Hiked/climbed up Mt Russell Monday on a day permit, which was easy and free to get. This was my 3rd trip this year to the Eastern Sierra Nevada, and might not be my last.
Trail entry ~7:30am, summit ~2:30pm. This was my 5th attempt in 4 years, and the first successful one. Weather was perfect with sunny skies and very mild gusts.
Ran into rangers again (3 for 3 this year) on the North Fork/MR. They checked my permit and we chatted. They said they don't go up that way often and I must just be lucky.
The water levels in the North Fork of Lone Pine Creek are the lowest I've seen, but that is not unexpected (I guess) in September.
Google Images pasted together a panoramic photo from those that I took at the summit.
Note, if you are driving down from Horseshoe Meadow please consider using a low gear instead of just using brakes. I smell burning brake s often when going up and passing cars going down. You don't want your brakes to give up on you going down that stretch of road!
