Yosemite comes to Wyoming

• Date: 8-8-19
• Day:  3
• Start:  1774
• End:  10. Alt plus 4 CDT
• Miles: 14
• Hours: 11
• High Temp: 68
• Low Temp: 55
• Thru Hikers Met: 1

---

Two bull moose 

Shorty after starting at 0700 hrs I came upon two bull moose blocking the trail. They were not interested in moving until David came up next to me, then the closest bull moved out of the way. Today we are taking the CDT alternate, “Cirque of the Towers”.  The views are commiserate with Yosemite, only there are much less people here. 

A different forest today

We are hiking between 9500’ and  1100’. As we enter the alternate trail huge granite greets us.  This is what we have been waiting for. 

Elephants head, note the purple little tusks

Amazing valley with granite on both sides with the added plus of a beautiful meadow and stream 

This valley is very powerful in its beauty. Wild flowers everywhere

Panorama of the valley

The beautiful flowers are everywhere 

A climb over Temple Pass before the Cirque  The climb to the top has afforded greait views of a tarn and the surrounding meadows.  

Temple Pass to the right and an unnamed tarn

The weather started to deteriorate rapidly as we descended Temple Pass. Once on the bottom the sky erupted in a peel of thunder.  We both geared up and hunkered down as a hail storm began. After a while  the squal abated and we pushed on.  Working our way to Clear Lake for our camp. 

Flowers on the way up Temple Pass 

Panorama looking north from Temple Pass with

Temple Lake 

The flowers on the way down Temple Pass

Columbine 

The valley floor and Temple Lake

East Temple Peak in the middle

East Temple Peak and Deep Lake

Close to our camp at Clear Lake

The changing light and shadows on the mountains as the sunset occurred provided the best evening entertainment. 

Haystack Mountain and Clear Lake

A peaceful and pleasant end to our day watching the shadows on the mountains as the sun set