I did a basecamping trip for three nights up at Jewett Lake, very close to Tenderfoot Pass. The original plan had been to spend two nights there and then drop over Polaris Pass down to the west fork and make a loop. But I liked it there and had already visited the west fork, so stayed there the extra night.
Looking back at Wallowa Lake from just above the trailhead
Six miles in, looking at Aneroid Lake through the trees
Looking back on the trail leading up to Polaris Pass from the north, Aneroid Mtn in the background
After eight miles and 3900 feet of gain, Jewett Lake, my destination for three nights
The next day I headed out for a long dayhike loop on the Imnaha Divide and Bonny Lakes trails. Looking back at Jewett Lake, my tent is barely visible on the center right.
Looking back while on the Imnaha Divide trail, Polaris Pass is the first low point left of the rounded peak
The trail traverses fairly level along the ridge, crossing few creeks, this is one
The North Fork of the Imnaha River is below
Eventually you reach the ridge and drop down the other side, where you reach the Bonny Lakes trail
The main Bonny Lake. The flat section on the ridge above is Dollar Pass.
I always see these at high altitude in the Wallowas
After Dollar Pass, I did a short side trip to see Dollar Lake
Back at Jewett Lake, yet another view
A panorama of Pete's Point from the north with Jewett Lake (click for larger version)
On the next day, since I decided to camp there the third night, I dayhiked to Polaris Pass, since I heard it had a view
Looking along the Imnaha Divide, yesterday's trail followed that bench and eventually the ridge line
The very level switchbacks heading up to Polaris Pass
The view from the pass, from the "Red Wallowas" looking into the "White Wallowas". Glacier Peak and Eagle Cap dominate. (click for larger version)
The trail at Polaris Pass. I had hoped to hang out here a long time, but it was too windy to comfortably hang out.
There are those switchbacks, the level type so common in the Wallowas
Back at Jewett Lake that afternoon, smoke from the Granite Creek fired appeared suddenly and alarmingly. Of course I had no idea where it was. It dissipated in a couple hours.
That afternoon I explored up valley from Jewett Lake, for yet another great viewpoint
Closing shot - does it get any better than this? About 200 yards behind my camp through a notch was a perfect view of all of Aneroid Lake below and surrounding terrain. What a way to watch the stars come out.
