Standard approach (summer route) to Mt Daniel in Alpine Lakes Wilderness.
Beautiful view from Cathedral Pass and up.
Spent 2 nights by Peggy's Pond (Fri & Sat). The pond is still snow covered, only thawed on the edges. So, water is available. In the basin where Peggy's Pond is is snow covered. Not many campsites available on dirt.
Road: there are about 3 dips in the road where water runs through. The road is rough with many potholes, but the main obstacle is one of the dips. It's a bit high for a regular sedan. We drove on.
Bugs: many mosquitoes. But I think it can get worse.
Flowers: quite some glacier lily near snow melt, heather higher on the ridge.
Trails:
o) The trail is muddy and wet at places around Cathedral Pass, and from the basin of Peggy's up to the ridge.
o) Peggy's trail, once branched off PCT, is narrow. Some short stretches under Cathedral Rock require care.
o) From the pond up to the ridge has many different paths. Confusing. Once on the ridge, it's straightforward.
o) No snow whatsoever on the ridge(s). Only minor snow south of East Peak. My friend went up and down without ever using micro-spikes or ice-axe. I did use them because I took some snow traverse under the ridge at two different places. Definitely NO NEED of crampons.
o) The traverse below East Peak is very narrow on steep slope. Tread with care.
o) The rock scramble is not very difficult.
View is exceptional all along the ridge, and on the summit.
After the climb, we went to Circle Lake. Seems we were the only people who went there. No foot prints at all. Quite nice. Camping here will have more solitude.
Photos attached:
1) Squaw Lake
2) Cathedral Pass
3) Peggy's Pond
4) marker on East Peak
5) summit block
6) heather on the ridge
More panorama photos:
Ridge route and optional snow route
track from East Peak to true summit