This is the first year since I've been climbing that there has been snow drifts left from the previous winter. We estimated this "solid ice block" of snow to be about 14 feet deep here where it is melting away next to a rock wall.

This is the view from the upper basin befor you hit the saddle looking down on our valley. The summit shack can be seen just to the right of what looks to be the highest point. It is just a speck. The shack is actually the high point we are headed to.

This shot shows the summit shack a little better.

This is the saddle. You can look down to the valley at around 4,200 feet and see your final destination, the shack, above. It is about another hour from here.

Almost there. The oxygen gets thin up here.

This is the view from the summit shack. My home is so close to the mountian you can't see it. It is behind the hill with the pine trees.

It is windy on top and cold. You feel a little safer inside the shack and it gives you a little protection from the elements.

Looking east from the shack you look down a little more than 2,000 feet to Emerald Lake. I've never seen the lake choked with ice like this. There must have been large avalanches that covered the lake to create enough ice that it didn't melt over the summer.

This looks worse than it is. That is a cliff of over 1,500 feet but we don't really get close to the edge. The trail stays well to the left. You can see it in the top left corner in the distance.

You can see the trail better here and the saddle we are headed to. You can also see the trails feeding from the back side to hit the saddle at the top right.

The ugliest part of the trail is what is called the "Stairway to Heaven". It is several switch backs in a narrow spot to get you past one of the only cliff areas you have to negotiate.

From the saddle I can actually see my house. It is just barely in view above the ridge of green in the lower right hand side of the shot.

This is what makes it so fun. A herd of about 100 Rocky Mountain Goats chilling on a snow field. The largest heard I've ever seen was 32.

We moved in closer to get a better view. They are actually very big animals and a little spooky in these numbers.

They moved towards us and started grazing. They got a little too interested in us and we had to move away.