Painted lady and reflection

Painted Lady is situated in Kings Canyon National Park, approximately one mile west of the crest of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, 11.5 miles (18.5 km) west of the community of Independence, and one-half mile north of line parent Mount Rixford. Topographic relief is significant as the north aspect rises 1,580 feet (480 meters) above Rae Lakes in 0.38 miles (0.61 km). Access to the peak is possible via the John Muir Trail which crosses Glen Pass one mile to the southwest of the peak. The first ascent of the summit was made in 1931 by Robert Owen. In this photo, during sunset, the painted lady and its reflection in the middle Rae lake are seen.

Up in the Sierra Nevada in late July, the morning light hit just the top of this peak, turning it gold. The lake was still enough to give a perfect reflection of the mountain and the trees along the shoreline. It was worth the early start.

John Muir Trail, Sierra Nevada, California · 2024