Mono pass hike

Mono pass trail is about 8.5 miles and 2000 ft out and back. It reaches an altitude of 12,000 ft at the pass. It starts at the Mosquito flat trail at the end of the road that turns off of 395 north of Bishop at Toms Place.

 The trail follows Little Lakes Valley for about a mile before coming to this trail junction. The Morgan pass direction goes up the valley to Long lake, Gem Lake, and Chicken foot lake.

 The view up little lakes valley toward the other lakes.

 We continued up the Mono pass branch and came to the Ruby lake cutoff.

 Ruby lake is very nice.

 The ridge above the lake is impressive. We continued up the switch backs toward this ridge but cut right into a canyon leading to the pass.

 Up the switchbacks looking at Ruby lake.

 Close-up of Ruby lake showing Kays group of hikers looking up at us on the switchbacks.

 At the top of the switchbacks before the right turn into the canyon toward the pass.

 Nearly to the pass looking back toward where we came from. This is the same location as the cover photo of my blog that was taken in June about 2 years ago. The snow was much deeper then.

 This is all the snow remaining.

 Just over the pass the trail continues out a ridge on the left to a viewpoint into the next canyon. It is very barren at this elevation.

 The small summit lake below the ridge that has a view into the next canyon.

 The view into the next canyon.

 Our lunch spot.

 Group shot with next canyon in the background.

 Interesting mountain with distinctive snow patch remaining.

On the way back, near the pass we saw the only flowers at this elevation. Rock Fringe.