Snowfield crossing...

We crossed two snowfields—this is the larger—neither of which posed any difficulty whatsoever, and could in fact have been skirted, but it was quicker to walk across. Earlier in the summer that might not have been the case, as the climb both to the snowfields (which are above Natahki Lake), and then to the saddle is steep enough, that when covered in snow, would be questionable without an ice axe and/or crampons. That is the Altyn summit at left. Photo by Vernon, July 22, 2009.