tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63086047073016705362024-03-27T00:36:51.073-06:00Fadgen's AdventuresThis blog will allow us to share our Idaho outdoor adventures with all.Fadgen's Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16693548016894583724noreply@blogger.comBlogger190125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308604707301670536.post-72933333389224969842023-07-30T20:08:00.000-06:002023-07-30T20:08:07.393-06:00Coxcomb Peak - 13,663'<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJqMimixNMtYacWLi90yiQpSdORhlQqilLYIkOq0qf0yZtr_HhuCqeSWk6poVf6-QsO8wYsvzh--oCdpIR79MzrroRPBtpeanMHv149CExveFwF5VeZcSa7VrLHw-ib0z2caQoL5GgEEONr7F1yDiXnr_xzhO7PPYeaN7XbUJC7gxVy8tGnF-ftz9VuwyX/s4032/20230730_073733.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJqMimixNMtYacWLi90yiQpSdORhlQqilLYIkOq0qf0yZtr_HhuCqeSWk6poVf6-QsO8wYsvzh--oCdpIR79MzrroRPBtpeanMHv149CExveFwF5VeZcSa7VrLHw-ib0z2caQoL5GgEEONr7F1yDiXnr_xzhO7PPYeaN7XbUJC7gxVy8tGnF-ftz9VuwyX/w480-h640/20230730_073733.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div>Coxcomb Peak, at 13,663 feet, is the highest peak in the Cimarron Range, a sub range of Colorado's San Juan Mountains. It is very prominent when viewed from most places in Montrose and is one of only a handful of technical 13,000 foot peaks in Colorado. It's been on my mental peak list since I first saw it.</div><div><br /></div><div>The day's weather forecast was for 90% chance of showers around 9AM with thundershowers starting at noon. Finally, the start of the 2023 monsoon season! With this in mind Dylan, Nicole and I were walking up the West Fork of the Cimarron River trail at 7AM. OK, we should have been there much earlier, but who believes the weatherman anyway?</div><div><br /></div><div>On the drive in, just before the trail head, we saw a couple of bull moose. It was going to be a good day!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilqGxCgjD8psRs8vo2aOSoWrzHbjdDobwsr9tUQIUlfvjgD7cFlV1WimvotME6USc9P1oIpCFumEyEPPkK5C0uPLL29SXZEwf8_20rFY3TkGXe3J9uucvq0XBVsibrk_mWboL9H2sSH7ZbzdGg2snzxa2YfZQZX5dgK-0snVmRzfNvIg78lo-BCsg0yBXL/s4032/20230730_064334.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilqGxCgjD8psRs8vo2aOSoWrzHbjdDobwsr9tUQIUlfvjgD7cFlV1WimvotME6USc9P1oIpCFumEyEPPkK5C0uPLL29SXZEwf8_20rFY3TkGXe3J9uucvq0XBVsibrk_mWboL9H2sSH7ZbzdGg2snzxa2YfZQZX5dgK-0snVmRzfNvIg78lo-BCsg0yBXL/w300-h400/20230730_064334.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The West Fork trail is pretty buff and we made great time for the first mile or so, until we took a left and started ascending the ravine between Redcliff and Coxcomb Peaks.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkAJmfzz95NdW6_Cz8FRKKydl9w0eeCpSU346ZYRKQp179d_Wcw0tIbDCESbH_cQZ5O8JGIfveqphbfZe2Vz36YdUG4nRoEObY67gMdJHQICv1UHI58PiylfcgNxZfj443Kn6F2SW4WWGva2rSV3NjxZjQzAbHUJDBLy8QFVB5ve2aaplK1f_ZQ7vkyuPF/s4032/20230730_065102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkAJmfzz95NdW6_Cz8FRKKydl9w0eeCpSU346ZYRKQp179d_Wcw0tIbDCESbH_cQZ5O8JGIfveqphbfZe2Vz36YdUG4nRoEObY67gMdJHQICv1UHI58PiylfcgNxZfj443Kn6F2SW4WWGva2rSV3NjxZjQzAbHUJDBLy8QFVB5ve2aaplK1f_ZQ7vkyuPF/w400-h300/20230730_065102.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coxcomb is the flat peak second from left</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifqowr2IAiKlUQLfFwKlokbz8DkQGFAgnvl10hHWg8RN-mmzyruRd27Ad9MiD3A4OoW5G6dt51Vbt3i-7IcKV50pwGisRrf6y3D6NhfInGuYdpvnynmoDevP-nTjKA3KO8JPhTDD-NOm6rP2DuWwho7o8Fpk4rTn5aeoWpiXFOVtiV8PmXQs35qOTC_wjy/s4080/PXL_20230730_134701219.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifqowr2IAiKlUQLfFwKlokbz8DkQGFAgnvl10hHWg8RN-mmzyruRd27Ad9MiD3A4OoW5G6dt51Vbt3i-7IcKV50pwGisRrf6y3D6NhfInGuYdpvnynmoDevP-nTjKA3KO8JPhTDD-NOm6rP2DuWwho7o8Fpk4rTn5aeoWpiXFOVtiV8PmXQs35qOTC_wjy/w400-h301/PXL_20230730_134701219.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A forest of flowers, or as Nicole says "a flower forest."</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The wildflowers were abundant and it was impossible to not step on them as we traversed cross country up towards the saddle between Coxcomb and Redcliff.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHKwWk1AfOj_F1W-WvdCsTdOn_PBzpdMPq2Aqew9-GcrOt7DCSA-3HpZqNIK7M_rh3RH1fBhy3kShJiO_vweVk249CXABgGebefjdvXVcoZ6Bu6T1BbG-c_a6L5J8P-J9xNYGGY5RFD02I2Yvren9YKIFPb3ssEHXAEkxY7l45BmuKq6lb7i3el5JUJBby/s4032/20230730_081155.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHKwWk1AfOj_F1W-WvdCsTdOn_PBzpdMPq2Aqew9-GcrOt7DCSA-3HpZqNIK7M_rh3RH1fBhy3kShJiO_vweVk249CXABgGebefjdvXVcoZ6Bu6T1BbG-c_a6L5J8P-J9xNYGGY5RFD02I2Yvren9YKIFPb3ssEHXAEkxY7l45BmuKq6lb7i3el5JUJBby/w400-h300/20230730_081155.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coxcomb to the right of Dylan and Nicole</td></tr></tbody></table>The normal route for Coxcomb stays on the West Fork trail, goes over Wetterhorn Pass (12,500') and traverses the southern side of Coxcomb Peak. Eventually you reach a gully, rope up and climb the gully, and then traverse the summit ridge until you reach a notch. Here you rappel down the notch, before scrambling back up to the summit. Seemed like a lot extra of time and effort, especially if it was supposed to be raining by 9AM.<div><br /></div><div>We had found some online references to climbing the north side that looked promising; less mileage, no traverse, and no notch equated to less time. A little more of an unknown adventure, but it fit our style.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Xt-Ky39x_lcbS7E41CV7R_CP8IvG6xkZuWaIJsDgpEFnj3O8nTTitt853rK6dB-dPFa4tp8anvB3PBqt7DHgyajhdSVk21Ftnc1xDRQwq1CKHHkrGwdbjYhpWnkcMV35lvhn6WRl8dPvI0n7fZEJQnpWMar86pC2vJ0QpFl_8EKHYWjMLujVZO6pP_pq/s4032/IMG-5142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Xt-Ky39x_lcbS7E41CV7R_CP8IvG6xkZuWaIJsDgpEFnj3O8nTTitt853rK6dB-dPFa4tp8anvB3PBqt7DHgyajhdSVk21Ftnc1xDRQwq1CKHHkrGwdbjYhpWnkcMV35lvhn6WRl8dPvI0n7fZEJQnpWMar86pC2vJ0QpFl_8EKHYWjMLujVZO6pP_pq/w400-h300/IMG-5142.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nicole topping out on the saddle at roughly 13,100'</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXGLmAXjDb2lriR0sBtjqi0ax40TdLgnW0sNpnJwrdJ9-tecnn0dGaATrj3hQlbTsyg-6fxU9ncsEU3d8oifhyDwZlotu7mAHT8rOc0X3QJ9UN7qCrmz_Hd0RW92Uls6zQkB47vL2RTyGipp6f_EGa7Ehma_DwjiurOxvXN79SfhXy4HOPqGy-JVd83b8e/s4080/PXL_20230730_145656141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXGLmAXjDb2lriR0sBtjqi0ax40TdLgnW0sNpnJwrdJ9-tecnn0dGaATrj3hQlbTsyg-6fxU9ncsEU3d8oifhyDwZlotu7mAHT8rOc0X3QJ9UN7qCrmz_Hd0RW92Uls6zQkB47vL2RTyGipp6f_EGa7Ehma_DwjiurOxvXN79SfhXy4HOPqGy-JVd83b8e/w482-h640/PXL_20230730_145656141.jpg" width="482" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dylan and I heading toward the north side of Coxcomb. (N. Kreiser photo)</td></tr></tbody></table>After the saddle, we had a relatively short, but extremely shitty, climb through loose rock to the base of the cliff. Here, we donned helmets and harnesses and Dylan racked up to lead. It was now 9:30 and the skies we're still pretty clear. Looking good!<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ49R-IS8VpPl5HVq-8W3WhvXIIhbSdwcd-3qdxEv2X_lkXPKqY5buu8NshmmpB3w1aFJo2jaBIMlWBaX2G7uOKVz8WFHtplJ6jNGzJcSmXrag64TXaZ_wTX3s32OPAWwTgeZ_VeT5ZtB_pDZ03GA6VNCiw-g6Ygqd8ozYNyXout55PiVAuhmn1btEzrlc/s4032/20230730_091533.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ49R-IS8VpPl5HVq-8W3WhvXIIhbSdwcd-3qdxEv2X_lkXPKqY5buu8NshmmpB3w1aFJo2jaBIMlWBaX2G7uOKVz8WFHtplJ6jNGzJcSmXrag64TXaZ_wTX3s32OPAWwTgeZ_VeT5ZtB_pDZ03GA6VNCiw-g6Ygqd8ozYNyXout55PiVAuhmn1btEzrlc/w300-h400/20230730_091533.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dylan preparing to go</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD9-qrMYw0zKz9vpCmUdKauJBXLHjeKz-sLQA8uJe3xrV8Jb40Hb2x1OXbikMccjjdOOl0lvAi810h8t66jhyuCXvWnva4hDIczxSFZGPkAHWaEN_KiPizrsWbc4jBcwC2JcLhHaABHxDI8CdOLU9qwQ8NGaQbU-NXNVeJL4hBxC0PE7l7cz5V3JaiJ-KM/s4080/PXL_20230730_152109076.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD9-qrMYw0zKz9vpCmUdKauJBXLHjeKz-sLQA8uJe3xrV8Jb40Hb2x1OXbikMccjjdOOl0lvAi810h8t66jhyuCXvWnva4hDIczxSFZGPkAHWaEN_KiPizrsWbc4jBcwC2JcLhHaABHxDI8CdOLU9qwQ8NGaQbU-NXNVeJL4hBxC0PE7l7cz5V3JaiJ-KM/w301-h400/PXL_20230730_152109076.jpg" width="301" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And away he goes! (N. Kreiser photo)</td></tr></tbody></table>Like the shitty rock below the cliff, the rock on this wall was also loose. Dylan tested every hand hold to make sure it wasn't going to pull off the wall before committing. It was a good thing we'd set up our belay off to the side, as several rocks came careening down while Dylan was out of sight. After (what seemed like) 15 minutes or so, and with 10 feet of rope left, Dylan set up an anchor at the summit and called off belay.</div><div><br /></div><div>Now it was Nicole's turn.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAZ_QE3xOjo6Nh79cVGKxpHifM6eqlyxvN1iRyh-HGuGy3W15UbqB4a6je9XVu_CjtmLOs6a7dO6dPp49YJRnVoD0l_XbN4GiRlowHH0kigXJF0vaJz_18l8P7uGrlDludvEbWqUO4oqO_JuvIjlJqYU8ZWEVkzpTdSWF8Ycq2oZy0FmYlZsBJwPMTPWyd/s4032/20230730_094221.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAZ_QE3xOjo6Nh79cVGKxpHifM6eqlyxvN1iRyh-HGuGy3W15UbqB4a6je9XVu_CjtmLOs6a7dO6dPp49YJRnVoD0l_XbN4GiRlowHH0kigXJF0vaJz_18l8P7uGrlDludvEbWqUO4oqO_JuvIjlJqYU8ZWEVkzpTdSWF8Ycq2oZy0FmYlZsBJwPMTPWyd/w300-h400/20230730_094221.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nicole starting up</td></tr></tbody></table>It didn't take long before Nicole finished up and Dylan signaled it was my turn to climb up. The initial 10-15 feet of rock was pretty good compared to the following 10 feet. In this section, every rock I touched seemed to be loose, but somehow I made it through without pulling anything off. Once above this section, the angle eased and it became more of a class 4 scramble to the summit.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYmTA74pbPmpZe0g7cUmQGmhPNyt1yg6oZXfak34cQuu71LqFoj2a8qmd_F9wzkFJ0Hs0cMxNqbjbKBVaPvAuGtjOKzDi-2692LqR2pOWAJF1dqmpuMHvrpVnpMPnKZ8UpXd_1YEdTKfr2ZL5U_EmslrL5U0ckOt0WW4nO0RnElcbQkMCjsFBWG2zRfyjS/s4032/20230730_100349.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYmTA74pbPmpZe0g7cUmQGmhPNyt1yg6oZXfak34cQuu71LqFoj2a8qmd_F9wzkFJ0Hs0cMxNqbjbKBVaPvAuGtjOKzDi-2692LqR2pOWAJF1dqmpuMHvrpVnpMPnKZ8UpXd_1YEdTKfr2ZL5U_EmslrL5U0ckOt0WW4nO0RnElcbQkMCjsFBWG2zRfyjS/w300-h400/20230730_100349.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking up as the angle eased. Cool notch we climbed through.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX-OCM9FVIr21ZqKPiFA1Z_scCGa2c-K2tt4wP2n32fK3keYV-XGxM3PEaV4ORFS-zG49UdlPvSV6ShoZNLQLeio-5hde87Kpi6s3Jpw-8XBVSIyBU_VaAb7bwsnXc7F7YED8P4oc8wtmxqCKb5HqKu0uGdsK7MgegYNkYYkgOHtf8NiT9J7qq-bVXLRzo/s4080/PXL_20230730_160604749.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX-OCM9FVIr21ZqKPiFA1Z_scCGa2c-K2tt4wP2n32fK3keYV-XGxM3PEaV4ORFS-zG49UdlPvSV6ShoZNLQLeio-5hde87Kpi6s3Jpw-8XBVSIyBU_VaAb7bwsnXc7F7YED8P4oc8wtmxqCKb5HqKu0uGdsK7MgegYNkYYkgOHtf8NiT9J7qq-bVXLRzo/w400-h301/PXL_20230730_160604749.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me finishing the scramble with Dylan belaying (N. Kreiser photo)</td></tr></tbody></table>Once on top, we unclipped and soaked in the views. And they did not disappoint!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8yNWJv09X3oS4VyEGxtbFN2qqieYBJRYtCkpPz356zrOQXgMiXK21dG64-FaGngUtYqh8vUrVOOu9RBbzVKzkTO8aLpAaFiiJmdsNqpep7A0nR8wF4wsXkfBT9VBIR8a0dd4xvmSFI6-wNb2qUpaX8Pk8KeO8Edd31sBZ-G9woobAudYVztHoveKT8Wp6/s4080/PXL_20230730_160304625.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8yNWJv09X3oS4VyEGxtbFN2qqieYBJRYtCkpPz356zrOQXgMiXK21dG64-FaGngUtYqh8vUrVOOu9RBbzVKzkTO8aLpAaFiiJmdsNqpep7A0nR8wF4wsXkfBT9VBIR8a0dd4xvmSFI6-wNb2qUpaX8Pk8KeO8Edd31sBZ-G9woobAudYVztHoveKT8Wp6/w640-h482/PXL_20230730_160304625.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">N. Kreiser photo</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyLvi4yOxQPCVARZHshK0EUqime6mIjN3h4gqMfGJNk6VwWAp3yDx0CPYmroqe5MMj6AGs_HlXv2xVT8v6Gjhxno_Hvt4PttAnmKDB9CkeFcfi-lsMDQq-yT_7QvLVU1CKIyL9-FYW_q4O69IAEAKsrD-UFTpPLI-ZKq6XAE8NFxWJRosrwCVLqYx2Ehvx/s3648/20230730_101802.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyLvi4yOxQPCVARZHshK0EUqime6mIjN3h4gqMfGJNk6VwWAp3yDx0CPYmroqe5MMj6AGs_HlXv2xVT8v6Gjhxno_Hvt4PttAnmKDB9CkeFcfi-lsMDQq-yT_7QvLVU1CKIyL9-FYW_q4O69IAEAKsrD-UFTpPLI-ZKq6XAE8NFxWJRosrwCVLqYx2Ehvx/w400-h300/20230730_101802.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Summit Splattski</td></tr></tbody></table>It was now time to head down. Just below us, previous climbers had slung a huge (stable) boulder to set up a rappel station. We descended to this boulder and took turns rappelling the 200 feet down to our packs. The rappel was awesome, pretty much vertical and no loose rock!</div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjov8n6fTIlBdYAfmtxgV7MBuMti1xoRjjYYhRK9ZqqIpqeSUD0LJ2DQrWm-MccCb9tgYLoi3FyeJVXQWJsWWljAPgvx1A4ww3CEEWgqgwSViV5qmW14EOr7k8GPMu0AXbNIlBdep-6tAgjBUfhPXM7leQQxhPL0ady2v7g4Hd_mjY-GdqtEB1LDFpFHXjF/s4032/20230730_103208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjov8n6fTIlBdYAfmtxgV7MBuMti1xoRjjYYhRK9ZqqIpqeSUD0LJ2DQrWm-MccCb9tgYLoi3FyeJVXQWJsWWljAPgvx1A4ww3CEEWgqgwSViV5qmW14EOr7k8GPMu0AXbNIlBdep-6tAgjBUfhPXM7leQQxhPL0ady2v7g4Hd_mjY-GdqtEB1LDFpFHXjF/w300-h400/20230730_103208.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nicole starting her rappel.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3BsHfg4DP8057DX3XCcQ7gMb7MkOKaBPDJGmQTc4WJ9Drxk6b8CaAgbE6U2mNP849KtAMisLvZb5MCt92kMGYI6V0zSYdEqJ7YvbOkjvpOA1sJIYB_K95NSGioESgXzLmWGsx2Tuz4bq1bKvRNCpKXFBvXtNH9FDCYG0oR_2YQYEB4EdIdlzoqHe32d8W/s4032/IMG-5166.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3BsHfg4DP8057DX3XCcQ7gMb7MkOKaBPDJGmQTc4WJ9Drxk6b8CaAgbE6U2mNP849KtAMisLvZb5MCt92kMGYI6V0zSYdEqJ7YvbOkjvpOA1sJIYB_K95NSGioESgXzLmWGsx2Tuz4bq1bKvRNCpKXFBvXtNH9FDCYG0oR_2YQYEB4EdIdlzoqHe32d8W/w400-h300/IMG-5166.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And Nicole almost down (D. Fadgen photo).</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div>We finished our rappels about 11:00 as the clouds were just starting to move in. We even heard a little bit of rumbling. Hmmm, maybe time to get down?<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn6dXL260njyY5dAkOg262dEUc2RY_l9N7HH8S2commb6ycQvtPo8hpmfq9klbIVubnoqqGOzrUPHfZVBMrDVsp3jc05oWUvCePQJG3e16a81dTysqHTOdnPkx_u2ie4OmzyIJmd4NSwodoQZEbJsMudDPxZKRZeQAELEbgNcDtcJYF0YEiPktq-0Je5P6/s4032/20230730_113942.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn6dXL260njyY5dAkOg262dEUc2RY_l9N7HH8S2commb6ycQvtPo8hpmfq9klbIVubnoqqGOzrUPHfZVBMrDVsp3jc05oWUvCePQJG3e16a81dTysqHTOdnPkx_u2ie4OmzyIJmd4NSwodoQZEbJsMudDPxZKRZeQAELEbgNcDtcJYF0YEiPktq-0Je5P6/w400-h300/20230730_113942.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One last look at Coxcomb Peak.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4lCXnKeFDhngwW-hb7m6vMY-H6TJz_bZgc-bHxOpKcwAGcm0iW5TRi7-SAl3V7lHtkz0j5aw3caN9VXWNe_Ki5lsHXgXYjeYbsP5ht0CVOBtsTzJ4C-feKJfwv96UO_wnhVyKbqDMSxLbFMlp3H9cvl6pVAGRlKkdwFhEq2Tyqo76kWVCa0p7QjJC5N5X/s4032/20230730_115825.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4lCXnKeFDhngwW-hb7m6vMY-H6TJz_bZgc-bHxOpKcwAGcm0iW5TRi7-SAl3V7lHtkz0j5aw3caN9VXWNe_Ki5lsHXgXYjeYbsP5ht0CVOBtsTzJ4C-feKJfwv96UO_wnhVyKbqDMSxLbFMlp3H9cvl6pVAGRlKkdwFhEq2Tyqo76kWVCa0p7QjJC5N5X/w400-h300/20230730_115825.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading on down the West Fork trail.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And that's what we did. We were back to the trail head in about an hour and though it threatened, we did not get rained on.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Another beautiful day in the San Juans!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><br />Fadgen's Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16693548016894583724noreply@blogger.com0Ridgway, CO 81432, USA38.1525873 -107.75561629.8423534638211549 -142.91186620000002 66.462821136178846 -72.5993662tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308604707301670536.post-63936712084386443862022-08-08T16:21:00.461-06:002022-08-13T21:06:58.099-06:00Wham Ridge - Vestal Peak 13,867 feet<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoNjdb84qzBP4PX4dvdK5knYZqGaf-3gOixRD6sj66F9ZNOSNpxNaXwe70JJOTb_OMIxB8WsS3EhxS1o4FCaif0iRPGRBciCdfrjEsRqs-8Aky4FPpkhqFK5ZMP4yskekMQCQY2sEi3rIiPCzqV4B_1G6sDzDvnlB6fRXP2YTttDzmnvM9tDIVpLm8HA/s5184/IMG_3018.