On my way back from the Grand Canyon I headed through Death Valley and over to the Southern Sierra Nevada. I arrived late at the Sage Flat trailhead and spent the night. Some friends were supposed to meet me there in the morning to climb Olancha peak(12,132'). But after there was a snowstorm all night, no one showed up. So i set off alone on the long climb up through the snow. I headed up over Olancha pass and through summit meadows. Then I met with the PCT and followed it to the west face of the mountain and made my way up the icy talus to the summit. It was an awesome day, climbing through the snow up into the clouds near the peak. Then while I was sitting on the summit the clouds began to clear, opening up all the amazing huge views!! Days like this are what I live for. After enjoying some time on the summit I headed down. The sun went down when I was around the PCT junction and I did the rest of the hike in the dark. This was a fun adventure, long and rough, but so much fun.
Sunrise from the trail
Climbing up to Olancha Pass
Halfway up to the pass
Olancha Pass
Crossing Summit Meadows
Summit Meadows
Summit Meadows
Climbing up the PCT
Overlooking Monache Meadows from the PCT
Starting up the West Face
Climbing above treeline
Overlooking Monache Meadows from the west face
The summit in the clouds
The clouds begin to break
Looking off the east face
Standing on the summit
Looking north from the summit
Looking south from the summit
Heading down the west face
Sunset from the PCT
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