It was fairly cool in the morning when Nick & Brian left their car.

The two new that they should get moving knowing that they were climbing one of most popular routes in Toulumne Meadows. Leaving the trailhead they sheded some of their clothes and started up the Cathedral Lakes Trail at a pace just fast enough to stay warm.

The hike is awesome with the morning colors hitting the Cockscomb and Unicorn Peaks up above the Budd Creek Trail. Approximately one hour later you arrive at the toe of the north buttress. The marmots were up and waiting for the climbers to arrive ready to tear into someone's new backpack.

A curious marmot at the start of the buttress! Anxiously waiting for any climbers to leave their packs with food for a morning snack.

The east end of the Cathedral Range Traverse with Budd Lake in the foreground.