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoNjdb84qzBP4PX4dvdK5knYZqGaf-3gOixRD6sj66F9ZNOSNpxNaXwe70JJOTb_OMIxB8WsS3EhxS1o4FCaif0iRPGRBciCdfrjEsRqs-8Aky4FPpkhqFK5ZMP4yskekMQCQY2sEi3rIiPCzqV4B_1G6sDzDvnlB6fRXP2YTttDzmnvM9tDIVpLm8HA/w640-h480/IMG_3018.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wham Ridge as we were leaving Monday morning</td></tr></tbody></table><br />When we first visited Montrose and hiked in the San Juan mountains last September, Dylan pointed to Vestal Peak in the distance and told me we needed to climb it via the Wham Ridge route. I did a little research, saw the online photos and was instantly intrigued. Easy 5th class climbing on solid rock in an alpine setting. Right up my alley!<p></p><p>After a quick 1.5 hour drive to Molas Pass, Dylan, Nicole and I were cheerfully hiking down the trail at 10:30. Yes, we were hiking down. The initial ~4 miles drops from the parking area at 10,600' down to the Animas River at about 8900'. Since we were on the Colorado trail, the grade was easy, lulling us into complacency.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF8cppvO9zdXYnFzRpFtJ_2LZo0UpfTRLQQRj778mFp5L2YO9AZ8Tt8wdDivoyYyxsHfCAOYY3QybOAsSIMDo1RyuMCDYncUdMtwCj3VKZbFFenutJ6ZSBzuVoQkoeJli0kOe9CBboA-q4BPN3De3i4q-BuUaaHwGPT8w1YGyAtn7cIHxplMYvY8lRgA/s5184/IMG_2918.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF8cppvO9zdXYnFzRpFtJ_2LZo0UpfTRLQQRj778mFp5L2YO9AZ8Tt8wdDivoyYyxsHfCAOYY3QybOAsSIMDo1RyuMCDYncUdMtwCj3VKZbFFenutJ6ZSBzuVoQkoeJli0kOe9CBboA-q4BPN3De3i4q-BuUaaHwGPT8w1YGyAtn7cIHxplMYvY8lRgA/w400-h300/IMG_2918.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My view of the two of them for most of the hike </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrTmXyALz1uYdscqU6h5sV6D7jMtGu7ohJaSr188HJ82okBDE0j8-HdspRAvE1kDCvHC5VpZf0Exft5FsksrtBum43J1E_L_xcW_ASC68Od2eBWs_8mrVHdXnhRQsGYKrmv4CG5Y36JTE02NO-cdLw-cFl9zs2WiXaRLTJEnAVjRGYkdqaH8ejtdfjLg/s5184/IMG_2921.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrTmXyALz1uYdscqU6h5sV6D7jMtGu7ohJaSr188HJ82okBDE0j8-HdspRAvE1kDCvHC5VpZf0Exft5FsksrtBum43J1E_L_xcW_ASC68Od2eBWs_8mrVHdXnhRQsGYKrmv4CG5Y36JTE02NO-cdLw-cFl9zs2WiXaRLTJEnAVjRGYkdqaH8ejtdfjLg/w400-h300/IMG_2921.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading down </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaq-TMzfX7EFeFbEzDY617sbulcXmrNuIi7Jpp7rEMsxh6KGkQN4DNO8syaNdO9CsCrMJOT7XWe8gL2D97j2KkDkp1qe9rB2MuJSySYmRnEifJFOonD_yUw2oMdFwhfTnAipVr_Hlj1JMIFQaHDfxcrqoDmL5Jv9saH38Xf1aoLmGXFOd79AceoJQmbA/s5184/IMG_2927.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5184" data-original-width="3888" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaq-TMzfX7EFeFbEzDY617sbulcXmrNuIi7Jpp7rEMsxh6KGkQN4DNO8syaNdO9CsCrMJOT7XWe8gL2D97j2KkDkp1qe9rB2MuJSySYmRnEifJFOonD_yUw2oMdFwhfTnAipVr_Hlj1JMIFQaHDfxcrqoDmL5Jv9saH38Xf1aoLmGXFOd79AceoJQmbA/w300-h400/IMG_2927.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Animas River</td></tr></tbody></table><br />We reached the Animas River after a bit and took our first break. The Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railway travels alongside the river as a tourist attraction. We had an option to utilize the train to lessen the distance and elevation gain, but their schedule wouldn't work for us on this short over-night trip.<div><br /></div><div>After following the river for a short distance, the Colorado trail takes a left and follows Elk Creek.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibs5gZOhjSBir6c7jHDyV8QBkWQkeilVFU95uwgVleKXmIaZKE27bCVUc_Brav3OYNrPuL7jGPRQH4DlzAlb89O-Jm5Evbu28Eb7QW46IR4fMwJ3PTv9SSY4P66pINFhgVF3JvNDpq2SoSf_DiagUO-ieyvqljBp5wtZte2ZxESfrItiiOj1iz_WnJhQ/s5184/IMG_2930.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5184" data-original-width="3888" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibs5gZOhjSBir6c7jHDyV8QBkWQkeilVFU95uwgVleKXmIaZKE27bCVUc_Brav3OYNrPuL7jGPRQH4DlzAlb89O-Jm5Evbu28Eb7QW46IR4fMwJ3PTv9SSY4P66pINFhgVF3JvNDpq2SoSf_DiagUO-ieyvqljBp5wtZte2ZxESfrItiiOj1iz_WnJhQ/w300-h400/IMG_2930.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading up Elk Creek</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There were ample opportunities to forage along the trail. Raspberries, Whortleberries and even Strawberries were all within easy reach. We did our best to consume as many as possible.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnIT5aZizN34fT_oftc7UucLF0Ij1pgzICPLJ2ErrDmthqwVeJ8SULD7IY1t1HGJIN3vZOSbgeuh86LXjHhxa_pdgvO5Lvh3DeFTpiE0DUXtiO2E9lUdYkQ02-ltyYTWUfh3srYWcvXhMme6E5k7raDLJT8201-l141e38sEJxMdstmV9AdPg7aMRQBw/s320/IMG_2929.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Raspberries</td></tr></tbody></table></div></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZo47lzXKEJ6tyfKCiRFPsJNoLZwnXpDLXLLWlIaHoW8RMSjPnBhVDRgVkIFgug4wqEJHsCpMTizkTpBASEpPWOZPxI_Pp2iho5vpHRRfeaa-q2hAmUZ3nIMfA3lEVGfLOIiwZ1Yl3WQHShr4_dV481jbhsmqdCIvWXnh8FwqUJP8bk3vZd_6_tcE4hw/s5184/IMG_2935.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZo47lzXKEJ6tyfKCiRFPsJNoLZwnXpDLXLLWlIaHoW8RMSjPnBhVDRgVkIFgug4wqEJHsCpMTizkTpBASEpPWOZPxI_Pp2iho5vpHRRfeaa-q2hAmUZ3nIMfA3lEVGfLOIiwZ1Yl3WQHShr4_dV481jbhsmqdCIvWXnh8FwqUJP8bk3vZd_6_tcE4hw/w400-h300/IMG_2935.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nicole caught snacking on said Raspberries.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />As we worked our way up the trail along Elk Creek, the clouds that had been building started spitting rain. This was more of a welcome than an annoyance since we were gradually regaining the altitude we had lost.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKz9b5RiqnYmwR-svAlrSo6hpkS3dZCZQzIBXDucUwB00CAEfx6ztM29oeP-wD7OGbzIXAcACN-G09anLi79h7JrSQUpmCDtZH5JKVmVeiD6Ee-CxyI8gY0e99icKq0Cirb-A6Jc4zMYpOuBeqummRPxpUpi0HhCW0FlEYuWqMAyPu2pwdr-tdjmM89w/s5184/IMG_2937.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5184" data-original-width="3888" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKz9b5RiqnYmwR-svAlrSo6hpkS3dZCZQzIBXDucUwB00CAEfx6ztM29oeP-wD7OGbzIXAcACN-G09anLi79h7JrSQUpmCDtZH5JKVmVeiD6Ee-CxyI8gY0e99icKq0Cirb-A6Jc4zMYpOuBeqummRPxpUpi0HhCW0FlEYuWqMAyPu2pwdr-tdjmM89w/w300-h400/IMG_2937.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8KMZSzFa8h_9pGT5DEb3wqiaGKJ-mkxUFC1KtgSZVMHvQhPcuS8KlrI0feFcoYs4f0kR9ZEyMa8bInYKJ-igfNh6pVKp-kwwgzg2k2T52BANWxq0Pbgna7JpBOeDmoFol1wtmERR5yVF9KbfaTggHcy1M_KYZNKrsmsAB4elGGApA5HiVUJsRYb5UBQ/s5184/IMG_2938.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8KMZSzFa8h_9pGT5DEb3wqiaGKJ-mkxUFC1KtgSZVMHvQhPcuS8KlrI0feFcoYs4f0kR9ZEyMa8bInYKJ-igfNh6pVKp-kwwgzg2k2T52BANWxq0Pbgna7JpBOeDmoFol1wtmERR5yVF9KbfaTggHcy1M_KYZNKrsmsAB4elGGApA5HiVUJsRYb5UBQ/w400-h300/IMG_2938.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our first view of Vestal, the peak on the left way back there.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />At the 8 mile mark, we sadly left the well groomed Colorado Trail and started up the climber's "trail" above Vestal Creek. This trail brought back some fun memories while hiking with a friend around McCall. Steep, rocky trail, with ample deadfall and the occasional bushwhack through alder thickets. Normally this is just routine misery, but with the added weight of a full backpack, it was quickly becoming a sufferfest.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_AEmrZ_pP5le0ZrEBdCh_LYsjVTYQ0-ZTQeE75lrH0y7HkW-jiVh2Y6dcZzhpcut12SZ1eBxuvYhkgyBLwZM8oC6h50MR7mwO1oGGzbqxf1xijgxI5eddwLxKNl3F7eQFxI_FflIVuGA0A19OO2coHZDZDZj7admR03yyzPgVvri7IO7ow2evl7LtxA/s5184/IMG_2943.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5184" data-original-width="3888" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_AEmrZ_pP5le0ZrEBdCh_LYsjVTYQ0-ZTQeE75lrH0y7HkW-jiVh2Y6dcZzhpcut12SZ1eBxuvYhkgyBLwZM8oC6h50MR7mwO1oGGzbqxf1xijgxI5eddwLxKNl3F7eQFxI_FflIVuGA0A19OO2coHZDZDZj7admR03yyzPgVvri7IO7ow2evl7LtxA/w300-h400/IMG_2943.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The start of the climber's trail</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>This trial, which brought us from 10,000' to 11,400', was painful for me. I'm sure Dylan and Nicole were also loving it, but I couldn't tell as they stayed in front of me. There are a few beaver ponds at this 11,400' meadow where many people choose to camp while climbing Vestal or the adjacent Arrow Peak. </div><div><br /></div><div>Our plan was to continue to Vestal Lake, only an additional 3/4 of a mile and 800' of gain, so we marched onward.<br /><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy-tM8UEC_BEddk_aAUIS-y7K-sKBIWpYNNA-PGDm_g7i9mLW1eqIAJm6MOChQBKuOurdnZRrM1JSLZBswBSf8WytFjzPxDB9rOcyYIPjTsRI0rRyH0cPlxd5e2M8T7PDpfAezNmnk_J7gSuGekDdGBKn2x7yFwOXioRp1a4JRWPzWEkkP3NNAcdjO5g/s5184/IMG_2950.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5184" data-original-width="3888" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy-tM8UEC_BEddk_aAUIS-y7K-sKBIWpYNNA-PGDm_g7i9mLW1eqIAJm6MOChQBKuOurdnZRrM1JSLZBswBSf8WytFjzPxDB9rOcyYIPjTsRI0rRyH0cPlxd5e2M8T7PDpfAezNmnk_J7gSuGekDdGBKn2x7yFwOXioRp1a4JRWPzWEkkP3NNAcdjO5g/w480-h640/IMG_2950.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vestal - oh so close, but still so far. <br />We hiked to the right of the wet rock before veering left.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thankfully this portion of the trail didn't have any dead fall. Instead, it switch-backed it's way almost vertically before terminating in a talus field. A little boulder hopping through the talus and we were soon exhaustedly setting up our tents near Vestal Lake.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjommbUKAhRMmsSRPJjIV9ezZYHuQnYjo1EMV9-4tXh0VA4Qlk6xcS1QEV2j52djDGG0oStLqO6xTlcswP6BDYN-n2EgLfXC4-HKnWFY5VTzUVfTYMno6y2VpZpBXGxwmXfbF-AcM8pTv1r_M1wzsbICPwFc2Du7v-e6p8h97ivdWsNSvqQFHybpDyIJA/s5184/IMG_2953.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjommbUKAhRMmsSRPJjIV9ezZYHuQnYjo1EMV9-4tXh0VA4Qlk6xcS1QEV2j52djDGG0oStLqO6xTlcswP6BDYN-n2EgLfXC4-HKnWFY5VTzUVfTYMno6y2VpZpBXGxwmXfbF-AcM8pTv1r_M1wzsbICPwFc2Du7v-e6p8h97ivdWsNSvqQFHybpDyIJA/w400-h300/IMG_2953.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The talus field<br />Vestal Lake is just up over that green ramp above Dylan's head</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7dIiYCDvQbGkI8dKulRfvtm-QzJ85ZtJ4t9hURxa-Jx7KshA73Ebjf0LpNDhiULWZVs5Z9SaXW8mNEQyBTM6D-xcX5eN76JyerKodrc33iD4xHg9vuIn6PfFBNjhJY0vBydxsmRYWQKHeH8ldADhXrEPkW7vE9iCoSMoKAAf7yDkz0EtkZf_4omuxnw/s5184/IMG_2955.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5184" data-original-width="3888" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7dIiYCDvQbGkI8dKulRfvtm-QzJ85ZtJ4t9hURxa-Jx7KshA73Ebjf0LpNDhiULWZVs5Z9SaXW8mNEQyBTM6D-xcX5eN76JyerKodrc33iD4xHg9vuIn6PfFBNjhJY0vBydxsmRYWQKHeH8ldADhXrEPkW7vE9iCoSMoKAAf7yDkz0EtkZf_4omuxnw/w300-h400/IMG_2955.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camp</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYjx9ak7rKObRX_gsI6QBNnGGvM8CN-35A2XZ6DOc1HI4tuvi9qY3bp1Jc67gQQmj9V0Ubt8mK0nprpbDZOj4l4w8ur_xVQ-FPC8T35VqsERt1jiT4g3gf8NnOQZfEf7XwFSZRHuqpYLyhZ3YnyMT-8bmWK50KTLJZdPepS530vKMJy6hd0wQfe-ahSA/s4032/Reflection.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYjx9ak7rKObRX_gsI6QBNnGGvM8CN-35A2XZ6DOc1HI4tuvi9qY3bp1Jc67gQQmj9V0Ubt8mK0nprpbDZOj4l4w8ur_xVQ-FPC8T35VqsERt1jiT4g3gf8NnOQZfEf7XwFSZRHuqpYLyhZ3YnyMT-8bmWK50KTLJZdPepS530vKMJy6hd0wQfe-ahSA/w300-h400/Reflection.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reflection of West Trinity Peak on Vestal Lake (D. Fadgen photo)</td></tr></tbody></table><br />We woke up to a beautiful morning and were excited for the climb. After some breakfast and a few minutes throwing rocks at a marmot trying to invade our camp, we started up the rocky ramp to towards Wham Ridge.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg53aUmeBLB9ApIU69D3LKb9BF_DSQx7qZRatc1DuEl_g7ZZhg1peTmPN_EMMMQUxQ8wpH3dm1-YUAOoIf7DSIINrxUVnSpvJ38lQyUUfsGxRJInvvpO7iU_IDYynjQyfDcGrnwz-kYZjoZ8PuWT_Lp3XcL3RWgN82cZ2ITGR8bUppd63eXle4BbkZRUQ/s5184/IMG_2969.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5184" data-original-width="3888" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg53aUmeBLB9ApIU69D3LKb9BF_DSQx7qZRatc1DuEl_g7ZZhg1peTmPN_EMMMQUxQ8wpH3dm1-YUAOoIf7DSIINrxUVnSpvJ38lQyUUfsGxRJInvvpO7iU_IDYynjQyfDcGrnwz-kYZjoZ8PuWT_Lp3XcL3RWgN82cZ2ITGR8bUppd63eXle4BbkZRUQ/w300-h400/IMG_2969.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wham Ridge is along the skyline.<br />We followed the highest thin green line that looks horizontal to get to the climb</td></tr></tbody></table><br />A short 20 minutes later and we were staring at our route while racking gear. It looked like it was going to be a good day! <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7SqyronXuMxdq0gBkTIbUARxtmoHDpkmItGZs3l9jDjxowXAoA0IojA4IiigvQO-ezZ70hi9dwCZUqtMHPXPsmhmUUffgCNkVy-Glplm0a6THSMTz66t_BN2-bf9OOEGm9hfofGdhFMdCTahu7-L3P7FWBahE_OZZ7FmLLzkX3_yU9bvD_tBDTBScxQ/s5184/IMG_2977.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7SqyronXuMxdq0gBkTIbUARxtmoHDpkmItGZs3l9jDjxowXAoA0IojA4IiigvQO-ezZ70hi9dwCZUqtMHPXPsmhmUUffgCNkVy-Glplm0a6THSMTz66t_BN2-bf9OOEGm9hfofGdhFMdCTahu7-L3P7FWBahE_OZZ7FmLLzkX3_yU9bvD_tBDTBScxQ/w400-h300/IMG_2977.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gearing up</td></tr></tbody></table><br />The plan was to simul-climb. Dylan would lead and place gear where appropriate. Nicole would then follow, with me another 4 meters behind her cleaning the gear. When Dylan would run out of gear or find a nice ledge, he'd stop and belay us up. With this being a 5.4 YDS route, setting a belay at the end of each rope length didn't make sense and would take a lot of time.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6X91EvNl2tVoIenkZPU4e46SF53tTRS1t_NB_ya56IBGTrD_hBMeesI00Bp_TiVXzqPcYTFJXB0A4DLuwK44xa3_zhqNjDisYp2EljYan2PbRCHF_KNwQmsg078ti9PzmhEWBh4P1RJk9f6rRS_112-TjSDMABvlff6YvjUr37DlBHfGrAltXs97J1A/s5184/IMG_2978.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6X91EvNl2tVoIenkZPU4e46SF53tTRS1t_NB_ya56IBGTrD_hBMeesI00Bp_TiVXzqPcYTFJXB0A4DLuwK44xa3_zhqNjDisYp2EljYan2PbRCHF_KNwQmsg078ti9PzmhEWBh4P1RJk9f6rRS_112-TjSDMABvlff6YvjUr37DlBHfGrAltXs97J1A/w400-h300/IMG_2978.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dylan starting off</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH-FM8xSfYTJICeQ7zPqLBmOPewzqhhcuYq_0rxWADvYzQI6QhkrLiQwqv-AkYwoffkiKCS4NJu8CiBK2D249ujGX-HDaOhFttmPOvCu8hym_dFE4HwDjIbaPp0JXIOOxdUx4F8VphTc1M4faWOimXPTS0_4f_wquDrH4O0bGM6RDSjS6z1wC0xojuQg/s5184/IMG_2984.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH-FM8xSfYTJICeQ7zPqLBmOPewzqhhcuYq_0rxWADvYzQI6QhkrLiQwqv-AkYwoffkiKCS4NJu8CiBK2D249ujGX-HDaOhFttmPOvCu8hym_dFE4HwDjIbaPp0JXIOOxdUx4F8VphTc1M4faWOimXPTS0_4f_wquDrH4O0bGM6RDSjS6z1wC0xojuQg/w400-h300/IMG_2984.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And Nicole following</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikNbGupqjOzPk-O6MQk9JmI1sawDiacu0WpGhdyskP1QmK-lbgO-8VfNn_8AcPGk4lfYgFWcTXcBOI-x8LcJ3QHaQogK03bmVnqZ-QliQ4ghnlV4XSXwFQWtzVXojT3mE7-lvbVv73w0fuiBizn7Hw1XVgBsPZUwDSESNxXo51H9EEf9OBPpqc4WZLNA/s5184/IMG_2987.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikNbGupqjOzPk-O6MQk9JmI1sawDiacu0WpGhdyskP1QmK-lbgO-8VfNn_8AcPGk4lfYgFWcTXcBOI-x8LcJ3QHaQogK03bmVnqZ-QliQ4ghnlV4XSXwFQWtzVXojT3mE7-lvbVv73w0fuiBizn7Hw1XVgBsPZUwDSESNxXo51H9EEf9OBPpqc4WZLNA/s320/IMG_2987.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not too steep</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-CAA8MYRW11xx-3pqTstBJXV8rgu5AZDvdUGT4s_5BF6zEVB4lvFcPZ34W03JgmdKMpgiTjSsNl8rJBwzmhUfYppcEBUVLvF9mJJGr39I8GNdVclFIOSZg6BG1fATzaGHULKk6IsIEhi88xc9EXl8hP8Rks6zdV36ad6hbSt1Y0WxXtB5iLWqkOsi1Q/s5184/IMG_2990.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5184" data-original-width="3888" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-CAA8MYRW11xx-3pqTstBJXV8rgu5AZDvdUGT4s_5BF6zEVB4lvFcPZ34W03JgmdKMpgiTjSsNl8rJBwzmhUfYppcEBUVLvF9mJJGr39I8GNdVclFIOSZg6BG1fATzaGHULKk6IsIEhi88xc9EXl8hP8Rks6zdV36ad6hbSt1Y0WxXtB5iLWqkOsi1Q/w300-h400/IMG_2990.