Descending to the River Trail and following it past Lake Olaine brings the hiker to a sturdy bridge over the San Joaquin.   Switchbacking up the Shadow Creek Trail brings one to Shadow Lake.  This trail and the lake are shown in the first two images below.  Continuing to the west, the trail joins and crosses the John Muir Trail, and then continues along Shadow Creek to its origin at Ediza Lake.  John Muir said that this lake was the most beautiful in the Sierra, and that being high praise, this collection includes five images of Ediza. 

Retracing the Shadow Creek Trail, we take the John Muir Trail north over a ridge to drop down to the spectacular Garnet Lake that is shown in several of the images below.  A little  further north, the trail passes Thousand Island Lake which is at the base of Banner Peak.  Continuing, the John Muir Trail crosses Island Pass before dropping into the Rush Creek Drainage.  Also from Thousand Island Lake a trail to the east joins the Pacific Crest (High Trail) and the terminus of the River Trail. 

Shadow Creek Emerges from the Outlet of Ediza Lake   August, 1985

Mt. Ritter and Banner Peak Mirrored in Garnet Lake      August, 1986

Banner Peak Rises Behind a Small Lake Near Island Pass    August, 1984