peak and Twin Peaks.

Back at the saddle, onward to Peak 11568.

View back toward Excelsior Mountain (center).

Usually pretty easy walking. Keep left of the crest to avoid unnecessary talus.

Approaching the summit of Peak 11568.

Peak 11568, view south.

Peak 11568, view west.

Peak 11568, view toward the trailhead.

Dropping off the summit via a Class 2 ramp.

Descending this little basin.

A Class 2 weakness in the cliffs, which allowed us to sneak back to the Green Creek Trail.

View back up toward the slope and weakness (center) just before reaching the trail.
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