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nicole cruising</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo3MizVdZ9mncUlfm3VyTi0d3eHcNpkSMVwgCeitcOyh1M2uNYhr4tRewYs5eSj-AVQeVT5ATq8ZeOvQkyOam17pWvcN0CctRy8k7txMW65vrtaeOkZLqAmM90BQ1GqN2WKMpcGpJzAFH0_DPK12J6gnITX08Qnt0JreN8jkUWjRkAv_eK2Z7swKgJ1A/s5184/IMG_2991.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo3MizVdZ9mncUlfm3VyTi0d3eHcNpkSMVwgCeitcOyh1M2uNYhr4tRewYs5eSj-AVQeVT5ATq8ZeOvQkyOam17pWvcN0CctRy8k7txMW65vrtaeOkZLqAmM90BQ1GqN2WKMpcGpJzAFH0_DPK12J6gnITX08Qnt0JreN8jkUWjRkAv_eK2Z7swKgJ1A/w400-h300/IMG_2991.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All smiles at the first belay</td></tr></tbody></table><br />The climbing was relatively easy - moderate pitch, quality rock, and there was always a foot or hand hold when you needed one. Top that with beautiful weather and being with my son and his partner and you have the mix for a great day.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZe9eRDRi3KNNE63gzQMS-yuq8u9AesRLjm54tOMxlzmwaVT6Q3QUTw1dGDIojkGHwdTTLIuNvua8OERfUJW8QwxkMuu0LawBMtKXpBBLqnGlYZybGCloH90wbKxxeHJLL2d3dZBJw5NbkW8gt3S1V589UIIpCaVdEYFkd2ZMSDTGFozhlMC0yNVGwoA/s4379/IMG_2992.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4379" data-original-width="3288" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZe9eRDRi3KNNE63gzQMS-yuq8u9AesRLjm54tOMxlzmwaVT6Q3QUTw1dGDIojkGHwdTTLIuNvua8OERfUJW8QwxkMuu0LawBMtKXpBBLqnGlYZybGCloH90wbKxxeHJLL2d3dZBJw5NbkW8gt3S1V589UIIpCaVdEYFkd2ZMSDTGFozhlMC0yNVGwoA/w300-h400/IMG_2992.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John Platt took me on my first alpine climb, 2011 Slick Rock</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjigvjNpfR6KDUcc-4hXbuVOjYkMWPcvzhKJLCydoeAHwUWNoUFPUFMDalW7qPpsZs2KwSklaMoo8s8Q38o6czdcn6sGFMCMHoYvMeDOeZT-ADdzSv3Vb3Ig_llv28Tr0CkuvLcAIujHtyhmXOPaOWII2y5naKZ0CLBNKotYpI7I91UE611VBRf-HVHNg/s5184/IMG_2996.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjigvjNpfR6KDUcc-4hXbuVOjYkMWPcvzhKJLCydoeAHwUWNoUFPUFMDalW7qPpsZs2KwSklaMoo8s8Q38o6czdcn6sGFMCMHoYvMeDOeZT-ADdzSv3Vb3Ig_llv28Tr0CkuvLcAIujHtyhmXOPaOWII2y5naKZ0CLBNKotYpI7I91UE611VBRf-HVHNg/w400-h300/IMG_2996.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back down to camp</td></tr></tbody></table><br />We popped over the top of Wham Ridge a couple of hours after we'd left camp. After stashing the rope in the pack, we dropped down a short notch and walked up to the summit.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjwrRVRu2bcw7Jc8SkeG4Nn_6T-pIpGsOkX-KurnwFdwkfKcvXldpwTdOFbUHOYSeq2KrQpe0HdFQHOEYlFUKpbrxMStlvNTYaVfl2HJcZwKhzjHYt10quxd8j5-ZXcSejBvYt3Gdo8I5nziemS7yEZ4a4FI8C7K9ETpuXdeoav8RJWBG64EXVwI8YfQ/s4032/John%20topping%20out.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjwrRVRu2bcw7Jc8SkeG4Nn_6T-pIpGsOkX-KurnwFdwkfKcvXldpwTdOFbUHOYSeq2KrQpe0HdFQHOEYlFUKpbrxMStlvNTYaVfl2HJcZwKhzjHYt10quxd8j5-ZXcSejBvYt3Gdo8I5nziemS7yEZ4a4FI8C7K9ETpuXdeoav8RJWBG64EXVwI8YfQ/w400-h300/John%20topping%20out.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John at the top (D. Fadgen photo)</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs8wR7b9QPh7sVhPDTAdLPPJ7VQ8HjE3CDBeFv80iwcT_5dicWpSve2ubufqxvtqcvl-TFbkEwbxeFprzSTEgl8-YqxWKBY-2dBLYs7wTZyWw5wMCuqqrooVjYIWwJ0Fl2naGw_CMKCrLkxfDqRoEJTHI5V0lck7r6CyIVUOL6859hdGqu5FnYHRZFXg/s5184/IMG_3007.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs8wR7b9QPh7sVhPDTAdLPPJ7VQ8HjE3CDBeFv80iwcT_5dicWpSve2ubufqxvtqcvl-TFbkEwbxeFprzSTEgl8-YqxWKBY-2dBLYs7wTZyWw5wMCuqqrooVjYIWwJ0Fl2naGw_CMKCrLkxfDqRoEJTHI5V0lck7r6CyIVUOL6859hdGqu5FnYHRZFXg/w400-h300/IMG_3007.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Summit Splattski</td></tr></tbody></table><br />The views from the top were spectacular. There were mountains 360 degrees around us, and we took it all in for a few minutes. But not too long, as we had to drop down the back side, slide down a scree slope, and boulder hop our way back to camp. After a re-pack of camp, we then had an 11 mile hike back to the car. We still had a long day ahead of us.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV5zeZnMtuu323cLIY5RztOh_UVKl4cTKjpolvlzETUbCVilhsow6aa71CQjtfYjj_8iIEmV0Y9la9gf4YvUwUkUYPv2mfgLqd1WtoHPTHUF_w1OBLQ7sqOtTxZXS8V_pYBkptsMNaysstaky44ZO7rqPB5hDVN8l4e8B35N9cJoZttaK9D31fi4jy4Q/s5184/IMG_3011.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV5zeZnMtuu323cLIY5RztOh_UVKl4cTKjpolvlzETUbCVilhsow6aa71CQjtfYjj_8iIEmV0Y9la9gf4YvUwUkUYPv2mfgLqd1WtoHPTHUF_w1OBLQ7sqOtTxZXS8V_pYBkptsMNaysstaky44ZO7rqPB5hDVN8l4e8B35N9cJoZttaK9D31fi4jy4Q/w400-h300/IMG_3011.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The maze that was the descent route</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkcoewepH_tEA4zbf4XMHjSG7rbYI8BSbYf3IWdFo_zaD2uAX3NimwHOPQnVjy1RQo4F6h9eIZMnQKHZm3XjXavzGmEdo-Tb5wr7wtzoStjNjh-PaiZIbTuVjArFtqvfikm_U9zS5nzNUS29ZnNSRUjPuXmt8Z05bmr-MruZU3035dTPMg1hhiXP6GGw/s5184/IMG_3012.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5184" data-original-width="3888" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkcoewepH_tEA4zbf4XMHjSG7rbYI8BSbYf3IWdFo_zaD2uAX3NimwHOPQnVjy1RQo4F6h9eIZMnQKHZm3XjXavzGmEdo-Tb5wr7wtzoStjNjh-PaiZIbTuVjArFtqvfikm_U9zS5nzNUS29ZnNSRUjPuXmt8Z05bmr-MruZU3035dTPMg1hhiXP6GGw/w300-h400/IMG_3012.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still more down</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I'd like to say that the walk out was pleasant, and for the most part it was OK. We had hoped for cloud cover like the previous day, but the clouds didn't cooperate much. </div><div>So it was warm.</div><div><br /></div><div>We retraced our steps down the steep face to the beaver ponds and then wound our way through the alder and deadfall back to Elk Creek and the well maintained Colorado trail.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrbvqj2hAXo-JtCZUcvEwWOoPDxh0ouKTMBQgp_ppv3Nnl4ocKk1p4hv6VjAiVCEKNum-lEYnAcQii27y-xVWMimN4RyO-ai_ZMU_tIYeBU5vMYeRXUTB4vusHHcaPqHI1ElPEQEWDkzZV0sxBewIFbJQrJKM2ZqIQdbQHgLM_4D_JiTEGJ7IdLA83lg/s5184/IMG_3016.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5184" data-original-width="3888" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrbvqj2hAXo-JtCZUcvEwWOoPDxh0ouKTMBQgp_ppv3Nnl4ocKk1p4hv6VjAiVCEKNum-lEYnAcQii27y-xVWMimN4RyO-ai_ZMU_tIYeBU5vMYeRXUTB4vusHHcaPqHI1ElPEQEWDkzZV0sxBewIFbJQrJKM2ZqIQdbQHgLM_4D_JiTEGJ7IdLA83lg/w300-h400/IMG_3016.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A look back at what we'd just done</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkpiOQLjtsq7szpZxxwQNbz0b0fK-A_4clwCXyQk3suz9s1nTPvTLodKGm5x8gap4NbDTybWQD2hHSWxtt3kfH9xfdoVfCbIx2dKUuTe8jqCsu5OvfbOG2USBsu2EZigYPMwtmdTvoxu4xNwJ9LNzw3cSQHqPXeknwn8bbzo3ostoVQHVSis52pVhRhg/s5184/IMG_3019.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkpiOQLjtsq7szpZxxwQNbz0b0fK-A_4clwCXyQk3suz9s1nTPvTLodKGm5x8gap4NbDTybWQD2hHSWxtt3kfH9xfdoVfCbIx2dKUuTe8jqCsu5OvfbOG2USBsu2EZigYPMwtmdTvoxu4xNwJ9LNzw3cSQHqPXeknwn8bbzo3ostoVQHVSis52pVhRhg/w400-h300/IMG_3019.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading down Elk Creek</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>We were all a bit tired as we arrived at the bridge over the Animas River a couple of hours later. Remember the ~4 miles of downhill when had on the way in the previous day? Now it was uphill. 1700' of uphill on tired legs. We were all wishing we'd taken the train!</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyYN94-_kCbvohdG6LKmL0X--_R1KnKUx1fX3JT3GM8tgBrwTbDWjyWZYERCCh9C7QdM8T6di1EKHE0exQlg82l4QTjsF0huG5ZxhYLpTsec1EggtbU13KCg5REtabXpxJfBVVBbINAltQmoZQtwt3vGONfg60LgovKEoKqR3pIJ16ttQJwTHdH7jhZg/s5184/IMG_3028.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyYN94-_kCbvohdG6LKmL0X--_R1KnKUx1fX3JT3GM8tgBrwTbDWjyWZYERCCh9C7QdM8T6di1EKHE0exQlg82l4QTjsF0huG5ZxhYLpTsec1EggtbU13KCg5REtabXpxJfBVVBbINAltQmoZQtwt3vGONfg60LgovKEoKqR3pIJ16ttQJwTHdH7jhZg/w400-h300/IMG_3028.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One last look back while resting during the 1800' pull back to the car</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The uphill pull was tough, but it didn't break us and we eventually made it to Ouray in time for burgers and beers at the Ouray Brewery. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">An excellent alpine adventure!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Stats - </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Distance: ~24 miles</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Elevation: ~7500 between both days</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Time: Who cares!</div><br /><p><br /></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div>Fadgen's Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16693548016894583724noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308604707301670536.post-55889983879490485302020-09-24T21:56:00.002-06:002021-02-24T17:32:47.277-07:00North Face of Cobb Peak (11,650 feet)<p>Dylan and I first saw the North face of Cobb Peak from our climb of <a href="http://fadgenfamily.blogspot.com/2010/07/hyndman-peak-12009-feet.html" target="_blank">Hyndman Peak</a>, a few years back. At that time we could only dream about climbing it. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7m1HN6MZKEKNKNPBMha238qlBC5h6kYaGTbwljb4tuMYnA32Q3nzqR9cXOjuu7Pc70UW7_fY88pqZY9eL6rOu3Je71MxdniBy2wuUPIWr6bzuRB0FvVifjzoQcSipqxSgSMUXXKVs-k93/s1600/Cobb+NF.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7m1HN6MZKEKNKNPBMha238qlBC5h6kYaGTbwljb4tuMYnA32Q3nzqR9cXOjuu7Pc70UW7_fY88pqZY9eL6rOu3Je71MxdniBy2wuUPIWr6bzuRB0FvVifjzoQcSipqxSgSMUXXKVs-k93/w640-h480/Cobb+NF.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On top of Hyndman in 2010 with Cobb behind us<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>Fast forward 10 years, and we were going for it! </p><p>Dylan and I had done a couple of Pioneer alpine climbs the previous two years, and I threw out the idea of the NF of Cobb without having any idea if it was even feasible. Dylan, being Dylan, accepted the idea without hesitation. The only beta I could find was from <a href="http://blog.svtrek.com/?tag=cobb-peak" target="_blank">Sun Valley Trekking</a>, and it mentioned solid rock with a couple of 5.8 moves. Seemed to be in my wheelhouse...</p><p>After a lazy Saturday evening kicking around Ketchum, we woke up to clear (no smoke!) and cold conditions at the Hyndman Creek trail head. A quick cup of coffee and we were off a little after 7AM.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcuZiWlsR-JuRAaQ1l9sBUra4WHAYvA7v3Ks6QPM-P5tVRzUKqJSlBG3rE6dN6OqnPCdxDXvxRj2TwWdWpqmav6rRpVvtLQgk3FK_a22i7RQnU5q-EiDhu5cPFNOrOmcKMHMjvr35eRZ_K/s2048/IMG_1756.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcuZiWlsR-JuRAaQ1l9sBUra4WHAYvA7v3Ks6QPM-P5tVRzUKqJSlBG3rE6dN6OqnPCdxDXvxRj2TwWdWpqmav6rRpVvtLQgk3FK_a22i7RQnU5q-EiDhu5cPFNOrOmcKMHMjvr35eRZ_K/w640-h480/IMG_1756.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A cold start!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH2F8ANS7yYOkRQU1v-kNP81KACWizYonDL2cxf1mnII-rOhQxXWUu5C-J_Bq49KfGvfaYAu1wVcK8x8grn_Si1sSUfW1YJZvV0JfLq5EB-S9aRcoNfBHGIt664nE2-9FS-xl8bPArcw_w/s2048/IMG_1758.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH2F8ANS7yYOkRQU1v-kNP81KACWizYonDL2cxf1mnII-rOhQxXWUu5C-J_Bq49KfGvfaYAu1wVcK8x8grn_Si1sSUfW1YJZvV0JfLq5EB-S9aRcoNfBHGIt664nE2-9FS-xl8bPArcw_w/w640-h480/IMG_1758.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cobb Peak (South Face)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div>In an effort to stay warm, Dylan set a fast pace and we made good time on the 3 miles of flat trail. The steep pull up to the 8700' basin was followed by another incline into the upper basin at 9400'. As we headed toward some sunshine in this upper basin, we ran into John and Alyson Kirk of <a href="http://www.listsofjohn.com" target="_blank">Lists of John</a> fame. After a quick hello/goodbye we stopped in the sunshine to warm up, eat something, rack gear and look at our objective.<div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlSW4uhwxPewf2L7ULV_vGqDPO1U3Yqtt64Gs8ukyVlNGJWWi6RPLj1CGetuleOJDpfv82ygFQwaUrvegqomXRY7LA3LUbUsQ_Fp9MqjOI2Nw9jpUUcicU0ZyApSuXaUi4jA2-FOu27sMX/s2048/IMG_1763.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlSW4uhwxPewf2L7ULV_vGqDPO1U3Yqtt64Gs8ukyVlNGJWWi6RPLj1CGetuleOJDpfv82ygFQwaUrvegqomXRY7LA3LUbUsQ_Fp9MqjOI2Nw9jpUUcicU0ZyApSuXaUi4jA2-FOu27sMX/w640-h480/IMG_1763.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Upper Hyndman Basin<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdLVLWiC6DYV0URpYbX7RqkU1wqqUjJUX5MuKS2KQcnN916PnjM8Ac9f0-PCzweKyiYxDE-IYtNsrvdh_cU2mmoIcwOHrgnPJro1mVIK2Y4e3KiXiDmvgzsFSxN-BUsUhmliOLcK4QCxYX/s2048/IMG_1764.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdLVLWiC6DYV0URpYbX7RqkU1wqqUjJUX5MuKS2KQcnN916PnjM8Ac9f0-PCzweKyiYxDE-IYtNsrvdh_cU2mmoIcwOHrgnPJro1mVIK2Y4e3KiXiDmvgzsFSxN-BUsUhmliOLcK4QCxYX/w640-h480/IMG_1764.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Which way should we go?</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Once ready, we headed back down into the shade, crossed the creek, and carefully climbed up the scree field to the base of the wall. I had printed out a picture of the SV Guide's route for reference, but we opted to pick our own line.</div><div><br /></div><div>Once ready, Dylan took off up the wall as I belayed him and shivered in the shade. When it was my turn to follow, I was surprised at the difficulty of the first few moves up the steep wall. Maybe it was the cold (I could barely feel my fingers) or the butterflies, but the first few moves felt like 5.8 right off the bat. I was hoping things would get easier and said as much as I met Dylan at the anchor.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhegswEMSYgJooDoB3qvowLNVcpcDNJ5oNZMPcNZYF4akXymcHgaOcN9c2AXTzeJoTTxpPXjg_b06SBkVgmc8MbI2CuDlCfI8PuKjU7NVV8RRJMfQ7ebHWr16VGxvkyyLbYNwWHNFvHHhB2/s2048/IMG_0610.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhegswEMSYgJooDoB3qvowLNVcpcDNJ5oNZMPcNZYF4akXymcHgaOcN9c2AXTzeJoTTxpPXjg_b06SBkVgmc8MbI2CuDlCfI8PuKjU7NVV8RRJMfQ7ebHWr16VGxvkyyLbYNwWHNFvHHhB2/w640-h480/IMG_0610.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Close to the end of pitch 1 (D. Fadgen photo)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYWODTOks6RA7EAKSJx64kM0P9_9bki5SbSAWqNM9eTjq2NPIrpf_ejc94bWevbu_vxv3qpdsb8oy3aScWeJ3-p10o6qmqVfbIBqTABRTe8OwckJaILK1l9-c05acsGUcTtPq7RdD0FkDx/s2048/IMG_0611.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYWODTOks6RA7EAKSJx64kM0P9_9bki5SbSAWqNM9eTjq2NPIrpf_ejc94bWevbu_vxv3qpdsb8oy3aScWeJ3-p10o6qmqVfbIBqTABRTe8OwckJaILK1l9-c05acsGUcTtPq7RdD0FkDx/w640-h480/IMG_0611.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Contemplating a big move! (D. Fadgen photo)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI1DjmJWbLW1AX4Zyb8SGcfakwR8ohIPlsF2NtvUyVOwkxKz8EOtrV1Eq1iFzr4NaUP32b3ERbohfzDTvhZl9hhMInGQ7V_rI-PwY_xVVCgWXASYlqW9Gl9S6yOYo2icV3PvAjH_k42sg_/s2048/IMG_1769.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI1DjmJWbLW1AX4Zyb8SGcfakwR8ohIPlsF2NtvUyVOwkxKz8EOtrV1Eq1iFzr4NaUP32b3ERbohfzDTvhZl9hhMInGQ7V_rI-PwY_xVVCgWXASYlqW9Gl9S6yOYo2icV3PvAjH_k42sg_/w480-h640/IMG_1769.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In his element<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlmd6GzmlA1NJGOJ4qkmjCYFFgFmhOlgyc00GZ88w-KRjd5hSqfjc0xwr_R2zn_OvX-HZ4zM3nvf9Vdq8Sbih_DHkwpkS_h6V-HPkNOXQDR6NkFBPBZiNiytDjZJlN82KS40l8mfwVjoDI/s2048/IMG_1770.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlmd6GzmlA1NJGOJ4qkmjCYFFgFmhOlgyc00GZ88w-KRjd5hSqfjc0xwr_R2zn_OvX-HZ4zM3nvf9Vdq8Sbih_DHkwpkS_h6V-HPkNOXQDR6NkFBPBZiNiytDjZJlN82KS40l8mfwVjoDI/w480-h640/IMG_1770.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking up at pitch 3 or 4<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSpfhhynxv_zXhUgYbq4wPPUkdHXQaS9rpJsLxqdEQdWBr6myBwaqQi7f6kozgQa6o9Th7x_2t5cDf1D6JGs-59BP-s7tHVeNG_zZNJWxPebRHfyTLpk13hSTYTzVvPpooDxLLYJ3tXNjC/s2048/IMG_1771.