We got a late start leaving town the first night, so only made it to Lone Pine. We parked near Tuttle Creek for the night. Had a UV flash light so went looking for scorpions.

Another shot using a white light to light the scorpion. I found over ten of these in a few minutes using the UV light. This was the biggest one, some were just a quarter of an inch long, they must have just hatched.

The next morning while on the way to Tuolumne Meadows to pick up the overnight permit, we decided to stop at Mono Lake and take a quick look around. The water was really flat, never seen it so calm out here.

There were some seagulls at the lake, but with their breeding season over, most have flown off.

This one was busy eating the black alkali flies that carpet the shoreline. It was entertaining watching it run back and forth, head down, jaws munching.

Sooz was having fun with the flies. As you walk through the flies, they move out of the way.

These little shore birds feeding on brine shrimp (aka "Sea Monkeys").

Sooz scooped a few up to get a better look at them.

Sooz enjoyed her first visit to Mono Lake. We'll get great views of the lake druing the up coming hike.

Me, Joe and Sooz at the Mono Pass Pass Trailhead at 9,700 feet. We plan to hike over Parker Pass and set up camp for the night. The others will be meeting us there tomorrow afternoon.

Passed by the remains of a couple of old cabins that were along side of the trail.

After hiking through the trees for awhile, it was nice to get to tree line where the views were great.

Almost to Parker Pass.

Zoomed in on Sooz up ahead approaching the pass.

Parker Pass at 11,100 feet.

We set up camp in the rocky area above the lake about half a mile beyond the pass.

Our camp for the first night. We moved to a nicer spot a little further down next day.

Two junior marmots, their mother was close by. They had a hole in the rocks by our camp.

The next morning we started up Mount Lewis to check out the view.

It was a short hike from camp, about one mile with a 1,400 foot gain.

Looking across the canyon to the switchbacks on the northwest slope of Parker Peak. We'll be hiking up that trail tomorrow on the way to Koip Peak.

The plaque on top of Mount Lewis.

On Mount Lewis at 12,324 feet.

Great view of Mono Lake to the northeast.

Looking down a canyon to Paker Lake. I was hoping to spot the wreckage of the C-47 #43-30676 that chashed above Parker Lake on 3/16/45.

It was easy to spot the C-47's wreckage from Mount Lewis. The crash site is about 2,000 feet below. Looks like it would be a fairly easy hike from Parker Lake. Will try it on another trip before the snows come to the area.

Looking to the south at Mount Parker with Mount Wood at the end of the ridge.

To the north is Mount Gibbs and the tip of Mount Dana.

Zoomed in on Mount Gibbs and Mount Dana.

Sooz with a view to the east.

Grant Lake and the Mono Craters.

Zoomed in on Crater Mountain.

From Lewis we got a view of Koip Peak (12,962') on the left and Kuna Peak (13,002') on the right and the saddle between that holds the crash site of the B-24E that we will be hiking to tomorrow.

Starting the hike back down to camp.

Looking down on Parker Pass.

This shot shows the route we will use from our camp at the lake. Up the switchbacks on the side of Parker Peak, to Koip Peak Pass, then up over the top of Koip Peak and down to the crash site on the saddle.

Zoomed in on the area we moved our camp to. We set up on the flat areas above the lake and to the left of the stream.

A short time after moving camp, Cori arrived. This shot shows the edge of the lake at it's inlet.

The lake had a great color cause by glacier melt water. This is the inlet side.

The outlet end on the lake. The shallow water made a nice effect.

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Everyone is here. Craig and Brent arrived a short time after Cori.

The next morning, getting ready for the day's hike.

Craig at his camp.

Group shot before the start of the hike. Sooz and Cori were ready first and headed out. They planned to check out the crash site and climb a few peaks in the area. I was about ten minutes behind, Craig and Brent got a later start.

The glacier stream that flows into the lake by our campsite as I start the hike. The area turn out to really scenic.

Sooz and Cori up ahead.

Hiking up the switchbacks. The switchbacks were easier to hike up than I thought they were going to be. I was glad since I wasn't feeling very well.

Looking back down at camp (arrow) from the top of the switchbacks. I can also see Craig and Brent below. They started hiking about an hour and a half after me.