Sooz with her torn pack after we got it back from a young bear that ran off with it when she wasn't looking just before we were about to start the hike at about 5:00am.

Some of the damage on the pack. I found the bear with the pack at the stream. When he saw me he ran off with it. Took a while, but I was able to get it away from him. He ate all the snacks.

Cori (Snownymph) and Sooz at the Mount Whitney Trailhead at 8,300'. This hike starts off by following the Mt Whitney Mountaineer's Route to Lower Boy Scout Lake.

Crossing the North Fork of Lone Pine Creek. Cori showed us another trail that ends just above the creek on the Whitney main trail.

Cori knew of a different route up the Ebersbacher Ledges. We started on them sooner than the route I've used before.

This route had us crossing a narrow ledge.

This crossing was a little scary for me. I was feeling weak and moving slow from the start of the hike.

Taking a short break on the ledges.

Cori at the top of a short climb.

Still on the ledges with a view of the Alabama Hills to the east.

Cori lead the way up the ledges.

On the trail above the ledges. I was moving really slow, but Sooz and Cori waited for me to catch up.

First view of the Needles.

Needles and Mount Whitney as we near Lower Boy Scout Lake.

Lower Boy Scout Lake at 10,360'. I was really exhausted at this point. I wanted to wait here while Sooz and Cori tried for the peak, but they talked me into hiking on.

From the lake we climbed the slope to the north. The rest of the hike was going to be XC.

Looking back at the lake and Thor Peak. The Mountaineer's Route follows the green canyon.

Lower Boy Scout Lake from near the top of the slope. From here we'll head northwest following a canyon to a little no name lake.

Looking up the canyon we will follow. We're at about 11,000' at this point almost above tree line.

Cori and Sooz talking away while waiting for me to catch up.

We followed the canyon around to the right not knowing what to expect ahead. We were waiting to see what the climb to a saddle looked like that leads to the peak.

Most of the hike was fairly easy. We were able to find a clear route.

This section was a little loose.

The stream running down the slabs.

Sooz up ahead waiting for Cori and I to catch up.

Cori was slowing down to my level at this point. She got in late last night and didn't get much sleep.

Sooz ahead almost to the little no name lake.

Little no name lake at 12,250' with what looks like someone's blue tent in it. The lake is only about a 100' across.

This is the climb we would have to do to get up to the saddle that leads to the peak. There is no way that I have the energy to climb the loose slope.

With a late start, time running out and me being exhausted, we decided not to try for the peak. We took a long break at the lake before heading down.

The peak on the left was the peak we were trying for.

Zoomed in a little, you can see what we were calling the diving board near the peak.

Zoomed in all the way. Not sure what's holding it up, but I wouldn't want to stand on or be under it.

Group shot at the lake.

Starting the hike down.

Approaching a small meadow at 11,500'.

Sooz at the meadow with Lone Pine Peak.

Looking down the slope.

We all took different routes down the slope and met up at the bottom.

Looking up the slope we just hiked down. The little meadow is at it's top.

Getting back into the trees at 11,000'.

Nice views, this is only my second hike in the Sierra this year. Like to get in a few more hikes before the snows come.

Almost back down to Lower Boy Scout Lake.

View across the Owens Valley.

Looking down on Cori as we make our way down the Ebersbacher Ledges.

Crossing the creek at the waterfall.

Waterfall at the crossing.

Making our way down the North Fork back towards the Mount Whitney Trail.