Mt. Sill

 Mount Sill 14,159 ft. is one of the fourteeners of the Sierra Nevada in California. It is located in the Palisades, a group of striking rock peaks with a few small glaciers on their flanks. Last year we try to do Thunderbolt to Sill Traverse, but have to cut it short because of my headache. This year we was back, but from the different direction. I was camping at Brainerd Lake for previous few days, definitely not recommend as it's probably a capitol of entire mosquito population of High Sierra.

Willow Lake

I did not want to go all the way down to South Fork Big Pine Creek and decide to traverse high, which was very challenging and slow. Connected with the creek just before the fork to Elinor Lake.

Mt. Sill

Haytham

Mt. Sill view from the top. N. Palisades

Cat walk

The best part of expedition

Leaning Tower

 After Washington Column I decided to give a try to Leaning Tower West Face 5.7 C2. 11 Pitches of overhanging exposure! A continuously steep and strenuous route with some of the best exposure around. We did not finish the route, but as usual a lot of experience, especially hook moves.

Gear

Yosemite

Leaning Tower

Hiking to route start

Hook moves

P1

Cam hook

Strawberry Peak hike

Strawberry Peak is an excellent scramble not far from our favorite Mt. Wilson, which was still closed at that time.

Sunrise

Helicopter

Our crew

Strawberry Peak

At the top

Marshall to Little San G. and back flight, 53 miles

Spring is one of the best times for XC flights. We had a good crew for a day and was able to fly to Little San Gorgonio and back with Reavis.

Tom

Gavin

Reavis

San Gorgonio

On glide with Reavis

Andy Jackson LZ

My flight:

https://www.paraglidingforum.com/leonardo/flight/2747355

Cucamonga (attempt)

 Initial plan was to hike Mt. Baldy, but snowy and icy road conditions was too much for my Prius, even with chains it could not make switchbacks, so we retreated to Ice house canyon. Easy going to saddle. There was probably 10 or so people in front of us, but after saddle most of them turned around. We had a great hopes for 2 folks with snowshoes, but after 100 feet they was confused and scared and went back as well, so it was my turn to lead. Very enjoyable exercise sometimes falling chest deep into the snow. Poor Fedor was struggling even to follow, so speed was very slow. We made it to Cucamonga / Bighorn saddle before turning around.

Mt. Whitney

 Mountains does not forgive mistakes, even little ones. Our annual Whitney trip did not go well for me this time. It was nice to get out, but no summit just because of 3 AAA batteries. We get a few hours nap at trail head, actually somewhere between lower and upper gates. My flashlight died after 1 hour of hiking, but going up was not that bad.

Sunrise near Upper Boy scouts lakes

Iceberg Lake

Mountaineering chute

My high point, ~13000 

I made a conservative decision to turn around early to avoid hiking icy Ebersbacher Ledges in the dark.

Looking up from Lower Boy scouts Lake

Ebersbacher Ledges

Sunset