Day 3- Holly Lake

7/30/13  Day 3 covered just under 10 miles and included 3,200' of gain up the North Fork of Cascade Canyon, past Lake Solitude, over Paintbrush Divide at 10,700', and then down to Holly Lake. It was my favorite day on the TCT.
DSC01669 Breakfast at Café Sohl just feet away from the roaring Cascade Creek.
Breakfast at Café Sohl just feet away from the roaring Cascade Creek.
DSC01672 A misty morning on the creek.
A misty morning on the creek.
DSC01674 The peaks above the mist. I break down camp and get ready to head out. My tent was covered in mud from the storm the night before, so I had to wash it in the...
The peaks above the mist. I break down camp and get ready to head out. My tent was covered in mud from the storm the night before, so I had to wash it in the…
DSC01676 Hitting the trail on Day 3, more fantastic forest and cascading water views.
Hitting the trail on Day 3, more fantastic forest and cascading water views.
DSC01677 I would love to run these trails (minus the grizzly bears)! The trail has been downhill for some time now, which has made for a good pace. But it also means...
I would love to run these trails (minus the grizzly bears)! The trail has been downhill for some time now, which has made for a good pace. But it also means…
DSC01678 I want to live right here.
I want to live right here.
DSC01679 Looking upstream.
Looking upstream.
DSC01683 Another huge cascade. Probably a couple hundred feet of vertical drop.
Another huge cascade. Probably a couple hundred feet of vertical drop.
DSC01685 Made it to the junction with the Cascade Canyon Trail. The 3-day version of the TCT would head down Cascade Canyon and back to Jenny Lake. The 4-day version...
Made it to the junction with the Cascade Canyon Trail. The 3-day version of the TCT would head down Cascade Canyon and back to Jenny Lake. The 4-day version…
DSC01687 Epic trail in this area. Unfortunately for backpackers, this area of the park is accessible by day hikers, so I start to see a few more people on the trail.
Epic trail in this area. Unfortunately for backpackers, this area of the park is accessible by day hikers, so I start to see a few more people on the trail.
DSC01690 North fork Cascade Canyon. Yet another amazing valley.
North fork Cascade Canyon. Yet another amazing valley.
DSC01692 The pictures would probably be more representative if they had sound. Like the last valley, this one is also filled with the sound of cascading water. You can...
The pictures would probably be more representative if they had sound. Like the last valley, this one is also filled with the sound of cascading water. You can…
DSC01695 Very Yosemite-esque.
Very Yosemite-esque.
DSC01696 Another look at the cascades. If you look closely, you can see it collecting from multiple small cascades all the way down the canyon wall.
Another look at the cascades. If you look closely, you can see it collecting from multiple small cascades all the way down the canyon wall.
DSC01697 A look back down the trail towards the Grand Teton.
A look back down the trail towards the Grand Teton.
DSC01698 A look up the valley and the trail bridge I'm about to cross.
A look up the valley and the trail bridge I'm about to cross.
DSC01700 A look downstream from the bridge back towards the Grand Teton.
A look downstream from the bridge back towards the Grand Teton.
DSC01702 The trail traverses some rock slide areas, which can be tricky with a heavy pack on.
The trail traverses some rock slide areas, which can be tricky with a heavy pack on.
DSC01703 More amazingly green meadows.
More amazingly green meadows.
DSC01710 Almost to the very end of the canyon, the creek falls right off the edge of the Lake Solitude plateau above.
Almost to the very end of the canyon, the creek falls right off the edge of the Lake Solitude plateau above.