Looking down on the “standard route” for Church and Donaldson, with quite a bit of snow still lingering, and ice in the pond. The route is known for heinous scree from the pond up to the saddle between the two peaks, but tackling it a little earlier in the year allows for a snow climb to spare you from the scree. I’m told there’s some decent campsites down by the edge of those trees, which could give you an early start and firmer snow.
June 29,2008