The Sierra Mountains in the mirror as I head up Hwy 395 on my way to the Silver Peak Range in Nevada. This five day trip was planned to help Sooz celebrate her upcoming birthday.

Ran into Sooz and Chip in Bishop. This shot was taken at Janie's Ranch a short way into Nevada. We stopped here for a little while to check the place out.

Chip and Sooz on the way up to Red Pass where we'll camp for the next couple of days. Robin showed up a short time later.

Near the pass was this old car.

Like most old vehicles out in the desert, it was full of bullet holes.

This is our camp near Red Pass. The next morning Sooz, Robin and Chip headed off to hike up Red Mountain. I wasn't feeling up to it, so I stayed at camp.

A few hours later it was snowing. Camp was at about 7,300 feet.

Looking towards Red Mountain I could barely make out it's outline. This is after it clear up a bit. A short time before could only see a couple hundred feet.

Chip, Sooz and Robin returning to camp after making it to the summit which can be seen behind them.

A couple hours later the snow was gone.

Woke up the next morning to find that TomG showed up during the night.

Todays plan was a hike up Rhyolite Ridge but before we could drive out there, Chip's truck needed a jump.

Passed by this old cabin on a saddle on the way to the starting point of the hike.

Starting off on the hike to Rhyolite Ridge.

Looking to the east back at the vehicles. Looks like bad weather coming this way.

Looked good to the north.

Approaching the steepest section of the hike.

When we got to the top of the steep section, we thought it was going to snow on us, but it turned out just to be fog.

Tom and Robin up ahead moving on towards the top of the ridge.

Sooz and Chip.

Starting up another steep section that leads to the top. Can barely make out Tom on the right in his camo poncho.

The top of Rhyolite Ridge comes into view.

Tom on top holding up the summit register.

Tom, Sooz, Chip, Robin and me, Joe on top of Rhyolite Ridge at 8,550 feet.

Summit register.

Looking down the ridge to the southwest.

View to the east.

View to the northeast.

Snack time.

Robin

Tom

Chip and Sooz

Looking to the west, can barely see a part of the White Mountains through the clouds.

Zoomed in on the White Mountains.

We could see our vehicles from the top.

Sooz playing on the edge.

Sooz and Robin. Think that's Red Mountain behind them.

Last look before starting down.

Starting the hike back down.

Chip

Sooz with the top of the ridge in back. The weather really cleared up.

Hiking across the top of the steep section. We were trying to find a spot to go down that might be easier than the route we used on the way up.

Ended up going down the same way we came up.

The group climbing down. What made going down difficult was it was hard packed with loose stuff on top, really slippery.

View to the northeast as we climb down.

View to the southwest.

Almost off the rock.

Looking back at the steep section we just climbed down.