Another beautiful sunrise over Baptiste Lake.

After a bit of morning fishing, we were off, down and across Baptiste Creek one last time for this trip.

A different perspective of Mount Hooker, from just across Baptiste Creek.

Shannon hiking through beautiful alpine meadows in the shadow of Mount Hooker.

A (somewhat underexposed) panorama shot of Mount Hooker, Mount Lander, Musembeah Peak, and others.

Mount Lander and Musembeah Peak from the beginning of the climb up Hailey Pass. Some cumulus clouds were beginning to build,a likely indication of thunderstorms this afternoon. Around here, we ran into another hiker coming the other direction. He had spent several days in the North Fork basin and confirmed that it was indeed very wild, without much more than game and use trails. It sounded like he had enjoyed a great trip and was trying to make his way back to Dickinson Creek in a day.

Hailey Pass from below.

One of the rock formations near the top of Hailey Pass.

Mount Geikie on the descent from Hailey Pass. Note the relatively recent massive rockfall in the middle of the face covering the old snowfield. We ran into another couple of hikers heading the other way over Hailey Pass.

The peaks of the rugged East Fork from the trail below Pyramid Lake. Those peaks line an incredible valley that’s part of the Wind River High Route, but we wouldn’t have the chance to visit on this trip.

We stopped at Mays Lake for lunch.

Another teaser of the East Fork. For some up-close-and-personal pictures of this basin, check out day four of my Wind River High Route trip report.

Lunch spot at Mays Lake.

First views of the Cirque of the Towers as the trail peeks out from the trees south of Skull Lake.

Shannon hiking towards Shadow Lake, with the rugged peaks of the Cirque of the Towers as a backdrop. New York Pass is the low saddle below the sloping mountain at left.

Looking back the other way at the weather that was coming in.

Washakie Creek and some incredible rock formations.

At Shadow Lake we took a minute to enjoy the awesome views and encountered a group on a pack trip.

Peeking through the trees on our way up to Billys Lake as the dark clouds settled in.

New York Pass from below. With some darker clouds overhead, we thought it would be wiser to stick with the easier Texas Pass this time. We planned to turn around if we saw any signs of thunder or lightning. But for now, it just looked like a bit of rain.

The dark clouds made for some nice photos, this is looking east towards Barren Lake and Camel’s Hump.

Another shot of the clouds looking west.

We encountered a couple of groups camping near Barren and Texas Lakes. We decided to try and get over Texas Pass, weather permitting.

Shannon climbing Texas Pass.

Pingora Peak, Wolf’s Head, Bollinger Peak, and the Cirque of the Towers! As we crested the top of the pass, it began to drizzle just a little bit. Time for rain jackets!

Warbonnet Peak and the Warrior Peaks.

The other side of New York Pass. I’m still not sure exactly which route you’re supposed to follow up this side of the pass.

As we hit treeline, the skies opened up on us. Now we just had to find a spot to set up camp.

The classic Lonesome Lake shot. We set up camp off to the southeast of the lake and waited for the rain to let up before a bit of fishing and book reading near the lake. The rain mostly let up by early evening.