Mt Johnson Cirque

 After a few days of recuperation, gardening, light spinning on the bikes, and general spring fevering Rick and I hooked up for a tour out of South Lake.

The road is cleared to the lake but still gated just above Parchers, so there's a slightly tedious hike from the car to South Lake.

 The high peaks were looking good - as usual.

A few hundred feet above the lake we came across these Ptarmigan. Always a delight!

Soon Mt Johnson came into view.

We took the right turn into the Mt Johnson Cirque and this nice south facing couloir beckoned.

Rick took a couple shots of me climbing said couloir.

 

Rick nabbed extra points by scrambling up a nearby peaklet.

Meanwhile I soaked in the views. Mt Aggasiz (pointy left), Goode (blocky left), No Goode (snow capped) and Mt Johnson (right).

Lots of peaks to the southwest notably the aptly named Black Giant (right).

Skiing the couloir was grand fun on good to very good corn. The exit through the Treasure Lake chain was enjoyable too. The snow got a little sticky and punchy in the "flume" just above South Lake, but the skate across the still frozen lake was sublime.

We descended right around noon which seemed just about perfect. Cool south to southeast breezes slowed the warming appreciably.

Super fun day. Happy to be on the sticks again and thankful to tour among the high peaks.

Thanks Rick.