#sierra nevada mountains

Relaxing view of The Pinnacles. John Muir Wilderness, Sierra Nevada Mountains, California, USA. Photo by Van Miller

Alpine Shooting Star, Dodoecatheon alpinium. Pinnacles Lakes Basin, John Muir Wilderness, Sierra Nevada Mountains, California, USA. Photo by Van Miller

Alpine Shooting Star, Dodecatheon alpinium. Pinnacle Lakes Basin, John Muir Wilderness, Sierra Nevada Mountains, California, USA. Photo by Van Miller

Alpine Shooting Star, Dodecatheon alpinium. Pinnacles Lakes Basin, John Muir Wilderness, Sierra Nevada Mountains, USA. Photo by Van Miller

These grassy lanes are filled with flowers, like these patches of Alpine Shooting Star, Dodecatheon alpinium. Pinnacles Lakes Basin, John Muir Wilderness, Sierra Nevada Mountains, California, USA. Photo by Van Miller

Granite outcropping, grassy meadows and the Pinnacles. John Muir Wilderness, Sierra Nevada Mountains, California, USA. Photo by Van Miller

Running east to west are a series of mixed flora lanes, nurtured by cold water seeps. Eastern Pinnacles Lakes Basin, John Muir Wilderness, Sierra Nevada Mountains, California, USA. Photo by Van Miller

Eastern Pinnacles Lakes Basin, John Muir Wilderness, Sierra Nevada Mountains, California, USA. Photo by Van Miller

Looking up East Pinnacles Lakes Basin to Gemini Peak, 12,866 ft. John Muir Wilderness, Sierra Nevada Mountains, California, USA. Photo by Van Miller

Campsite. Negit Lake, East Pinnacles Lakes Basin, John Muir Wilderness, Sierra Nevada Mountains, California, USA. Photo by Van Miller

It’s pouring rain. So far it’s rained everyday, and now there’s smoke in the air. Negit Lake, East Pinnacles Creek Basin, John Muir Wilderness, Sierra Nevada Mountains, California, USA. Photo by Van Miller

The Pinnacles, like the spikes on the back of a reptile, and my campsite. Pinnacle Lakes Basin, John Muir Wilderness, Sierra Nevada Mountains, California, USA. Photo by Van Miller

The eastern side of the Pinnacles is steeper than the western side. Pinnacles Lakes Basin, John Muir Wilderness, Sierra Nevada Mountains, California, USA. Photo by Van Miller

A good place to camp. Eastern Pinnacles Lakes Basin, John Muir Wilderness, Sierra Nevada Mountains, California, USA. Photo by Van Miller

East Pinnacles Creek, John Muir Wilderness, Sierra Nevada Mountains, California, USA. Photo by Van Miller

Giant frost riven boulder beached like a whale on a meadow. East Pinnacles Creek, John Muir Wilderness, Sierra Nevada Mountains, California, USA. Photo by Van Miller

It starting rain, so I’m following this creek to the upper lakes where I’ll find a place to Camp. East Pinnacles Creek, John Muir Wilderness, Sierra Nevada Mountains, California, USA. Photo by Van Miller

Design in Nature. Pinnacle Lakes Basin, John Muir Wilderness, Sierra Nevada Mountains, California, USA. Photo by Van Miller

Blue Grouse. East Pinnacles Creek, John Muir Wilderness, Sierra Nevada Mountains, California, USA. Photo by Van Miller

A good place for lunch. East Pinnacles Creek, John Muir Wilderness, Sierra Nevada Mountains, California, USA. Photo by Van Miller