Day 2- South Fork Cascade

7/29/13  Day 2 covered about 10 miles, 1,500' gain, and almost 3,000' loss. It went into and out of the Alaska Basin, past Sunset Lake, over Hurricane Pass, and then down into the South Fork of Cascade Canyon. It also included a crazy hail storm!
DSC01532 Sunrise on Death Canyon Shelf. Getting ready to break camp, eat some freeze dried scrambled eggs, and start Day 2.
Sunrise on Death Canyon Shelf. Getting ready to break camp, eat some freeze dried scrambled eggs, and start Day 2.
DSC01533 Morning view down Death Canyon. I seem to have an irrational fear of grizzly bears at night, so I did not sleep well at all. Surprisingly, I woke up with plenty...
Morning view down Death Canyon. I seem to have an irrational fear of grizzly bears at night, so I did not sleep well at all. Surprisingly, I woke up with plenty…
DSC01536 Leaving camp. It's a beautiful morning after yesterday's thunderstorm.
Leaving camp. It's a beautiful morning after yesterday's thunderstorm.
DSC01541 Leaving the Shelf and reaching the edge of Alaska Basin, which is not part of GTNP, but hopefully will be eventually.
Leaving the Shelf and reaching the edge of Alaska Basin, which is not part of GTNP, but hopefully will be eventually.
DSC01550 A look down into the Alaska Basin. Yet again, the picture just doesn't represent reality. It's amost a 1,000' drop into the middle of the picture.
A look down into the Alaska Basin. Yet again, the picture just doesn't represent reality. It's amost a 1,000' drop into the middle of the picture.
DSC01552 Heading down the
Heading down the "Sheep Steps" section of the trail, now about halfway down into the Alaska Basin.
DSC01553 A look West down the Basin.
A look West down the Basin.
DSC01554 A panorama view of the Basin from the South ridge.
A panorama view of the Basin from the South ridge.
DSC01556 Just about down to the bottom, there is water everywhere. It's fascinating how every few hours on the Teton Crest Trail (TCT) brings you to a very different...
Just about down to the bottom, there is water everywhere. It's fascinating how every few hours on the Teton Crest Trail (TCT) brings you to a very different…
DSC01557 Now at the bottom of the Basin heading East.
Now at the bottom of the Basin heading East.
DSC01559 One of the few sections of the entire TCT where the trail can get hard to follow. Here the trail is marked only by ducks.
One of the few sections of the entire TCT where the trail can get hard to follow. Here the trail is marked only by ducks.
DSC01561 There are beautiful creeks and ponds throughout the Basin.
There are beautiful creeks and ponds throughout the Basin.
DSC01563 Starting to head up the other side of Alaska Basin. The scenery is getting increasingly amazing. This also marks my first serious climb of the trip.
Starting to head up the other side of Alaska Basin. The scenery is getting increasingly amazing. This also marks my first serious climb of the trip.
DSC01564 A panoramic look back at the other side of the Basin where I hiked down earlier.
A panoramic look back at the other side of the Basin where I hiked down earlier.
DSC01565 Lots of cascading creeks.
Lots of cascading creeks.
DSC01567 I reach the North rim of the Basin and get my first view of Sunset Lake.
I reach the North rim of the Basin and get my first view of Sunset Lake.
DSC01568 A closer view of Sunset Lake.
A closer view of Sunset Lake.
DSC01571 Water leaving Sunset Lake and cascading over the edge of the plateau and into Alaska Basin.
Water leaving Sunset Lake and cascading over the edge of the plateau and into Alaska Basin.
DSC01574 Pretty much the only people I saw all day. I leap frogged back and forth with them a few times along the trail.
Pretty much the only people I saw all day. I leap frogged back and forth with them a few times along the trail.
DSC01578 Amazingly clear water.
Amazingly clear water.