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1535" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSpfhhynxv_zXhUgYbq4wPPUkdHXQaS9rpJsLxqdEQdWBr6myBwaqQi7f6kozgQa6o9Th7x_2t5cDf1D6JGs-59BP-s7tHVeNG_zZNJWxPebRHfyTLpk13hSTYTzVvPpooDxLLYJ3tXNjC/w480-h640/IMG_1771.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Close up<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQnLHaOf4RlVNBXaf9_XUKflNV12E5VgS5l0bdQkG2CqLtiO183s4lk8JWPvYSBArotRqGsOIyzvUfmI0cIyx1pPRUP66WG0X_1vlqa14cTaXL9jWOc1CDLQh9ruoPQlqCYuP2KtVeRvTc/s2048/IMG_1776.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQnLHaOf4RlVNBXaf9_XUKflNV12E5VgS5l0bdQkG2CqLtiO183s4lk8JWPvYSBArotRqGsOIyzvUfmI0cIyx1pPRUP66WG0X_1vlqa14cTaXL9jWOc1CDLQh9ruoPQlqCYuP2KtVeRvTc/w640-h480/IMG_1776.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dylan figuring out his line<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div>The going did get a little easier in the steep, high quality Quartzite. There was also a considerable amount of moss thrown in with occasional snow on the ledges. All great fun! <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV5YweXyFhbuz1p2EI4TwqI3_xcdsUWw1fYikBYZtGnId5yYb1-jknbpmQ2_ukVxve2ynjA_xRVuZMojIsx_aN1J63dKvNLpattEj-6fbfe3ok4Wg4p5ZR6OH4he8fmzh_IihGc9jdm9f0/s2048/IMG_1780.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV5YweXyFhbuz1p2EI4TwqI3_xcdsUWw1fYikBYZtGnId5yYb1-jknbpmQ2_ukVxve2ynjA_xRVuZMojIsx_aN1J63dKvNLpattEj-6fbfe3ok4Wg4p5ZR6OH4he8fmzh_IihGc9jdm9f0/w640-h480/IMG_1780.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>As we got higher, the temperature stayed about the same, but at least we had feeling in our fingers again. Though cold, the climbing was very enjoyable with solid holds available for the committing moves.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXTOFvCXXEQuv6Q-whzgY0DJa1cRy-dzDeu01Fv5LtkIwsoZuMUhyphenhyphenux8F83dKeft9g7KGeo6f1Dmns3IPN_TJgHS6HliXYyHzeDGBmrur-uXzsFV6Fa8yS2Q-F20Hk49bKTqH1j5EfpWBi/s2048/IMG_1783.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXTOFvCXXEQuv6Q-whzgY0DJa1cRy-dzDeu01Fv5LtkIwsoZuMUhyphenhyphenux8F83dKeft9g7KGeo6f1Dmns3IPN_TJgHS6HliXYyHzeDGBmrur-uXzsFV6Fa8yS2Q-F20Hk49bKTqH1j5EfpWBi/w480-h640/IMG_1783.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hard to keep a smile off his face<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinT7V6ns0ADAtznKX_GFyuwyXK7irWjO4cTdxHfkI7dpsdx_aC-QZMq8KfR7_dmihbUG-g595eaM0vKblfceUMFNX7jryLNFAe_YQesiUszaOgCuoomaX3ypIZyJU7LsjJaVu-2Adm1Dwy/s2048/IMG_0615.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinT7V6ns0ADAtznKX_GFyuwyXK7irWjO4cTdxHfkI7dpsdx_aC-QZMq8KfR7_dmihbUG-g595eaM0vKblfceUMFNX7jryLNFAe_YQesiUszaOgCuoomaX3ypIZyJU7LsjJaVu-2Adm1Dwy/w640-h480/IMG_0615.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Top of pitch 6? getting ready to break out into the sun<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNTLMU5DCo-U-DXqt11xuZJryQ10K-ToQJg48PvnuIYMJhMDpa3jKiQBSj0pxtXz5r3wIZcVbbZSD0P6VU7n0mdtLiAIy1j1dfJM0P6f1TwwSYcQTtlzqMemJAmFG6azqWN3wIdT2NZn5Y/s2048/IMG_0617.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNTLMU5DCo-U-DXqt11xuZJryQ10K-ToQJg48PvnuIYMJhMDpa3jKiQBSj0pxtXz5r3wIZcVbbZSD0P6VU7n0mdtLiAIy1j1dfJM0P6f1TwwSYcQTtlzqMemJAmFG6azqWN3wIdT2NZn5Y/w640-h480/IMG_0617.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ahhh!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">We had one last pitch along a knife edge ridge before we reached our exit close to the walk up route. We'd climbed over 1000 feet and it was now 2:30. Where had the time gone? </div></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7RKL-6mbKP3mSacXyZlFOp3WUkOhUItrAFj7LPev1ve5wiKBNkl5kws4H_Ti4xlSes42KvwwwAYvX3NapBjrAbviQmjU4OpesjUyVuC9emScLxog-AhATAjuPQOiGk3fV1pIAMROiefvI/s2048/IMG_1790.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7RKL-6mbKP3mSacXyZlFOp3WUkOhUItrAFj7LPev1ve5wiKBNkl5kws4H_Ti4xlSes42KvwwwAYvX3NapBjrAbviQmjU4OpesjUyVuC9emScLxog-AhATAjuPQOiGk3fV1pIAMROiefvI/w640-h480/IMG_1790.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Since we were only 600-700 feet from the summit, we figured we'd make quick work of getting to the top. In hindsight, it might have been easier to stay roped up on the knife ridge. The trip to the top was a mixture of loose rock and steep slabs. It would have definitely been more fun on a different day.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsVjV65zvlOEuutcQu2Txc1jlO-QUY4UjjsY36L5yQKwJbO3Xu8t9DQzh-G-Cn7XDXTcJERN7wFBowR4dem9hQBAKjw5iyLNZn6vP1bRnHSAOqVG3RZ0tBchr_UGFt-meTAzvfD72t_lCg/s2048/IMG_1793.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsVjV65zvlOEuutcQu2Txc1jlO-QUY4UjjsY36L5yQKwJbO3Xu8t9DQzh-G-Cn7XDXTcJERN7wFBowR4dem9hQBAKjw5iyLNZn6vP1bRnHSAOqVG3RZ0tBchr_UGFt-meTAzvfD72t_lCg/w640-h480/IMG_1793.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>We eventually made it to the summit at 11,650 feet, but didn't linger since it was still a bit chilly and it was getting late. <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYn_kSv9U0c8BKZ-Fizh8htrNEPeBZkVrxr5HxaUljo9-TGDDMl39IA-RcEKZF_HbWNBgvKCjhSZKxF6Y7avVV6y-KEG-cF1XIe48pu7cZyqY8qppzAUugfkn6242HQiperYLUQpe27ebY/s2048/IMG_1798.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYn_kSv9U0c8BKZ-Fizh8htrNEPeBZkVrxr5HxaUljo9-TGDDMl39IA-RcEKZF_HbWNBgvKCjhSZKxF6Y7avVV6y-KEG-cF1XIe48pu7cZyqY8qppzAUugfkn6242HQiperYLUQpe27ebY/w640-h480/IMG_1798.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All smiles on top!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />We carefully picked our way down through the steep, loose rock and then continued down, and down, and down until we found the main trail. We did our best to move fast on the trail and eventually reached our rigs just as the sun set.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGtrCpmdUiGJd5zHqQVWdpWfaeqk0tizyv16uZYp0ytfTfQxaAAGnqoG7k7UFLUyaVW9qMD3bRhgwvUQCs1GW_KXU339u0XeZ-GpztM313GY0qwjCw8kZiCxbvg84ww9zImw0sIvmVoFeW/s2048/IMG_1799.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGtrCpmdUiGJd5zHqQVWdpWfaeqk0tizyv16uZYp0ytfTfQxaAAGnqoG7k7UFLUyaVW9qMD3bRhgwvUQCs1GW_KXU339u0XeZ-GpztM313GY0qwjCw8kZiCxbvg84ww9zImw0sIvmVoFeW/w640-h480/IMG_1799.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>This was truly another great alpine climb with my son. Limited beta, mixed with route finding and some committing moves several hundred feet above the deck. What a way to live!</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirjcCG_KiP0ThR8agFC8KunQPZ-hS0kdg-YPvaUctMk0f7tQ4sCMVDIyPs6JG9ilFwNMqaqyFVucgqu7Qa-yU4f_-d_d5k0bEgdjy8ohWq_SpYF8WWfKNlh_fGI2Sf3rWD4ywB-CMjCmgr/s2048/IMG_1764_1.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1535" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirjcCG_KiP0ThR8agFC8KunQPZ-hS0kdg-YPvaUctMk0f7tQ4sCMVDIyPs6JG9ilFwNMqaqyFVucgqu7Qa-yU4f_-d_d5k0bEgdjy8ohWq_SpYF8WWfKNlh_fGI2Sf3rWD4ywB-CMjCmgr/w640-h480/IMG_1764_1.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our route<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXjv3vtZmS_QfXGRW17P81sHJ9SLROmmTVnNlfTPG5GKnNZL6mp9RqVTWZgmpWl5TpyLUwakD4S6qRTMKLsnZRTMJB86epNG6zxy5w7E2gn6u_FWsRDOZfqtTLBUbzsXpemqNj74yNgiWn/s1295/Google+Earth+Track.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="943" data-original-width="1295" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXjv3vtZmS_QfXGRW17P81sHJ9SLROmmTVnNlfTPG5GKnNZL6mp9RqVTWZgmpWl5TpyLUwakD4S6qRTMKLsnZRTMJB86epNG6zxy5w7E2gn6u_FWsRDOZfqtTLBUbzsXpemqNj74yNgiWn/w640-h466/Google+Earth+Track.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Google Earth Track<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div>Fadgen's Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16693548016894583724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308604707301670536.post-38420196778377414022020-07-15T22:27:00.002-06:002020-07-19T18:22:10.632-06:00Scree Central - Lost River 11er'sThe original plan for this summer's peak bagging week was to head to Montana and climb McDonald Peak in the Mission Range, but the access through the Reservation was closed due to COVID. So we switched gears to climb some of the Idaho 11er's remaining on Michael's list.<div><br /></div><div>Since these peaks are all in the Lost River Range, we knew we were in for some serious scree.<br /><div><br /></div><div>We left Boise early Saturday morning and arrived at Long Lost Creek at about 10AM. We wasted no time in starting the hike up the trail. <br /><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjliFouMQEgqAU7lQbG-nMgfzaWuZu-AR0a2larUb9URvLKGOGL3bdTD265ffl9hAnU7f0qgQIYP7nhDGINSDUyz9r93_xDvWcjeCC18lec_E-4cBgLcbobUBrsM_tcVqDSKYwYpRg5tYao/s2048/IMG_1508.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjliFouMQEgqAU7lQbG-nMgfzaWuZu-AR0a2larUb9URvLKGOGL3bdTD265ffl9hAnU7f0qgQIYP7nhDGINSDUyz9r93_xDvWcjeCC18lec_E-4cBgLcbobUBrsM_tcVqDSKYwYpRg5tYao/w625-h469/IMG_1508.JPG" width="625" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Castle Peak from the trail head<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">NOAA had forecasted sunny skies and mid-70's and was spot on. The slight breeze made the hiking that much more enjoyable.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzi8l5FdA7aMs1BLSdG6mnWRAEPJnfWVbrHCcuxCZ9GlJ6jZYM-QlD44_Efhq0NR97qum5Vn3tZloY-dj_9-pvni3WnKvhRPNNpDZByJa8GBGry0kASk9IznBUpFKW2RXmaKC1NVb5Tm6t/s2048/IMG_1511.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzi8l5FdA7aMs1BLSdG6mnWRAEPJnfWVbrHCcuxCZ9GlJ6jZYM-QlD44_Efhq0NR97qum5Vn3tZloY-dj_9-pvni3WnKvhRPNNpDZByJa8GBGry0kASk9IznBUpFKW2RXmaKC1NVb5Tm6t/w625-h469/IMG_1511.JPG" width="625" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Moat to the right of the saddle with Castle Peak<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Surprisingly, the trail continued past the turn off to Hell Canyon and Shadow Lakes. The bushwhacking was minimal the few times we lost it. Though it was almost mid July, the area was green and the wildflowers were blooming.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPTwBMepxxV1Q8GC4s42r_yoXrIeTtDZzysS3SNRewhPM1t2PzXQr3XGbG0K1FNgodqCz2ngpuXhpR8YR7AcnCPQTgfQbQf_OBEyy2vjhI-OOXrECnc0ZODzgLS0vJgTCJd4NPIt3-XB2N/s2048/IMG_1516.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPTwBMepxxV1Q8GC4s42r_yoXrIeTtDZzysS3SNRewhPM1t2PzXQr3XGbG0K1FNgodqCz2ngpuXhpR8YR7AcnCPQTgfQbQf_OBEyy2vjhI-OOXrECnc0ZODzgLS0vJgTCJd4NPIt3-XB2N/w625-h469/IMG_1516.JPG" width="625" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peak 11,477, aka "The Moat"</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div>We gradually gained altitude and after 4.5 miles and around 9000' feet we started up the steep slope to the saddle at 10,200'. The footing was great, especially when we found the sheep trail.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrT0Vv5jyRFid7u0pgSlCSMhXoaIwsrPAbuRpRG_bwJ1FqHKv1kA9a_WFQ2yn_CqHFIoeiRqWcS2PQa2hO3H5Cx2-JHJSFUxBSHAqkA0XQ3bgMGSyukdKJTxqvRYwPwPVR493LHlG9Clzu/s2048/IMG_1518.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrT0Vv5jyRFid7u0pgSlCSMhXoaIwsrPAbuRpRG_bwJ1FqHKv1kA9a_WFQ2yn_CqHFIoeiRqWcS2PQa2hO3H5Cx2-JHJSFUxBSHAqkA0XQ3bgMGSyukdKJTxqvRYwPwPVR493LHlG9Clzu/w625-h469/IMG_1518.JPG" width="625" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michael cruising up the sheep trail to the saddle<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Once above the saddle it was a pretty straightforward climb up the ridge to the summit at 11,477 feet.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxg1paXV5ZT_MrlKsdGTi6Tn1SKwZotExFrYsxVSsBpizEWqDDI0q0dRhQbqNnOeJVBuuyh8x9fZ6SYHIC5v7KVP2je6WSk8xTY49o_nct5ZBE0A5HZCDAZ8QsLQHHnx5Wvo2g0iPBb2Ps/s2048/IMG_1522.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxg1paXV5ZT_MrlKsdGTi6Tn1SKwZotExFrYsxVSsBpizEWqDDI0q0dRhQbqNnOeJVBuuyh8x9fZ6SYHIC5v7KVP2je6WSk8xTY49o_nct5ZBE0A5HZCDAZ8QsLQHHnx5Wvo2g0iPBb2Ps/w625-h469/IMG_1522.JPG" width="625" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking down Long Lost Creek</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9-6wqRBL6-GswOtABZjGEI7PdIni3h5agULB3MzPxJuRrdKEgqb8oEel-RgCypzQTauo4sd8Z_mIlhEwVwz23z3T4g3rQgxASq_tvGBl228QnHSQ7_eP6DrxN1WRkHk32wJLsmrc7SIuo/s2048/IMG_1527.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9-6wqRBL6-GswOtABZjGEI7PdIni3h5agULB3MzPxJuRrdKEgqb8oEel-RgCypzQTauo4sd8Z_mIlhEwVwz23z3T4g3rQgxASq_tvGBl228QnHSQ7_eP6DrxN1WRkHk32wJLsmrc7SIuo/w625-h469/IMG_1527.JPG" width="625" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmSdXFz1FmYkPoVe8MaS8mYsyP3Hl__eLSKdxJHFtZJd_Poy49oLRmlFHduj1vwz2b8osUC9RqT44d96EAZIbgpbw1a8W5CFXla9zWZ8tvEKzG8LlqP1Xd9Gt9_2O_UgofH43MMY3HKNbj/s2048/IMG_1529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmSdXFz1FmYkPoVe8MaS8mYsyP3Hl__eLSKdxJHFtZJd_Poy49oLRmlFHduj1vwz2b8osUC9RqT44d96EAZIbgpbw1a8W5CFXla9zWZ8tvEKzG8LlqP1Xd9Gt9_2O_UgofH43MMY3HKNbj/w625-h469/IMG_1529.JPG" width="625" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We took a break on top, eating some lunch and enjoying the spectacular views. Too bad the weather wasn't nicer.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Since we were planning on camping at the Leatherman trailhead that evening, we didn't dawdle for too long before starting down.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We re-traced our route on the descent but didn't lose sight of the trail this time and made good time back to the truck. A good warm up peak!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Stats:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Distance - 9 miles</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Elevation - 3400 feet</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Time - 7 hours car to car</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Sunday July 12</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After a great night's sleep on our cots, at the end of the West Fork Pahsimeroi road (the three campsites were taken), we were heading up the trail to Merriam Lake for our second peak of the trip, Sacagawea Peak. Another stellar day - no clouds, cool temps and a slight breeze.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgbHe7EHxzAChTbA-59eG4-HpOBqg2JftSWbl8rN6OBeY5o9egZqApWEMLNJeCM6vbI6wys5-5bw8h3s3THHzWSY-xKKc2qOTIpCnh5PACyLIUveEXW7c62696qduyf0yiBbofxvGQBl42/s5184/IMG_1539.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5184" data-original-width="3888" height="625" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgbHe7EHxzAChTbA-59eG4-HpOBqg2JftSWbl8rN6OBeY5o9egZqApWEMLNJeCM6vbI6wys5-5bw8h3s3THHzWSY-xKKc2qOTIpCnh5PACyLIUveEXW7c62696qduyf0yiBbofxvGQBl42/w469-h625/IMG_1539.JPG" width="469" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Though the ski line wasn't in, the views of Leatherman Peak from the trail did not disappoint. It didn't take us long to reach Merriam Lake at 9600'. </div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtsF7ZchPOLnO-KYXqlCKSgHkd3Q6BdUe8vFM9VTzyl8YIVQVl0tww0KJYCbZvwO5rlcnE8NcEACImwRGfRoc_6GD5Wuj7sznsTOyTkOtwhUVBnSK8Cek3bS30xsMD0_5QeYWmC82IyZXz/s2048/IMG_1542.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="781" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtsF7ZchPOLnO-KYXqlCKSgHkd3Q6BdUe8vFM9VTzyl8YIVQVl0tww0KJYCbZvwO5rlcnE8NcEACImwRGfRoc_6GD5Wuj7sznsTOyTkOtwhUVBnSK8Cek3bS30xsMD0_5QeYWmC82IyZXz/w586-h781/IMG_1542.JPG" width="586" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mount Idaho towering over Merriam Lake<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div>As we crested the ridge and made it to the lake, we were greeted by a couple of barking dogs. Great. Three guys were tucked in their sleeping bags to get out of the now blowing wind, and greeted us with a "Welcome to Camp Wind," before calling off their dogs and covering back up. </div><div><br /></div><div>We motored on past, continued around the lake a followed the inlet stream higher.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbtOmflZLJUIs15A2upOs6DdqgeOD5_bpdFA97XDpPNbeFywA0UgBCET-xP2PreKebqWTqnIAdBKKjLSXnsBWct0lg9lQ6kLzK4s0807dLMDxiukEzecvyioVISWP8gf2hOKkHfD1fJAg0/s2048/IMG_1552.