Shown in this image is the sweeping facade of the Minarets rock formation rising up just past the glassy surface of Lake Ediza in the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Situated in the Ansel Adams Wilderness, the Lake Ediza area is the final destination of the designated John Muir Trail. It’s considered among the most beautiful areas of the Sierras. Now a popular outdoor destination for hiking, camping, and fishing, it was once a region whose rough, long-lasting winters made it unapproachable until fairly recently. The primary visitors until the early 20th century were cowboys and gold miners.