Painted lady and middle Rae lake

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. Photographed here are the painted lady and its reflection in the middle Rae lake.

Rae Lakes Basin is one of my favorite places in the Sierra Nevada, and I've been trying to get this shot of Painted Lady with a perfect reflection for years. This morning, the wind was calm and the sky was clear, making for a perfect reflection of the peak and the cumulus clouds.

Rae Lakes, California · 2024