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbtOmflZLJUIs15A2upOs6DdqgeOD5_bpdFA97XDpPNbeFywA0UgBCET-xP2PreKebqWTqnIAdBKKjLSXnsBWct0lg9lQ6kLzK4s0807dLMDxiukEzecvyioVISWP8gf2hOKkHfD1fJAg0/w625-h469/IMG_1552.JPG" width="625" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sacagawea to my right<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>The difference on the East side of the Lost River Range is like night and day compared to the dryer West side. Streams, meadows, and wild flowers, were all in abundance. </div><div><br /></div><div>We followed the inlet stream as it turned right, up to the glacial moraine at 10,000' with Sacagawea staring us in the face. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA15V1YYg0b21xY7NM1Z2ZOtVCHRDXib15emW_FdoWKoIi8YvrucZkUuVx1ZQEMrmGzOMdPKn-aXXhhPIYc-AclgHVqI9NKHH1ltSI62UEsIxKkp737GGD50nnR_EI9BFNGIaZkfx5cvqY/s2048/IMG_1557.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA15V1YYg0b21xY7NM1Z2ZOtVCHRDXib15emW_FdoWKoIi8YvrucZkUuVx1ZQEMrmGzOMdPKn-aXXhhPIYc-AclgHVqI9NKHH1ltSI62UEsIxKkp737GGD50nnR_EI9BFNGIaZkfx5cvqY/w625-h469/IMG_1557.JPG" width="625" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Our goal was to obtain the ridge between Mt Idaho and Sacagawea but the ridge was guarded with either rock bands or cornices. Since we left our snow gear back as camp, we decided on the rock bands.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Our first choice was to our right, on the Sacagawea side of the ridge. It was steep and loose up to the rock bands. Once there, I figured we might be able to squeeze by the snow, but it was a no-go. The chute was filled with snow and the steep angle and poor snow quality caused us to turn back and find a different route.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8kX-5E0HMV7nOFIuclzpc5SkXNZ_Fj9ICItBrDw-OjrubBw-NE_4Jegruhqqym-QtLdiq0vqSIsHFnpFhIe3zvrJkCk2GW2noC3PmWiRz_Q2EVKqlZ7fV1W3fNOoMLQ_DbcZEso59kaYD/s2048/IMG_1558.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8kX-5E0HMV7nOFIuclzpc5SkXNZ_Fj9ICItBrDw-OjrubBw-NE_4Jegruhqqym-QtLdiq0vqSIsHFnpFhIe3zvrJkCk2GW2noC3PmWiRz_Q2EVKqlZ7fV1W3fNOoMLQ_DbcZEso59kaYD/w625-h469/IMG_1558.JPG" width="625" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our failed ascent path<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So we re-traced our steps down and around to our left until we found another place that we thought would go. Again, it was step and loose, but we found a series of ledges through the rock bands. Then it was just a steep pull to the saddle at 11,000'.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michael finishing up the rock bands<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>Once on the saddle, we had a view of our route to the summit. The gully looked like it was a long ways off and very steep. We were skeptical, but the clear skis have a way of tricking your eyes, so we dropped down to skirt the class 4 ridge and made our way to the gully.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib3L4UYtWCAlPyaJIEzOGoz_Dig0odz0m8yMFzlrrZZ8rt4r_8I6XBPNeVydz6dfaN5yUjyV6usONPGNYFF23xLEnVeNddmHy-3HTZLrmW6k1Rs6csxHqU9YG41O_294QRJhr6un5qEbn7/s2048/IMG_1568.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib3L4UYtWCAlPyaJIEzOGoz_Dig0odz0m8yMFzlrrZZ8rt4r_8I6XBPNeVydz6dfaN5yUjyV6usONPGNYFF23xLEnVeNddmHy-3HTZLrmW6k1Rs6csxHqU9YG41O_294QRJhr6un5qEbn7/w625-h469/IMG_1568.JPG" width="625" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The summit is the left most point with the snow<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div>As you can see from the picture below, the scree filled gully wasn't too steep. We picked our way through the rock, trying to find some that wouldn't slide. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirMEry0xoaWt_f1KcnZ-7pTyXHeL4Jq25CDTjXUTCxQoPCZzTQ9pPxJNrtZM3NymRXQd1O5bF9045wyVnHUVnWzCRYDDl11TYW7fMXp06omWxGoL4PZFJPbxNkB2Fw4nUustkxvzfnKRZ4/s2048/IMG_1569.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirMEry0xoaWt_f1KcnZ-7pTyXHeL4Jq25CDTjXUTCxQoPCZzTQ9pPxJNrtZM3NymRXQd1O5bF9045wyVnHUVnWzCRYDDl11TYW7fMXp06omWxGoL4PZFJPbxNkB2Fw4nUustkxvzfnKRZ4/w625-h469/IMG_1569.JPG" width="625" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjISsmV-UdAfGtFFTh87Z6Bi7xuCvzxdKFlE5avzrqWk6nLkowIKOvXU8T1-Nhjk73hNeMJfhJtLJVz3-yCla9UOBZmcZCEqFhwRNL5bUDUsgl24vw6Oa5sS_p6xeuYixEQxTvLAL9TLCWz/s2048/IMG_1573.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="781" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjISsmV-UdAfGtFFTh87Z6Bi7xuCvzxdKFlE5avzrqWk6nLkowIKOvXU8T1-Nhjk73hNeMJfhJtLJVz3-yCla9UOBZmcZCEqFhwRNL5bUDUsgl24vw6Oa5sS_p6xeuYixEQxTvLAL9TLCWz/w586-h781/IMG_1573.JPG" width="586" /></a></div><div><br /></div>We reached the 11,936 foot summit a little before 1PM, for a 5 hour ascent. Other than some wind, the weather was perfect.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Q0Z9dGl241dmq7IfrwP45xMsYjyCE0STRLTQtQ-uWr3SPp9iChHHAfe4gw6L_pnn3EBTwYHBtJvbYLfVNao_VwCrL65DZByJhA3PjzXHUj9B1Xxz7Q9BSvv5SzUY3HG9_KQ5G5hlnei2/s2048/IMG_1582.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Q0Z9dGl241dmq7IfrwP45xMsYjyCE0STRLTQtQ-uWr3SPp9iChHHAfe4gw6L_pnn3EBTwYHBtJvbYLfVNao_VwCrL65DZByJhA3PjzXHUj9B1Xxz7Q9BSvv5SzUY3HG9_KQ5G5hlnei2/s320/IMG_1582.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We had some lunch and perused the register, seeing names of old friends.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfoV2gdjR0KDKrVZGmTJUDL0fviAQgIbNhWNdT1fXzrICddxpoW9TKdYbncmNxzIVPFwUAaL-d7ySbSvxu7Say45p3VIq2cvBoQHKWNHCKo2NhtngQCa48S9BjQD4h28zSaNxnHi2lZSwd/s5184/IMG_1583.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfoV2gdjR0KDKrVZGmTJUDL0fviAQgIbNhWNdT1fXzrICddxpoW9TKdYbncmNxzIVPFwUAaL-d7ySbSvxu7Say45p3VIq2cvBoQHKWNHCKo2NhtngQCa48S9BjQD4h28zSaNxnHi2lZSwd/w400-h300/IMG_1583.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeTwC4MxhtCrvMvxgVHpGGZJAzduU6p1WK9jP7RY99hwW_Q1X3CgdYHUFwnf_BUEXPReEgdq23v19JbxLHtElCOKtqqtYNQ-xbpJr5XJycX3by4_MSqDiQRmet-hvwnlSdhn91Sl08DWtC/s2048/IMG_1584.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeTwC4MxhtCrvMvxgVHpGGZJAzduU6p1WK9jP7RY99hwW_Q1X3CgdYHUFwnf_BUEXPReEgdq23v19JbxLHtElCOKtqqtYNQ-xbpJr5XJycX3by4_MSqDiQRmet-hvwnlSdhn91Sl08DWtC/w625-h469/IMG_1584.JPG" width="625" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">North Face of Mt Idaho<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />After an extended break on the summit, we re-traced our route back to the saddle talking about how to get through the rock bands. Rather than follow our ascent we opted to stay to our right and luckily found a steep, loose (i.e. sketchy) chute that dropped us just where we wanted to be. Gotta like it when that works out!<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEIJj3KJ9vLNmu0tt00OPuF7W0mMEsW8ikhG0BB1K7Zd-y1AM9oobac6BxWFq9fZmeE04M2tOS58FAGcytqojRV5foFboMT8NMwpaRhgSgzGVWxZzlDY1OU0viLO6jLHUNu3ru-_EjBD-1/s2048/IMG_1585.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEIJj3KJ9vLNmu0tt00OPuF7W0mMEsW8ikhG0BB1K7Zd-y1AM9oobac6BxWFq9fZmeE04M2tOS58FAGcytqojRV5foFboMT8NMwpaRhgSgzGVWxZzlDY1OU0viLO6jLHUNu3ru-_EjBD-1/w781-h586/IMG_1585.JPG" width="781" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michael trying to not slide down the sketchy chute<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />As we made our way back through the green meadow area we came upon a herd of Bighorn sheep. There were close to 40 of them and they did not mind posing for a few pictures.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOBFCqRXT4h79u4ACR3JXg439KCpT0AlPDpUmk9v44bKMLwrb5dsQdegh3otDsbCkk0l4rmWi5RT98unb9eT-NX9ArgEo4P4LFhyphenhyphenJW-ezNTbngodLRy3-Atz5H4ufhEm1_y9MKj2LfIJOc/s5184/IMG_1590.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOBFCqRXT4h79u4ACR3JXg439KCpT0AlPDpUmk9v44bKMLwrb5dsQdegh3otDsbCkk0l4rmWi5RT98unb9eT-NX9ArgEo4P4LFhyphenhyphenJW-ezNTbngodLRy3-Atz5H4ufhEm1_y9MKj2LfIJOc/w500-h375/IMG_1590.JPG" width="500" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeCsIcJjFFKU3vmFHjIC7DhRhGYa1_cuv_044lESwUz3auZxpHn6YDMjlNXwmP3_yoM7QeKYPOJjzCcOYJ_tSc2T3BawlfR3N7czDSrRall4I6Qh6KGBq9WdPLl6pMf25YZo1jkX3nCnYD/s2048/IMG_1592.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeCsIcJjFFKU3vmFHjIC7DhRhGYa1_cuv_044lESwUz3auZxpHn6YDMjlNXwmP3_yoM7QeKYPOJjzCcOYJ_tSc2T3BawlfR3N7czDSrRall4I6Qh6KGBq9WdPLl6pMf25YZo1jkX3nCnYD/w625-h469/IMG_1592.JPG" width="625" /></a></div><div><br /></div>After spending way too much time with the sheep, we hiked past Merriam Lake and continued down the trail to camp.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3koIQP-EkSdO8CPt9G0F8P-KyAKCamh_BKbgo6hkuLAa5IaCpqUlLmPNWbeIzaJ513WCye0lF-Xl_C-FtSV31kYBUmJiJ3DqahSfcBrhI-u4i9vFh0R7-Nm_ClkyOMPzh7u-J3TDZd37/s5184/IMG_1596.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3koIQP-EkSdO8CPt9G0F8P-KyAKCamh_BKbgo6hkuLAa5IaCpqUlLmPNWbeIzaJ513WCye0lF-Xl_C-FtSV31kYBUmJiJ3DqahSfcBrhI-u4i9vFh0R7-Nm_ClkyOMPzh7u-J3TDZd37/w625-h469/IMG_1596.JPG" width="625" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last look at Mt. Idaho<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Stats:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Distance - 8.9 miles</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Elevation Gain - 4200 feet</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Time - 10 hours car to car</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Back at camp, I cooked up some <i>In the Wild Chef </i>Spaghetti Carbonara with Italian sausage. What a great way to finish off the day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Monday July 13</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Monday morning was a carbon copy of Sunday morning - clear, relatively cool and beautiful. We were both feeling a little fatigued, but nothing that some breakfast cake and coffee couldn't fix. Our goal for today was Merriam Lake Peak, aka Merriam's Pinnacle, aka, Peak 11,180. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwrPDLYjYJUudD7Ty6hUvI4731meaBOU9BshJ6iwbONGzIMeSE7nLERGLEq_Va6R5Hh5LlWuAmGcuh2ld7KNYE8F-7FNh1TYe94TSerspt9hAioWWcrPIOmGVsvyZyDUMoHwSY7KILQE5f/s2048/IMG_1537.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwrPDLYjYJUudD7Ty6hUvI4731meaBOU9BshJ6iwbONGzIMeSE7nLERGLEq_Va6R5Hh5LlWuAmGcuh2ld7KNYE8F-7FNh1TYe94TSerspt9hAioWWcrPIOmGVsvyZyDUMoHwSY7KILQE5f/w625-h469/IMG_1537.JPG" width="625" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Merriam's Pinnacle from Sunday morning</td></tr></tbody></table><br />We had some beta - "after a while leave the trail, bushwhack to the base of the mountain, climb, find a gully with stunted trees and get to the summit." This lack of detail made for a great adventure.</div><div><br /></div><div>We weren't quite as energetic as the previous two days as we headed up the Pass Lake trail. After a while we decided to cut right and find the base of the peak. Luckily we found a nice elk trail that bypassed the majority of the deadfall. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBlLC2j9TeyhJOqkD56T1IH2tKU9SgAtBmLFI_FtY3Ktod8V6VjBnR-ah081MD_8oYFKxmTIOSU7-Wy5ZUAtpIz2c437KyQIK60gW9Y51pA_dTsP8bqnZKkKgm49CboSgj5NByifGyz-Hv/s2048/IMG_1600.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBlLC2j9TeyhJOqkD56T1IH2tKU9SgAtBmLFI_FtY3Ktod8V6VjBnR-ah081MD_8oYFKxmTIOSU7-Wy5ZUAtpIz2c437KyQIK60gW9Y51pA_dTsP8bqnZKkKgm49CboSgj5NByifGyz-Hv/w625-h469/IMG_1600.JPG" width="625" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A portion of our route<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Once at the base, we started up the very steep slope until we were blocked by the steep rock. We picked a narrow chute, and utilizing a couple of veggie belays, pulled our way.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM7KELpZiWxcuClwfyVl_uqGGg5HyHkPL87B1Y0pfse-a6zC9gB6ykxeZs6ExigPhewsiQ2v9_8PTmiLOH14m4O6EgDtoXdJHDUVurHWp-U7X8dfaUlb0CgQya2FYyfYNC58Tnj12sThE4/s2048/IMG_1602.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="625" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM7KELpZiWxcuClwfyVl_uqGGg5HyHkPL87B1Y0pfse-a6zC9gB6ykxeZs6ExigPhewsiQ2v9_8PTmiLOH14m4O6EgDtoXdJHDUVurHWp-U7X8dfaUlb0CgQya2FYyfYNC58Tnj12sThE4/w469-h625/IMG_1602.JPG" width="469" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michael enjoying the steepness with Leatherman in the background <br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />After a bit, the slope opened up and we could almost see our summit. Or at least we thought we could.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh43AkMoOVIip4WaD7vyAyt8RFyCmJrOsAab7oCt0nbQ2HE4tMyUn7qyiYj2v8nY1FtCVqC_LCultOMr8_s95UT7WQfdKPoLMzM31NuXcZzMDKt35Oy48H1BSNam9IvE6CXYh3ASJNvXaoX/s2048/IMG_1603.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh43AkMoOVIip4WaD7vyAyt8RFyCmJrOsAab7oCt0nbQ2HE4tMyUn7qyiYj2v8nY1FtCVqC_LCultOMr8_s95UT7WQfdKPoLMzM31NuXcZzMDKt35Oy48H1BSNam9IvE6CXYh3ASJNvXaoX/w625-h469/IMG_1603.JPG" width="625" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqh635MxZHG5pspeJjSyeVSmOyuumbES8donaewk4xfBGzDeBn9K2g8FzmiDNR05S-A3z-Yit-7a6FOYFSE3DnmdihUuIs_32xj20DjYn-12mWykRayvbBAK9Rfcxix2WtuA4wWTsJLRmD/s2048/IMG_1605.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqh635MxZHG5pspeJjSyeVSmOyuumbES8donaewk4xfBGzDeBn9K2g8FzmiDNR05S-A3z-Yit-7a6FOYFSE3DnmdihUuIs_32xj20DjYn-12mWykRayvbBAK9Rfcxix2WtuA4wWTsJLRmD/w625-h469/IMG_1605.JPG" width="625" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKM_Idk-USGfy4z43NVP1TyKiA-MzOUl6-W2PnqhR6nGvmAwapPkYY3fXZWQ5SKuw7tEnXonOcNTPIkKh8h7ixLU-Y7JIhxPpERuTtzWEg3GUne3BydP3Jw0qb19MxIs6GADvLU7DnYL2p/s2048/IMG_1606.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKM_Idk-USGfy4z43NVP1TyKiA-MzOUl6-W2PnqhR6nGvmAwapPkYY3fXZWQ5SKuw7tEnXonOcNTPIkKh8h7ixLU-Y7JIhxPpERuTtzWEg3GUne3BydP3Jw0qb19MxIs6GADvLU7DnYL2p/w625-h469/IMG_1606.JPG" width="625" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After reaching the main ridge we started sidehilling to bypass a large gendarme. Eventually we reached the "gully with the stunted trees." At least we thought we did.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0mQFS4MyjFIbDZrJjK7QloR5T6B_8WytmttN3xsFbCgLH4p2NyeOnU_CVMHozuZGYep9L1pd8ZqIBvHUfKl8pUjzFs8h8Lrvock83ump_D-EMmSUgQC4nuNcOBkGh3OhFi_famwRmvwyz/s5184/IMG_1609.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0mQFS4MyjFIbDZrJjK7QloR5T6B_8WytmttN3xsFbCgLH4p2NyeOnU_CVMHozuZGYep9L1pd8ZqIBvHUfKl8pUjzFs8h8Lrvock83ump_D-EMmSUgQC4nuNcOBkGh3OhFi_famwRmvwyz/w625-h469/IMG_1609.JPG" width="625" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gully with stunted trees<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After carefully working our way up the gully, we reached the main ridge at roughly 11,114 feet, but couldn't see the actual summit. From our view of Merriam's Pinacle the day before, we knew that there were several summits, with the tallest being the farthest from our current position. Hmmm.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuzCUmXAQDcn7v6bXh3yNW469bCpBK0vpXTL6MrCYGmYSjfHSREX7c-vYRznDhnVRB-i6MghHmtOoFGwHlmZsUiGl7eSm5YFnYBjH6577b56ZyCX_wt7bjRA2drxtoxiICjPqFg2rbN3Ev/s2048/IMG_1616.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuzCUmXAQDcn7v6bXh3yNW469bCpBK0vpXTL6MrCYGmYSjfHSREX7c-vYRznDhnVRB-i6MghHmtOoFGwHlmZsUiGl7eSm5YFnYBjH6577b56ZyCX_wt7bjRA2drxtoxiICjPqFg2rbN3Ev/w625-h469/IMG_1616.JPG" width="625" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The summit's back there somewhere<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>I jumped up on the rotten ridge and started across. After 10 or so feet I needed to downclimb to get to the next section. At this point I wasn't feeling too confident. The rock was rotten, the exposure was big, and I was tired. I looked back at Michael and knew that this route was a no-go. So I carefully reversed course and we slowly downclimbed to where we could make a steep sidehill traverse.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnmOvVrGoTqVGEujHrHeFCexMeMkcJO43ZoTkD8JhDxx2aVZBgDLD7KNA8Vvpba1ngaKvCROXkRKZyt_gKv2PL7c5PXksatRn1OWTLFEHXgniqW9mO8CD72bHxEVgimXkVymX0UnvsMPfq/s2048/IMG_1617.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnmOvVrGoTqVGEujHrHeFCexMeMkcJO43ZoTkD8JhDxx2aVZBgDLD7KNA8Vvpba1ngaKvCROXkRKZyt_gKv2PL7c5PXksatRn1OWTLFEHXgniqW9mO8CD72bHxEVgimXkVymX0UnvsMPfq/w500-h375/IMG_1617.