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Gigapixel snowy view atop Red Slate Mountain (elev. 13,123') in the Sierra Nevada near Convict Lake, California. The peak is the highest in the immediate area w/ views of Mt. Morrison to the north, Mount Baldwin, Bloody Mountain, Red & White Mountain, the distant White Mountains, Ritter Range, Mt. Dana, Mono Lake, & down to the Bear Creek Spire area. Directly below was the snowy McGee Pass, plus a myriad of several high lakes, most of them frozen w/ melted tints of tropical blue-hued water. The geology of this part of the Sierra is lacking of the granite batholith, but instead full of hornfels & gray marble w/ many deformed folds within the rock, a lot of complex & unique geology. Red Slate Mountain itself does not have red slate at the top, but may be a misnomer for Red & White Mountain nearby. On the way up I noticed a lot of fossil crinoids within the rock, this region being among the oldest rocks in the entire range. The peak I made as an impromptu day ascent via Convict Lake however it was quite brutal w/ a constant wintery wind on the ridge from the south. The mini penitentes depressions in the snow were also a challenge to navigate through but the overall view was worth it.
Gigapixel panorama (1.588 gigapixels), 300 photos, 56356x28178 pixels
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