The previous evening, I drove the 4WD road to an impassable washout at approximately 5,100 feet where I spent the night. To my surprise, there was some light rain from a storm system moving through Owens Valley.The next morning, I continued along the road on foot.View back at the alpenglow on the Sierra.Around 5,500 feet, starting up a ridge to the south of Union Wash.Steep and loose.Following the ridge. The standard route travels along Union Wash (left), gaining the ridge farther up the canyon via a set of switchbacks.View back.The terrain stabilizes after the first 1,500 vertical feet.The headwall of Union Wash visible on the left.View from the top of the switchbacks on the standard approach.Approaching a flatter section.View back.Joining a use trail.Arriving at a saddle at 9,100 feet.Continuing along the upper section of Union Wash.View back toward the saddle.Bedsprings Camp.Continuing along the wash.Leaving the wash at 9,800 feet, headed north toward Mount Inyo.View back toward the saddle between Mount Inyo and Keynot Peak (left).Dropping down to a minor southern saddle of Mount Inyo.Starting up Mount Inyo's south slope.Flat section of Mount Inyo's south ridge.Contouring the west side of the ridge below a couple of false summits.Back on the ridge crest, starting the final climb to Mount Inyo's summit.Class 2.View back toward the false summits along Mount Inyo's southern ridgeline.Mount Inyo summit ahead.Mount Inyo summit. View north.View south toward Keynot Peak.View east toward Saline Valley.View west toward Owens Valley.Descending Mount Inyo, heading toward Keynot Peak.Approaching the saddle between Mount Inyo and Keynot Peak.Following a use trail along the Keynot Peak's north ridge.View back toward Mount Inyo.View back.The use trail contours the east slope of Keynot Peak around 10,800 feet.Impeded by snow patches on the east slope, I crossed over to the west slope via a Class 3 weakness in the cliff band along the ridgecrest.Contouring the west slope, guided by sporadic cairns.View back at a steep and loose section along Keynot Peak's west slope.Gaining the ridge.Approaching the summit of Keynot Peak.Keynot Peak summit. View south toward Voon Meng Leow Peak (far right) and New York Butte (right of center).View west toward Owens Valley.After retracing my route down Keynot Peak's north ridge, I veered south toward Union Wash.Returning to the switchbacks on the standard approach.Directly descending the scree.View back up.Approaching Union Wash.Inside Union Wash, view toward the headwall where the sound of a large waterfall could be heard.Descending Union Wash.Rejoining the old 4WD road, almost back to the car.