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More sketchy sidehilling<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Michael led the way across some extremely rotten, loose rock that at times was too close to the edge of some large cliffs. After the long traverse we headed up and arrived at the other side of the summit ridge. From here it was a walk up to the summit.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDbcoMWuOaon8jZeX-5u3opJ6rGXIXOFZNuY_bwfKPviQlUirEjNuOVaSOpLEKy4uXioEQ6agbapklmoP-XQ2XpC2yZC6XOWid1fISt-4H3bwIoKDvy4JmraW1ybc6rizW0TvA4iKIAoUT/s5184/IMG_1625.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDbcoMWuOaon8jZeX-5u3opJ6rGXIXOFZNuY_bwfKPviQlUirEjNuOVaSOpLEKy4uXioEQ6agbapklmoP-XQ2XpC2yZC6XOWid1fISt-4H3bwIoKDvy4JmraW1ybc6rizW0TvA4iKIAoUT/w625-h469/IMG_1625.JPG" width="625" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back side of the summit ridge we didn't take<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0-hO-fYNPrx_euBfv-dZY_bRojZ4uei1BFPOylH7DT1AdChyphenhyphen0sgWXr5j7BZquCDLmWzyiVte5J9yQMfPBgSSUB1mYC52LaLDz5da7K7DPHEpGHDEyTL5wfDYsRE2TOwij1V2gsLwQkXPN/s2048/IMG_1618.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0-hO-fYNPrx_euBfv-dZY_bRojZ4uei1BFPOylH7DT1AdChyphenhyphen0sgWXr5j7BZquCDLmWzyiVte5J9yQMfPBgSSUB1mYC52LaLDz5da7K7DPHEpGHDEyTL5wfDYsRE2TOwij1V2gsLwQkXPN/w625-h469/IMG_1618.JPG" width="625" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Summit shot<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm_yCspR4z6xYmeRjbw5xM51reVBw-a5E3byj_kVgSW-SaPJAyBYsLM5eqjCqr-sceooMlwzqXeC8MIXM6_gcAvI21UBhbof6SxHMwPiGqwnReLEPkdWCVLQKZn18URJ7YZZOytSu-ciuO/s2048/IMG_1621.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1537" data-original-width="2048" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm_yCspR4z6xYmeRjbw5xM51reVBw-a5E3byj_kVgSW-SaPJAyBYsLM5eqjCqr-sceooMlwzqXeC8MIXM6_gcAvI21UBhbof6SxHMwPiGqwnReLEPkdWCVLQKZn18URJ7YZZOytSu-ciuO/w625-h469/IMG_1621.JPG" width="625" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking across the valley to Sacagawea with Mt. Borah in the background<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We searched around for the 1964 summit register that we had read about, but were unable to find it. Considering how few people climb this peak, we were a bit bummed. We had a nervous bite to eat before heading back down.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We carefully reversed our route and breathed a big sigh of relief once we were past the big sketchy sidehill traverse. From there it was just a knee busting descent back to the valley floor.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkCHsyCxvQQp5tPcpHLRDS-L7JJsTyBhYS0wHSbn5fPFGATG82Y1z0vlEAuwzdup2pMW1EzjdQABO4rhqMgvI8uB9caNEbfJ0943RwEzfvWhq4Dku3dx_0rsHVkjV14AEC1e272xgT1pV2/s2048/IMG_1628.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkCHsyCxvQQp5tPcpHLRDS-L7JJsTyBhYS0wHSbn5fPFGATG82Y1z0vlEAuwzdup2pMW1EzjdQABO4rhqMgvI8uB9caNEbfJ0943RwEzfvWhq4Dku3dx_0rsHVkjV14AEC1e272xgT1pV2/w625-h469/IMG_1628.JPG" width="625" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Unfortunately, we were not as lucky on missing the deadfall on the way out. We eventually wandered back into camp. I was one whipped puppy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The statistics do not indicate the difficulty of this climb. It may have been the impact of the previous two days, but this was one exhausting (both physically and mentally) peak.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><b>Stats:</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;">Distance - 5.1 miles</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;">Elevation - 3000 feet</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;">Time - 8.5 hours</span></div><div><br /></div></div><div>Another great multi-day outing with Mr. Pelton!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Fadgen's Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16693548016894583724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308604707301670536.post-8449739006794867562020-07-01T20:30:00.002-06:002020-07-02T09:14:36.414-06:00Another Ruby Mountain Peak - Verdi Peak (11,077')<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A week after my first foray on a Ruby Mountain peak, Dylan and Nicole invited me to join them on a return trip to the Rubies. The plan was, a backpack to Verdi Lake and a climb of Verdi Peak. Rather than an overnighter, I decided to join them for the day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We met up Friday evening at the Star Hotel, in Elko, for a Basque dinner. The 30 odd people standing out front had us thinking of going somewhere else, and the lack of masks convinced us to go. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After a nice meal, at Odeh's Mediterranean, (where most of the patrons had masks), we made the short drive up Lamoille Canyon in the waning light looking for a place to park. We found a relatively level place just off the road and prepared our beds in the back of our respective cars. Ahhh, to live like I'm 20 again! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After a decent night's sleep (I was pleasantly surprised) and a quick breakfast, we were heading up through the thick aspens toward Verdi Peak.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt1Xwqx-GBJjyGoTZZbbOowMv62B1YRe382Qaji4yqlvwDv_8UWvcceAva1TDyfWNFWMmxK-UvdOwZa_XCvANDclwW9-5-vqX6dZPgg68w0eYR2FLVpTBDDeJovVTMejhjuxyWZW0Aopmi/s5184/IMG_1459.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt1Xwqx-GBJjyGoTZZbbOowMv62B1YRe382Qaji4yqlvwDv_8UWvcceAva1TDyfWNFWMmxK-UvdOwZa_XCvANDclwW9-5-vqX6dZPgg68w0eYR2FLVpTBDDeJovVTMejhjuxyWZW0Aopmi/w625-h469/IMG_1459.JPG" width="625" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our route<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-8rvLGgUkqkpcF4doivy_br2levPoEKJzVZdd18iGq-qJ259K2pjYh2og6_cuk5al17ec9447sufSmpnAqgLwnSEMzUN9s1bZfKOXFmYkB0FBco2xuF0DajpExAY3Hn57Z_U3ufEa4Cv3/s5184/IMG_1460.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-8rvLGgUkqkpcF4doivy_br2levPoEKJzVZdd18iGq-qJ259K2pjYh2og6_cuk5al17ec9447sufSmpnAqgLwnSEMzUN9s1bZfKOXFmYkB0FBco2xuF0DajpExAY3Hn57Z_U3ufEa4Cv3/w500-h375/IMG_1460.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Active beavers in the area</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdibAZRZDhPDkr8MPENwJLJtSSAs8xJx-SYlxesnrvxPa_KlwrJIVl6CwcFV6D5uSlEdr1WMwqldBQkSxIW12X0canbQSJ0TPNgTJfNNXHhMjdo-25cic3lCNjcyWi5y4UbER5ZE1wKXIE/s5184/IMG_1461.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdibAZRZDhPDkr8MPENwJLJtSSAs8xJx-SYlxesnrvxPa_KlwrJIVl6CwcFV6D5uSlEdr1WMwqldBQkSxIW12X0canbQSJ0TPNgTJfNNXHhMjdo-25cic3lCNjcyWi5y4UbER5ZE1wKXIE/w625-h469/IMG_1461.JPG" width="625" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "trail" was slightly brushy<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Once through the aspens, the going steepened as we picked our way through the sagebrush and slide alder.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCyvnrce4Uy4a3wNfG24dlXbsFdljI15oEE1oZj9wnFoNWLLDFMzvgDZZ7BHAFIqxUS3ivp5DLNDm7BU6d73KWaWgSczKaabv7-CGgmZZry4gVuG5hqToQ5CUPvklmuQhEGfYlJ4bBZK-Q/s5184/IMG_1462.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCyvnrce4Uy4a3wNfG24dlXbsFdljI15oEE1oZj9wnFoNWLLDFMzvgDZZ7BHAFIqxUS3ivp5DLNDm7BU6d73KWaWgSczKaabv7-CGgmZZry4gVuG5hqToQ5CUPvklmuQhEGfYlJ4bBZK-Q/w625-h469/IMG_1462.JPG" width="625" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTasu_BPqNcHWxAvsJO3yZXvbZaVLomDTg0Psw4LOxXfekbqcnTbnOtnvv2oFdqdbXoU-Uz_ixr9xAbfUgtYgLPi1hGb2L83KfKahzK4WIGzgt207gcRwnZI-0B_yySV2iwNRfTPiR5jfn/s5184/IMG_1463.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTasu_BPqNcHWxAvsJO3yZXvbZaVLomDTg0Psw4LOxXfekbqcnTbnOtnvv2oFdqdbXoU-Uz_ixr9xAbfUgtYgLPi1hGb2L83KfKahzK4WIGzgt207gcRwnZI-0B_yySV2iwNRfTPiR5jfn/w625-h469/IMG_1463.JPG" width="625" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The head of Lamoille Canyon<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>We continued Northeast, gaining altitude quickly. It was steep! I was glad Dylan and Nicole had backpacks, as it allowed me to stay close to them. That or they just slowed down to make the old guy feel good.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEl403JDjb2ML_rrHOmHaxG3wpFtNQjv4bFegCVYVmSNB1RkTKr45hfNmhIMx5CCnQmg302kQMVj7sL10xfqyMw47DJWld1jdOAUVzAstWQvkU_Q3dEsfa2I4gl_3yJAjF4aF1dKc25IrG/s5184/IMG_1467.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5184" data-original-width="3888" height="625" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEl403JDjb2ML_rrHOmHaxG3wpFtNQjv4bFegCVYVmSNB1RkTKr45hfNmhIMx5CCnQmg302kQMVj7sL10xfqyMw47DJWld1jdOAUVzAstWQvkU_Q3dEsfa2I4gl_3yJAjF4aF1dKc25IrG/w469-h625/IMG_1467.JPG" width="469" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The granite made for easy walking<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>We hit our first ridge at 9900 feet and stopped for a quick break to discuss the route and soak in the amazing views.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijbA-pkxGFJxzcsOBv4JOWXFJlTHL5HqO8ktTPskHo3b01O6LM0pTjWtPJmBrEeR4J-W0NrlpFdLLltyFmj29mzvAGG1RntqI6G1QG8Z56XEmr8pFMUm74KPe39p6zHmfeihvlMzlYgyDZ/s5184/IMG_1473.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijbA-pkxGFJxzcsOBv4JOWXFJlTHL5HqO8ktTPskHo3b01O6LM0pTjWtPJmBrEeR4J-W0NrlpFdLLltyFmj29mzvAGG1RntqI6G1QG8Z56XEmr8pFMUm74KPe39p6zHmfeihvlMzlYgyDZ/w781-h586/IMG_1473.JPG" width="781" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back up Lamoille Canyon<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUHvv7h_I-4Cz5o3kEBONUVOBKYxU8mq_v0Gu9nQlAafW0CgLdzhabKts_tmmEx2escE_YJoyyxd5uCQi1IrVkmwadbCmy9PWTGg0Xh9ds7XeKFxdPD8JFoee8cJ7MhYRnOGGKvLMKR7V0/s5184/IMG_1474.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5184" data-original-width="3888" height="625" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUHvv7h_I-4Cz5o3kEBONUVOBKYxU8mq_v0Gu9nQlAafW0CgLdzhabKts_tmmEx2escE_YJoyyxd5uCQi1IrVkmwadbCmy9PWTGg0Xh9ds7XeKFxdPD8JFoee8cJ7MhYRnOGGKvLMKR7V0/w469-h625/IMG_1474.JPG" width="469" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And back down the canyon<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />We continued angling upward along the base of Verdi Peak to the 10,800' saddle above Verdi Lake.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhra_gSv4AV-dCu7AwAhZF3jQgy6Wum8PYZPG35UyskM1Jz_Xvq-15AYWVxPjQcR7Hd9QeLrMtirZVa2t4dSpSm51aqiZKAj5jbcO7ISNm2v9zcL7UIZugNE1MeWcOySASO3ST-wyFLeJrQ/s5184/IMG_1475.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5184" data-original-width="3888" height="625" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhra_gSv4AV-dCu7AwAhZF3jQgy6Wum8PYZPG35UyskM1Jz_Xvq-15AYWVxPjQcR7Hd9QeLrMtirZVa2t4dSpSm51aqiZKAj5jbcO7ISNm2v9zcL7UIZugNE1MeWcOySASO3ST-wyFLeJrQ/w469-h625/IMG_1475.JPG" width="469" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of Verdi Peak's summits<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBguOUgOFiOaN7NG-6FcZsS5HJ6Qhp2Wkh9BTaerTrTh7n-FL0H3mATmCKwmX4lXc2my82Nzg0gvXff_wyA6sAD0_NKsMQ0at-Fwb9AXivBLaJHwldtFvsonLm5X5B-TIexjBlWc5VJOuy/s4618/IMG_0494.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3464" data-original-width="4618" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBguOUgOFiOaN7NG-6FcZsS5HJ6Qhp2Wkh9BTaerTrTh7n-FL0H3mATmCKwmX4lXc2my82Nzg0gvXff_wyA6sAD0_NKsMQ0at-Fwb9AXivBLaJHwldtFvsonLm5X5B-TIexjBlWc5VJOuy/w640-h480/IMG_0494.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me picking my way toward the saddle (DFadgen photo)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Once at the saddle, we dropped our packs and continued up toward the summit.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Haa7-EhP_CIYF3l5TDmSmNpwM7iSAteYwsip-m21b3fgMnKl8qp3c2fLlUAJqGmpDV8SzbL8hkThZxw6N9b0Ql6BBlz775CtXT2IMWvs49aFTTLMA8IbDg-Ls1pOGxirQbMT2oesIKrh/s5184/IMG_1480.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Haa7-EhP_CIYF3l5TDmSmNpwM7iSAteYwsip-m21b3fgMnKl8qp3c2fLlUAJqGmpDV8SzbL8hkThZxw6N9b0Ql6BBlz775CtXT2IMWvs49aFTTLMA8IbDg-Ls1pOGxirQbMT2oesIKrh/w625-h469/IMG_1480.JPG" width="625" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nicole enjoying the view while Dylan checks the rock quality<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS2zkdPzx17xXuP2daS7Npx-o259eBQsU_9AsDI2ldcAa0qotWSgYtvSm5sbhhEm_k1IjYvoyoOCw0DFER70a5jtJL3zRc-3oFleOt37lshZVNr4HzbFszw9Zj8VTTvFoWQ9pQ-YqiNfZj/s5184/IMG_1481.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS2zkdPzx17xXuP2daS7Npx-o259eBQsU_9AsDI2ldcAa0qotWSgYtvSm5sbhhEm_k1IjYvoyoOCw0DFER70a5jtJL3zRc-3oFleOt37lshZVNr4HzbFszw9Zj8VTTvFoWQ9pQ-YqiNfZj/w500-h375/IMG_1481.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nicole heading up.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>We stopped at the closest (Northern) summit first and carefully climbed the exposed summit block. From this vantage point, the southern summit looked slightly higher so we walked over and scrambled up it as well. From this vantage point the Northern summit looked higher...</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmTEmJ6vxvJd0GsdRmAUgEoktwUWfc4Fqj0NYtsYC20vJSFJDJje_ZcpmxCDzwsAvPmIxhrSBV3siAbyN_CJyWYvJnIlgVn7So1qWYg5KGIPhn0rFukfS8N3RDhyHNaJCri9VAzzFnLJMW/s3245/IMG_1491.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2444" data-original-width="3245" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmTEmJ6vxvJd0GsdRmAUgEoktwUWfc4Fqj0NYtsYC20vJSFJDJje_ZcpmxCDzwsAvPmIxhrSBV3siAbyN_CJyWYvJnIlgVn7So1qWYg5KGIPhn0rFukfS8N3RDhyHNaJCri9VAzzFnLJMW/w625-h470/IMG_1491.JPG" width="625" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A little shaky here (DFadgen photo)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDSBx8jQOFyjgiFVpF2Z_SnYJXJ_gsyQjrrHO2a8wxGXID8sFb5YT4RJ_05JQEX_HZ0cwf-ezxh5qggQb2DnCKg6MnpAJ8JJjH6JPB0UJ3HNs6cbk4NeqxnLdSluCscTalNDklMtL5GhOO/s5184/IMG_1495.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDSBx8jQOFyjgiFVpF2Z_SnYJXJ_gsyQjrrHO2a8wxGXID8sFb5YT4RJ_05JQEX_HZ0cwf-ezxh5qggQb2DnCKg6MnpAJ8JJjH6JPB0UJ3HNs6cbk4NeqxnLdSluCscTalNDklMtL5GhOO/w640-h480/IMG_1495.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Southern summit Splattski<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />After a short time enjoying the summit views, we climbed back down to our packs and then picked our way down to Verdi lake. Surprisingly, there was no one else at the lake. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgJQyNs4-CsNyiLHxp00XZL7TyuTzx3iOhRuAhEEhb5m6_aZAhnWIJcZ272htjgBxK6mUQ0dD3XOplhWNl8QM2rWY519250M6ZC8liX5ZTAi6ZygFWOql2s-yqmXV5-JYZlFy9LqaC2XfH/s5184/IMG_1498.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgJQyNs4-CsNyiLHxp00XZL7TyuTzx3iOhRuAhEEhb5m6_aZAhnWIJcZ272htjgBxK6mUQ0dD3XOplhWNl8QM2rWY519250M6ZC8liX5ZTAi6ZygFWOql2s-yqmXV5-JYZlFy9LqaC2XfH/w781-h586/IMG_1498.JPG" width="781" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Once at the lake, Dylan pulled out the two fishing poles he'd brought and quickly set them up. After all, the two of them were planning on spending the night and needed something for dinner.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">While the two of them fished, I wandered around a bit before kicking back to watch. After a while Dylan caught a nice trout on his fly rod. He mentioned that it was probably the biggest high mountain lake trout he'd ever caught, but I think this trout from Goat Lake in 2007 might be as big. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi73C4Y-AAZ6aQb3wVyrJ2469EBv5a8Z0vsAVYIPyblnd4SX-Mh5a68Q-UrQwM_en9VBhO6QpS5vxj3rzHJs0We29FQb1B2p4flBRcyBwOg4kHv9dqEKAQDJBMPampl2aa5UVu5YU0QYTH5/s1417/IMG_1159-COLLAGE.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1417" data-original-width="1064" height="781" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi73C4Y-AAZ6aQb3wVyrJ2469EBv5a8Z0vsAVYIPyblnd4SX-Mh5a68Q-UrQwM_en9VBhO6QpS5vxj3rzHJs0We29FQb1B2p4flBRcyBwOg4kHv9dqEKAQDJBMPampl2aa5UVu5YU0QYTH5/w586-h781/IMG_1159-COLLAGE.jpg" width="586" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He hasn't changed a bit!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHORfZDedjoPfmN2GSU-2i2yYq3ky3P5bXdcFroqBTb_Ydf5Mqp1leaXjuvhF6MpaRDDr9sfrLuy31CMCV87PtnoZzbwFMV3JbAWzTTAK5RsrOR5XSGDROPtuTzvuTFPC8ZMSenopLq8xG/s4618/IMG_0525.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4618" data-original-width="3464" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHORfZDedjoPfmN2GSU-2i2yYq3ky3P5bXdcFroqBTb_Ydf5Mqp1leaXjuvhF6MpaRDDr9sfrLuy31CMCV87PtnoZzbwFMV3JbAWzTTAK5RsrOR5XSGDROPtuTzvuTFPC8ZMSenopLq8xG/w480-h640/IMG_0525.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nicole even got in the action. (DFadgen photo)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />After lunch, I bid the two of them goodbye and started back. It didn't take long to climb the 600 feet to the saddle and an hour and a half later I was back at the car enjoying a slightly cold Angel Creek Amber Ale.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgisUB_4nz8IwSFDyHfsdPAMMMvhWtutEu9pQhY9GFqJAQOM1yVqahAuMkfjDVGKgnGmMkJfcNyUauyqvwrRf9qOyNaaFFCNVwi-xsxYVzPzgMWro-hVPJ40eD9TVGOgBweuaqUnRjW_cyJ/s4618/IMG_0505.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3464" data-original-width="4618" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgisUB_4nz8IwSFDyHfsdPAMMMvhWtutEu9pQhY9GFqJAQOM1yVqahAuMkfjDVGKgnGmMkJfcNyUauyqvwrRf9qOyNaaFFCNVwi-xsxYVzPzgMWro-hVPJ40eD9TVGOgBweuaqUnRjW_cyJ/w640-h480/IMG_0505.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back up at Verdi Peak (DFadgen photo)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b>Stats:</b></div><div>Distance: ~ 5 miles</div><div>Elevation: 2700' up, 600' on the return climb<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Fadgen's Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16693548016894583724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308604707301670536.post-76482923577463403182020-06-15T20:49:00.001-06:002020-06-15T20:49:37.322-06:00My First Visit to the Ruby Mountains - Mount Gilbert - 11,120 feetWith the NOAA predicting a 70% chance of precip in the Lost River Range for Saturday, it was time for a change in venue. Michael suggested we head south of Elko to climb in the Ruby Mountains, and with sunny skies predicted Dave and I were in!<br />
