My destination in the Crystal Range is partially veiled in clouds, which will presumably burn off by the time I get there, maybe keeping the corn cool meantime.
A few miles closer
The snowpack is still so deep that crossing the Rubicon is not so committing, scenic though.
Jaunty Jeffrey Pine (Pinus jeffreyi)
Looking back the way I came
Next I’ll ski the backside of that knob on the right.
..After I finish this one.
Sierra Junipers (Juniperus occidentalis var. australis) apparently only grow in a matted krummholz form like this, here on the Tahoe Sierra’s western crest (per Michael Graf’s local botany guide book)
Looking to distant Tahoe, and the low crest, middle ground left of center, where the overflowing glaciers from here on the west side crossed over east into the Tahoe basin, smoothing out my Rockbound Valley route from home.
Looks like the Rubicon River is flowing over some striped creekbed here too.
Side creek joining from above in classic Sierra fashion. During the ice ages, water was flowing like this, deep beneath the ponderous glaciers all over this landscape.
Toured up one side of the frame and down the other, and it feels like it.
Mature California Red Fir (Abies magnifica) often lose their tops, and the remaining branches will vie to take over the role.