Mt. Tyndall and Wallace Basin 2009

A very enjoyable day!  The first of two days where we did not move camp, and therefore did not have to carry our full packs!  Just day packs were necessary for today’s adventures.  The weather was good, although low clouds sometimes obscured some views.  And we finally got to Tulainyo Lake after missing it in 2007!  A shy pika near Tulainyo Lake was carrying some grass and was nice enough to pose for some pictures!

Tulainyo Pika

Journal Entry: A bit of rain overnight, just a few sprinkles.  Mostly clear skies this morning with some puffy clouds to the west.  Left around 10am for our day hike, heading upstream to Tulainyo Lake, about a 1300 ft. climb.  The toughest part was the second “step” from Wallace Lake, around 600 feet.  We didn’t find the best route, was a bit of class 3 in sections.  After that just gradual uphill to the lake.  We could hear people talking, probably on Mt. Russell, but never saw them.  We climbed a ridge at about 13100 ft. to get a better view of Mt. Russell and to see the other lake in the basin.  Then we climbed to a low spot west of Tunnabora Peak to catch the view on the other side of the crest.  We came down via Wales Lake, then back to camp where there was another guy set up nearby.  Clouds were building all day but only a few drops of rain so far (6:15pm).  Clouds look to be dissipating.  Tomorrow we head over to Wright Lakes.