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We left Boise at 5AM and did our best to dodge the thunderstorms to the west. With Dave driving, we made the four hour drive to Elko in 3.5 hours. After a quick stop in town, we were soon driving up Lamoille Canyon toward the trailhead. I had last been in the canyon in February of 2018 to ski <a href="http://fadgenfamily.blogspot.com/2018/02/terminal-cancer-couloir.html">Terminal Cancer</a> with Dylan. Though the area was green, the charred, leafless aspens showed the remnants of the fire that had devastated the area in the fall of 2018.<br />
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The skies were relatively clear and the wind was blowing pretty good as we walked the road through the church camp before finding Right Fork of Lamoille Creek trail.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our first view of our peak while approaching the church camp</td></tr>
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Michael hadn't told us much about Mount Gilbert on the drive down, and I was stunned when it came into view. It looked like it was going to be a good day!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beaver ponds in the creek</td></tr>
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We stayed to the left of the creek for a couple of miles until the trail leveled out in the glacial valley. With the wind still howling, we found a spot to cross the creek. Dave hopped across the creek while Michael and I chose to stimulate our lower legs with the snow melt.<br />
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Once across the creek, we just picked a line on climbers left, trying to stay out of the many small waterfalls to our right. The going was steep, and it was a route finder's dream picking our way up through the many rock outcroppings.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michael coming up a steep chute</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dave negotiating the rock outcroppings</td></tr>
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Three hours after starting, we arrived at the upper snowfield, at roughly 10,000', and transitioned to crampons and ice axes. We knew from past trip reports that the "direct route" entailed crossing the snowfield from left to right before heading straight up. And that was just what we did.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Upper snowfield - we crossed just above the trees</td></tr>
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The snow was in good shape for mid June. Though the cool/cold temperatures, stiff wind and now high cloud cover, definitely helped out. It was also surprising steep!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good snow climbing</td></tr>
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After carefully crossing the snow, we removed our crampons and started the scrambling section. I popped over a small rock rib and startled a nanny and kid. They were gracious enough to pose for the camera before walking out of sight.</div>
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Now it was just a matter of picking your line and heading up the remaining 600 feet. Dave and Michael stayed left, while I chose a line to the right. A couple of class 4 moves mixed in with the steady class 3 climbing had me thinking I should have stayed with the others, but I eventually pulled over one last rock and saw Dave standing on the summit. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dave contemplating his next move</td></tr>
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A minute later I was on top enjoying the views. Michael joined up a minute after. Surprisingly, the steady wind we'd had all day had stopped. Michael played name that peak as we sat on top eating lunch. It had taken us a little over 5 hours to reach the summit and I was a bit famished.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Summit Splattski</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeywWKApQ0vK7xQrd2A1q7WYHKAUBAukvA5cSL8fDnbxMiBO9RqIjpdT7fzNdarLU2DUYHlnihrMdZg5kCQPe1epn7BOGzchdkTd4aK-8EJHpb5u5k1pQ1L4gF-V94goSy0xJOhQjHgtL-/s1600/IMG_1449.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeywWKApQ0vK7xQrd2A1q7WYHKAUBAukvA5cSL8fDnbxMiBO9RqIjpdT7fzNdarLU2DUYHlnihrMdZg5kCQPe1epn7BOGzchdkTd4aK-8EJHpb5u5k1pQ1L4gF-V94goSy0xJOhQjHgtL-/s640/IMG_1449.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mt Fitzgerald and Snow Lake Peak (along with a few more)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCgGEnRrvy7hLn7zd1zqhqZ6RL763vtNlTagVH6HuNwxjItQfeUbR4ldX-SFCh3KaNCvdhRCd7TnOq64l1_bebLCxRm_29tXJe72plDl7gCAVH4ue9r20-jb-4baZ3d-Rt24XFCKoOW78k/s1600/IMG_1451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCgGEnRrvy7hLn7zd1zqhqZ6RL763vtNlTagVH6HuNwxjItQfeUbR4ldX-SFCh3KaNCvdhRCd7TnOq64l1_bebLCxRm_29tXJe72plDl7gCAVH4ue9r20-jb-4baZ3d-Rt24XFCKoOW78k/s640/IMG_1451.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seitz Lake with the town of Spring Creek on the valley floor</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Since neither Dave nor I had been in the Ruby Mountains, we were stunned by the beauty and number of peaks. Then, as if on cue, the wind started blowing again and it was time to head down.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7qy8sJHNAfguzVoY-Xa2K4buumjXZBGdV1_NPtC11RIt6QsES9idqYNizRujAS_xrsl9yudg_mcWeSyhZd1YqLAjnSdR_JBjQ5veVNQv7J7Ex-iHTr7MKKxluuA4VTO5zHp5hZyHSxIA9/s1600/IMG_1455.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7qy8sJHNAfguzVoY-Xa2K4buumjXZBGdV1_NPtC11RIt6QsES9idqYNizRujAS_xrsl9yudg_mcWeSyhZd1YqLAjnSdR_JBjQ5veVNQv7J7Ex-iHTr7MKKxluuA4VTO5zHp5hZyHSxIA9/s640/IMG_1455.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carefully heading down</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Going down took about as long as going up. We had to carefully pick our way down the class 3 rocks, walk down the steep snowfield, and then continue down the rock outcroppings all the while trying to stay erect.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
We all breathed sighs of relief when we made it back to the creek.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQXc3wPrP-QUkXd8dAfsj27gremOlRNFo7_-PutaD_zpZ7vhi6y7uMnt3dafU-WhzNt1WdmuCQaYV-eH0KMoInewxf5zAP11xTa-z8WpGBO8KWReQU7BeSStCDqb2hM_ylCgo5Ag30mOdt/s1600/Summit+Route.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1198" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQXc3wPrP-QUkXd8dAfsj27gremOlRNFo7_-PutaD_zpZ7vhi6y7uMnt3dafU-WhzNt1WdmuCQaYV-eH0KMoInewxf5zAP11xTa-z8WpGBO8KWReQU7BeSStCDqb2hM_ylCgo5Ag30mOdt/s640/Summit+Route.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our route up</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
This one had it all - beaver ponds, mountain goats, a creek crossing, steep/solid rock, snow climbing and good friends!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Dave's trip report can be found <a href="http://idahoalpinezone.com/index.php?p=4_198">here</a>.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Stats:</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Distance: 9 miles</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Elevation: 4400 feet</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Time: 9 hours car-car</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
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Fadgen's Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16693548016894583724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308604707301670536.post-75735520570631394032020-05-17T20:41:00.001-06:002020-05-17T20:41:20.143-06:00White Knob PeaksWith a great NOAA forecast for Saturday, Michael and I decided to climb a couple of obscure White Knob 10K foot peaks - White Knob and South White Knob. The road up Alder Creek was in good shape and we were making good time, until we hit a patch of Qwyhee gumbo at 7800'. Unable to proceed without traction, we gently slid back into a "parking spot". Might as well start walking, perhaps it will be dry when we return.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWLaF_Wq5FqAT3sZ4NR5z1tbjuVsqUJWmfhRxEjeq-0x1K0kwDkpvvH2u4Bp63lnIkQUzhDMkn4kDiyDB4CHs_yOx3L1ZC1urAbwTaBPIdgyYzAqbqARXvc_tfw_jKcH6akgYBc8Z7qkiV/s1600/IMG_1236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="907" data-original-width="1600" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWLaF_Wq5FqAT3sZ4NR5z1tbjuVsqUJWmfhRxEjeq-0x1K0kwDkpvvH2u4Bp63lnIkQUzhDMkn4kDiyDB4CHs_yOx3L1ZC1urAbwTaBPIdgyYzAqbqARXvc_tfw_jKcH6akgYBc8Z7qkiV/s640/IMG_1236.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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We followed the road up until it split and decided to go left, up Stewart Canyon. It wasn't long before we could no longer skirt the snow patches in the road and had to walk over them. Ahhh, let the postholing begin! With our snowshoes back in the truck, we decided to forego the pain of knee deep snow. So, we crossed the creek and headed up to gain the ridge that would take us to our first objective - "South White Knob".<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUbGZb5QSeo8bubzEef0iSrNjz-3og1I1Y8VRnLZcDa_07Y5A4wjR0b6nJX1QQ_YvFQZMsrsTvFHdVoNOItYjFFpUnL1DeLYwaviHabY-p_6B1JkqDyWYRwOmXap85dnNeebrl9q0Xb7B3/s1600/IMG_1237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUbGZb5QSeo8bubzEef0iSrNjz-3og1I1Y8VRnLZcDa_07Y5A4wjR0b6nJX1QQ_YvFQZMsrsTvFHdVoNOItYjFFpUnL1DeLYwaviHabY-p_6B1JkqDyWYRwOmXap85dnNeebrl9q0Xb7B3/s640/IMG_1237.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">South White Knob on the left</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-uxb2wY5WbbyRPI2vYVM5UyEMCxCxJzTxnufoa52sP-cFO2y6LY8QxqSYcrXNtgtT2VOJW-Aj5yHVOuKRW4VHnz12Me75pF2mFSLFiqamPCAs1VPZYecA8AiAtTb-SHx-oQHTzBXXqYJf/s1600/IMG_1239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-uxb2wY5WbbyRPI2vYVM5UyEMCxCxJzTxnufoa52sP-cFO2y6LY8QxqSYcrXNtgtT2VOJW-Aj5yHVOuKRW4VHnz12Me75pF2mFSLFiqamPCAs1VPZYecA8AiAtTb-SHx-oQHTzBXXqYJf/s640/IMG_1239.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our route to gain the ridge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There was a fresh dusting of snow covering everything, but we didn't let that stop us as we moved through the aspen thickets only to be confronted with thick Mahogany. Luckily, we found a game trail that angled up through the tangle of Mahogany, which eventually led us to the rocky ridge.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8vFBbWBwet4UXUR7cZ3YZoDNK_j3i9f89Orufxs0YEwobkrQHcFzY5c8NYcCf7EIfPem3eqEiwxgpbdjIduUKOkVmjNlkSxT8MAahcfgvJx1-AnbJv8sYQ6omRnvMsGphJlto6s0c8h6a/s1600/IMG_1240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8vFBbWBwet4UXUR7cZ3YZoDNK_j3i9f89Orufxs0YEwobkrQHcFzY5c8NYcCf7EIfPem3eqEiwxgpbdjIduUKOkVmjNlkSxT8MAahcfgvJx1-AnbJv8sYQ6omRnvMsGphJlto6s0c8h6a/s640/IMG_1240.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taking a break in the Mahogany</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhiuC8XCKjUYm-kpiq2vKvaTBHuiShHlskut_jk8W7CBuv7wqNRNLsgA4knCnZt2OEvghx2FHvRa8Mwmb2jTDGkHp4HmpGUKK_Pt_c0VBq5Mzx5aOmXdgRbhbugWZ6foUmdQ6UhGBpj4fT/s1600/IMG_1244.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhiuC8XCKjUYm-kpiq2vKvaTBHuiShHlskut_jk8W7CBuv7wqNRNLsgA4knCnZt2OEvghx2FHvRa8Mwmb2jTDGkHp4HmpGUKK_Pt_c0VBq5Mzx5aOmXdgRbhbugWZ6foUmdQ6UhGBpj4fT/s640/IMG_1244.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Once we gained the ridge at 9100', we had clear sailing. No more Mahogany and the snow was supportive.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbr9gX8yR1Ui4OI5SlWFpe8CO5GqbeMIEQGJWG5YKVx-YRHrJvoQDe5cTsJzBdd5LPpIzo-Wc_mnQ80rqT9lOFwQucmf_IB9aFWCvEzbQLhSwOM8udz8_Lty58Sozn_JaNHVrlSOqsYkdf/s1600/IMG_1246.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbr9gX8yR1Ui4OI5SlWFpe8CO5GqbeMIEQGJWG5YKVx-YRHrJvoQDe5cTsJzBdd5LPpIzo-Wc_mnQ80rqT9lOFwQucmf_IB9aFWCvEzbQLhSwOM8udz8_Lty58Sozn_JaNHVrlSOqsYkdf/s640/IMG_1246.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">South White Knob peeking out</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOGr-93hSOoWbBGisG7vEsrSVM4Xwvl1UNpqHj7xGmcLu8AcJRVOsdWc1m6S88zAVWOBIPBpmjngrQNXaD3PDYEhLKikVjMC3khh0Gpu5fqhDJ5KQySW6U6hTsbZaiAt5h_sGoa3dfc-vs/s1600/IMG_1250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOGr-93hSOoWbBGisG7vEsrSVM4Xwvl1UNpqHj7xGmcLu8AcJRVOsdWc1m6S88zAVWOBIPBpmjngrQNXaD3PDYEhLKikVjMC3khh0Gpu5fqhDJ5KQySW6U6hTsbZaiAt5h_sGoa3dfc-vs/s640/IMG_1250.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michael heading up</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjks7X0wFBsKeQv0ELqfXMNjLhr-chdbPGcGdHtATCuiibDf95XxpEyOizKJqFdFOMAenpg9OOruN9mydEMiyJPhdL-oozraOrCNMhLP6ME29JQsT5tJECH5WTLXTolqm3jeJIs2HeErZxz/s1600/IMG_1252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjks7X0wFBsKeQv0ELqfXMNjLhr-chdbPGcGdHtATCuiibDf95XxpEyOizKJqFdFOMAenpg9OOruN9mydEMiyJPhdL-oozraOrCNMhLP6ME29JQsT5tJECH5WTLXTolqm3jeJIs2HeErZxz/s640/IMG_1252.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The broad ridge to the summit</td></tr>
