Four summers ago, I had embarked on what I was perhaps one of the most mentally grueling backpacks I had ever done, a solo 7-day trek into the mountains covering 55 miles and 3 mountain passes above 11500 ft (3500m). It was physically and mentally taxing, and my only escape from being trapped in my head with my own thoughts was photographing the surreal landscape I walked through.

The penultimate evening of my sojourn found me on the dusty shores of Dusy basin, a moonscape with very little vegetation situated at 12000ft. It was a stark landscape, with sun-burnt granite covered by patches of tiny shrubs and stubby grass, interspersed by deep-blue alpine lakes reflecting the wonderful scenery all around. Despite the long arduous days, I was sad that one of my best treks into the Sierras were coming to an end.

Dusy Basin

CA USA