In the summer of 2012, immediately following my second year of college at UCSD I set out with a group of seven intrepid friends from Onion Valley Trailhead in Independence, California. Young, handsome (maybe that’s generous), and carefree we set off for a week of high alpine shenanigans:
Eleven years later to the summer I set out with another group of seven grisled warriors from the same point to tempt the mountains once more. Among them were some who had braved Kearsarge those many years ago. Our faces have a few more wrinkles, we might have slightly less spring in our step, but the sense of excitement and brotherhood was the same:
We only had two nights out on trail so we decided to jet directly to Kearsarge Lakes. The hike up was as exhilerating as ever. The expansive views of the Owen’s River Valley out east make you feel like you are flying. The views of Big Pothole Lake and the Kearsarge Pinnacles are still some of the most spectacular in the Sierra.
Big Pothole Lake looking east. 
The Kearsarge Pinnacles and Vidette beyond. 
We set up camp and Ryan, Ben Fry, Sergie, and Blake couldn’t help but immediately bust out the fly rods. What ensued was a full on fish fest.
Ben “Fish” Fry. 
September in the Sierra is absolutely stunning. The air is crisp and the ground cover begins to turn a reddish hue that you only find in the alpine. The downside is that the nights are long and cold. By 6:45 the sun was set and the temperature rapidly dropped into the 30s. We passed the night by crawling into our sleeping bags in a circle, watching the sky pass over us, and taking pulls out of a flask Ben Fry brought (that guy thought of everything).
Autumn glory. 
Bundled by 630. I swear it was cold. 
Kearsarge moonrise. 
Day two out on trail we didn’t move camp and opted for a day hike to Charlotte Lake. The wind that had whipped us the day before had abated and conditions were spectacular - warm enough for a dip in the lake. The boys did more fishing at the lake before we high tailed it back to camp.
Ryan braves the lake. 
Day three we packed up early after coffee and made short work of the pass. The hike up and over was a quick two and a half hours at a light trot. It’s always amazing how quickly your legs will come alive if you put them through the paces out in the mountains.
Overall a memorable outing in the mountains with good friends. I’m grateful to be surrounded by a group of men that have stayed so close over the years, bonded by our shared faith and love of adventure.