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A cold wind was blowing on the top of South White Knob so we didn't stop. Just touched the top and dropped down the wide expanse heading toward White Top. Just past the saddle, between our two peaks, we found a spot out of the wind and stopped to have some lunch and gawk at the sights. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI1IVyUhbyYiJVG1141Bto1x9002AHG11MdpXaDTKQnC3OQHUoq226CYWcsPg3u3yMpVoP-MpfPKsXtIfHlrlBuLaKF8L12mDz-c4Pgqzh49EBFOlycvewTqyvC-_RufCTBkNP4QPJk3xw/s1600/IMG_1254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI1IVyUhbyYiJVG1141Bto1x9002AHG11MdpXaDTKQnC3OQHUoq226CYWcsPg3u3yMpVoP-MpfPKsXtIfHlrlBuLaKF8L12mDz-c4Pgqzh49EBFOlycvewTqyvC-_RufCTBkNP4QPJk3xw/s640/IMG_1254.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White Knob Mountain</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Unlike the previous Saturday, it was cold above 10K feet, so we didn't linger too long for lunch. White Knob was only 1/4 mile and 350 feet above us, so we powered up it to stay warm.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9j0FSQfqxHxbBg9okGrVkvPMuQ05cfNijgldE9-rCIqKZknnw17hekGAWjpBRV30etvMpa66vrutgSpQGDb6H0k_oGGzMr_XKxaSC5dw9RofJe2HR4ar_FgdyQkp9RDfddzNfU-CSs2iO/s1600/IMG_1262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9j0FSQfqxHxbBg9okGrVkvPMuQ05cfNijgldE9-rCIqKZknnw17hekGAWjpBRV30etvMpa66vrutgSpQGDb6H0k_oGGzMr_XKxaSC5dw9RofJe2HR4ar_FgdyQkp9RDfddzNfU-CSs2iO/s640/IMG_1262.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Summit of White Knob (10,835 feet)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSXRQHe4ZlJe2g_bcsm14MfDpz-6sKUuR0Jqf2MkYNLL-nlnMJgSOEDiWpblASB02Fq_meHzEP1CJh5vkaRGdbr135Un-95D267lUyMVWToA_TVpK4hRLKIRIOi8uy7mdVu-GmDpdHQN9O/s1600/IMG_1264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSXRQHe4ZlJe2g_bcsm14MfDpz-6sKUuR0Jqf2MkYNLL-nlnMJgSOEDiWpblASB02Fq_meHzEP1CJh5vkaRGdbr135Un-95D267lUyMVWToA_TVpK4hRLKIRIOi8uy7mdVu-GmDpdHQN9O/s640/IMG_1264.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back at South White Knob with Shelly and Redbird in the background</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFl6W9iDAuYuVxqbofjtvcjrchSol1WvucL8tSnsKNC25_MkpJV6ecHi2N5pDtMsHQgkxFiyEZayB2GbveABLbSqJ3oeVzv5ZZSv8VrqBUEpUZShcQCX01j3xANO6ZKu9_U7SXZd5IMVi5/s1600/IMG_1267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1204" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFl6W9iDAuYuVxqbofjtvcjrchSol1WvucL8tSnsKNC25_MkpJV6ecHi2N5pDtMsHQgkxFiyEZayB2GbveABLbSqJ3oeVzv5ZZSv8VrqBUEpUZShcQCX01j3xANO6ZKu9_U7SXZd5IMVi5/s640/IMG_1267.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A nice ski line off of Lime Mountain</td></tr>
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After a couple of summit photos, we retraced our steps over South White Knob and back down the ridge. Since we are a couple of educated guys, we took a slightly different route getting off the ridge and bypassed the tangle of Mahogany.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb38GpUv6EZeK3aUpEhvwwVzH5EwFpFFgsZEY5HJ_gYpwh2hyphenhyphenHwBJJ0stwrn-7NJ_m4KlOUxHlnb-6f-w_F70lcBxasaZulcgi1-1v21dFPZiePMExM714WQ1AkwExR6ikdygBgkObC_xk/s1600/IMG_1268.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb38GpUv6EZeK3aUpEhvwwVzH5EwFpFFgsZEY5HJ_gYpwh2hyphenhyphenHwBJJ0stwrn-7NJ_m4KlOUxHlnb-6f-w_F70lcBxasaZulcgi1-1v21dFPZiePMExM714WQ1AkwExR6ikdygBgkObC_xk/s640/IMG_1268.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back up</td></tr>
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We walked back down the mining road, crossing paths with a half dozen side by sides before reaching the truck. Thankfully the soil was dry, we pulled right out and headed home.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs9QDhJIEynxEjqYo4AKrSmZwhRf0qUBFdffH6mCdI0xPlIepONvE50eSQ14p91P3agYrbq96oRbC4svgKCvP3XLW-ZaAiARiu3erz9664vh7oJGWgcjdRdajXKu_IUCZ7x3hUrhn1fe-I/s1600/map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="511" data-original-width="891" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs9QDhJIEynxEjqYo4AKrSmZwhRf0qUBFdffH6mCdI0xPlIepONvE50eSQ14p91P3agYrbq96oRbC4svgKCvP3XLW-ZaAiARiu3erz9664vh7oJGWgcjdRdajXKu_IUCZ7x3hUrhn1fe-I/s640/map.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>Stats:</b><br />
Distance - 8.75 miles<br />
Elevation Gain - 3750 feet<br />
Time - 6 hours car-car<br />
<br />Fadgen's Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16693548016894583724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308604707301670536.post-86994217151479857972020-05-11T17:35:00.002-06:002020-05-11T17:39:33.901-06:00Mt. Borah- West Face<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After seeing some info on the West Face of Mt. Borah being in good condition, I suggested to Nicole on a Saturday afternoon we should go take a stab at it. She agreed, and we loaded the car and headed for Mackay. After finding a "camping spot" at the Mt. Borah trailhead, we made a nice dinner of pasta and mushrooms and went to bed around 9. A 4am alarm comes soon.<br />
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We awoke to a full moon, made some coffee and oatmeal, and headed out exactly at 5am.<br />
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The first thousand feet up the COR (Chicken Out Ridge) trail passed quickly, and soon we were at our turnoff, the saddle at 8,600'. We trended north, headed for the West Face valley. Time for a typical Lost River off-trail adventure- deadfall, scree-in-trees, and postholing. As we tried our best to stay on the 8,600' contour, it became apparent we needed to drop down to the creek to avoid the worst of the trees. We did, and were quickly rewarded with patchy knee deep snow. About an hour of plugging up this valley got us to the West Face cirque (I'll call it).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqH8fbOlV7JUrChkSFIUTZPhPykUyy9M1juX-Rd5yGudtJtpgsx3U31OTVGpkcst2frNuEcsVXueJJJD7V2MPHd-nkz0hhLMyahRarn_XCT5nj9ih7rh2hp5Tv4TKGKVbzCJcF6L1rlz8/s1600/IMG_0433.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqH8fbOlV7JUrChkSFIUTZPhPykUyy9M1juX-Rd5yGudtJtpgsx3U31OTVGpkcst2frNuEcsVXueJJJD7V2MPHd-nkz0hhLMyahRarn_XCT5nj9ih7rh2hp5Tv4TKGKVbzCJcF6L1rlz8/s640/IMG_0433.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking up. Now where are we going?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ERFDsa-cI9jjbjRBWirE6xPEMDFJlgc8ZtAetuRSlDC5Q6nONHEfrF9hzGm7hu1iTBsTMNinL-JHp1U9Yr-uufRhRjXNjpp7URP9xIbD8TmNw9kIcDTQiSqpv62yjUiU_SltvXs2Ly4/s1600/IMG_0434.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ERFDsa-cI9jjbjRBWirE6xPEMDFJlgc8ZtAetuRSlDC5Q6nONHEfrF9hzGm7hu1iTBsTMNinL-JHp1U9Yr-uufRhRjXNjpp7URP9xIbD8TmNw9kIcDTQiSqpv62yjUiU_SltvXs2Ly4/s640/IMG_0434.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
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Looking down-valley. Note how supportive the snow is. </div>
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We could now see up to COR, and the snow looked great. Knowing our route curved up and left, we stuck to the left side of the valley, skirting old wet slide debris and keeping off the rocks in the valley bottom.<br />
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My recollection of a route photo informed me that to get into the long arcing couloir on the right side of the face we needed to stay right (duh) and go through a tight slot. The right slot had a nice big water ice bubble in it, and figuring we could connect to the upper face through the leftmost couloir, we chose left. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjumONnDBR3YE5h8KFONkPpvU-UO1HhR8Ot7f_37k1NWFw8h35otIjvvoRBhjQl8wCSqvk0c0ktMhhvXcmkWXgXoAIq2OoQLg6FzJDSLXSxXh1u0P4UKjw9hTE93GzqAFL3qIaYLa_AIkQ/s1600/IMG_0446.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjumONnDBR3YE5h8KFONkPpvU-UO1HhR8Ot7f_37k1NWFw8h35otIjvvoRBhjQl8wCSqvk0c0ktMhhvXcmkWXgXoAIq2OoQLg6FzJDSLXSxXh1u0P4UKjw9hTE93GzqAFL3qIaYLa_AIkQ/s640/IMG_0446.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Going up. And left.</td></tr>
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The next two thousand feet of climbing went relatively easily. Head up the couloir, avoid the sun, etc. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihosI8HRCcAxt8hc4GlFKXRaYJ9Pg-2exNicT0FT9ihYPMVV8xspgQlv33qngb6ekvRFXAMyLAK81LaHr5SI5cKxF_Sycm7UKWkOsPR09csk98X5u7hDlzFsaeRlC1gS61KNeNY9fGLt4/s1600/IMG_0452.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihosI8HRCcAxt8hc4GlFKXRaYJ9Pg-2exNicT0FT9ihYPMVV8xspgQlv33qngb6ekvRFXAMyLAK81LaHr5SI5cKxF_Sycm7UKWkOsPR09csk98X5u7hDlzFsaeRlC1gS61KNeNY9fGLt4/s640/IMG_0452.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Higher</td></tr>
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<div>
Luckily for us, at about 11,500' things get interesting. The main couloir ends, and a variety of chutes and towers emerge on the upper face. Knowing the summit was a little to the right, I kept us trending up and right, staying on snow as much as possible. There were, however, some nice rock steps to practice our mixed climbing. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqG62ELWre2mqpTaPCT-gjM6NvP3FQgWCIRaAftWKCAaiHXuF3I26iCmVWRQgObI7T4t4hdq2axjCyslersYNSTJlXCsxFAO0UoXfz7JXahG68Yq3CFu4YHinWJpmuWwkyMM5fWPykuTI/s1600/IMG_0457.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqG62ELWre2mqpTaPCT-gjM6NvP3FQgWCIRaAftWKCAaiHXuF3I26iCmVWRQgObI7T4t4hdq2axjCyslersYNSTJlXCsxFAO0UoXfz7JXahG68Yq3CFu4YHinWJpmuWwkyMM5fWPykuTI/s640/IMG_0457.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steep!</td></tr>
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We kept it up and eventually gained the trail as it crosses right below the summit. Now to traverse a few snowfields and try not to posthole...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQeiG4Ing3h39EoU280ya3oaUc7nMxrV4JU1JQICjFGGtJHGN7fKEX12TYdbGW2wkMd2TZptJ-zVZtn0t1zREQQXkOH6ah8Y9FxOTgx-seWptdbTndCq5Svh8SSS2bmj1lruKx86tye1A/s1600/IMG_0462+2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQeiG4Ing3h39EoU280ya3oaUc7nMxrV4JU1JQICjFGGtJHGN7fKEX12TYdbGW2wkMd2TZptJ-zVZtn0t1zREQQXkOH6ah8Y9FxOTgx-seWptdbTndCq5Svh8SSS2bmj1lruKx86tye1A/s640/IMG_0462+2.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Are we there yet?</td></tr>
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The summit had a nice light breeze. It was 12:45.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ5RkHoYtLIDkeQ_IUMW58SkXxqiMejdQ2D6ToDDrCmPXp54SbKXujB3l3-jw4qbgdThy8Tbugnylh8BY1Uj8cQ0OG5SGjBnoSDNNi3pIC93QtBd5Cwi-eVa4ec5RVAz4HyQNytfNZpBg/s1600/IMG_0466.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ5RkHoYtLIDkeQ_IUMW58SkXxqiMejdQ2D6ToDDrCmPXp54SbKXujB3l3-jw4qbgdThy8Tbugnylh8BY1Uj8cQ0OG5SGjBnoSDNNi3pIC93QtBd5Cwi-eVa4ec5RVAz4HyQNytfNZpBg/s640/IMG_0466.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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We took a long break up top to dry out our socks and call our moms. It was Mother's Day, after all. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOGkZfIVJ-AR2gDJdGega6PnJvW6TJRZZHpuN9wmyecRtn7KEllDWl6Xh0xzj6C5VCnZnNI8yFH4Sks2zIn3RygnkJUy_UPnpTubAgrC0ALkyFBiG37jShW_YEW2bEGBc9-qz_wvLGGoM/s1600/IMG_0469.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOGkZfIVJ-AR2gDJdGega6PnJvW6TJRZZHpuN9wmyecRtn7KEllDWl6Xh0xzj6C5VCnZnNI8yFH4Sks2zIn3RygnkJUy_UPnpTubAgrC0ALkyFBiG37jShW_YEW2bEGBc9-qz_wvLGGoM/s640/IMG_0469.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nicole's new foot warmer</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFQNuaK0nu-vEzUfDXVeO7-dTexVNi1Q1Jugy-wzgP_QmDKcreyvxyef33curGAvQUpGoDNtzv0KHz5AIaiKQ0Ew8moFitzMFjXK0WxLrJD_NC7xJH2dS-s3EmvQPrUruObX4YuXPZUTI/s1600/IMG_0506.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFQNuaK0nu-vEzUfDXVeO7-dTexVNi1Q1Jugy-wzgP_QmDKcreyvxyef33curGAvQUpGoDNtzv0KHz5AIaiKQ0Ew8moFitzMFjXK0WxLrJD_NC7xJH2dS-s3EmvQPrUruObX4YuXPZUTI/s640/IMG_0506.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Do we have to go down??</td></tr>
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We picked our way down the summit block, across the saddle by Sacagawea, and over to Chicken Out.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Down</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPp7b-0uU8Pp1gldQZc5JOf397osqGQxopEVaJJjC2LUzcrx9bmkIxZ384MwOAYrfr0O12L34VWJvwdtTKuBm5esy9_BWWsX69nrws8N-x5HZHTnBtcXbcEG-I7rvZRy-5JR5yXTrqOJ4/s1600/IMG_0479.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPp7b-0uU8Pp1gldQZc5JOf397osqGQxopEVaJJjC2LUzcrx9bmkIxZ384MwOAYrfr0O12L34VWJvwdtTKuBm5esy9_BWWsX69nrws8N-x5HZHTnBtcXbcEG-I7rvZRy-5JR5yXTrqOJ4/s640/IMG_0479.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The upper West Face. We did not take any of the obvious lines in this photo</td></tr>
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By the time we got to COR, it was around 2:30. Late, especially with the warm May sun baking since 7am. Going over the top wasn't an option, there were soft melted cornices in both directions. Going around didn't seem a safe option either, with both aspects steep and the snow too soft to support weight. Shit. Well, we knew the couloir below us led back down to the West Face valley, and that would, eventually, lead back down to the car. We headed down the couloir at around 3pm. </div>
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We downclimbed, sidestepped, and glissaded down to the bottom of the valley. Now, I can write that all in one sentence, but it took the better part of two hours. </div>
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Now to walk out the valley and get back into the trees. Remember how supportive the snow was at 6am? We did. And it sure wasn't anymore. Taking baby steps helps reduce the jarring from a deep posthole when you aren't expecting it, and it has the added bonus (not) of being excruciatingly slow. And that only works when you don't expect every step to be a wade. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbMHMyIF82wNaxKnk8UdfiQWGgdRG8Ddo9Dn76sShNb4bqkDAoTmZEtfR5aRdg1TUQm0Jos5WzjoVD1Fdqy9h3uL2t-qOWBArIP2ehUcLaE_8BMUBcbAWJu3KZ8r7MDZj9DlQ9NMwG0NM/s1600/IMG_0487.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbMHMyIF82wNaxKnk8UdfiQWGgdRG8Ddo9Dn76sShNb4bqkDAoTmZEtfR5aRdg1TUQm0Jos5WzjoVD1Fdqy9h3uL2t-qOWBArIP2ehUcLaE_8BMUBcbAWJu3KZ8r7MDZj9DlQ9NMwG0NM/s640/IMG_0487.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wading</td></tr>
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Two more hours elapse. We're finally down in the valley again, looking for the right chance to turn up to get back to the saddle and meet up with the trail. There is about half an hour of light left, and we know we need to make it to the trail before dark.</div>
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We do. </div>
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The rest of the hike out was painful on the toes, but otherwise uneventful. </div>
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The car was waiting for us, alone, at 9:11pm- 16 hours, 6,000 feet of gain and loss, and 7 miles after we had left it.</div>
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DFadgenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119739154481308715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308604707301670536.post-71886457895541152702020-05-10T19:35:00.000-06:002020-05-11T16:36:36.313-06:00Peak 10,740 aka The ClapperIt was the middle of May, and a few of us local mountaineers hadn't been above 10,000 feet in 2020. Michael figured it was time we solved this problem, and he had an easy peak in mind - The Clapper.<br />
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After a bit of back and forth, we decided to drive over together and wear masks, to follow CDC guidelines. After a four hour drive, we arrived at our destination - the base of the peak's southwest ridge, north of Deep Creek.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfyE8PMhj_djAj9HgiRjOlK5JaB8InK-_-MNBM3bivO9mf-5JhvJR1_kSwW2h274Z3bjjGXdCQ872XSqHsU_3OsyQ7ybpA0EEiZ9vbDYZYeWgHuFfuuGU_9_yALdVCubcSwiVLWbEA4xwN/s1600/IMG_1189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfyE8PMhj_djAj9HgiRjOlK5JaB8InK-_-MNBM3bivO9mf-5JhvJR1_kSwW2h274Z3bjjGXdCQ872XSqHsU_3OsyQ7ybpA0EEiZ9vbDYZYeWgHuFfuuGU_9_yALdVCubcSwiVLWbEA4xwN/s640/IMG_1189.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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It was a beautiful morning, mid 40's and no wind. Based on the lack of snow, we left the snowshoes in the rig, but carried ice axes and crampons just in case we encountered any snow. From Larry Prescott's trip report <a href="http://larryprescott.blogspot.com/2016/09/trip-report-clapper-10740-lemhi-range.html">http://larryprescott.blogspot.com/2016/09/trip-report-clapper-10740-lemhi-range.html</a>, we knew that the route would be relatively easy, but wanted to be prepared.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Fsyds6Kw5B-Qlmc9bcnO5mT8eDmW_PqWdRHYQMJQJBdnqLOjdzshKViuq-p9ImQgkRECH-TeoBOI4WqAU9ZLVxtavUENGDYAFqeSg2xu1maXAS_GZ4tMzVRrjzneLcEUxSKpKtQahaJg/s1600/IMG_1193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Fsyds6Kw5B-Qlmc9bcnO5mT8eDmW_PqWdRHYQMJQJBdnqLOjdzshKViuq-p9ImQgkRECH-TeoBOI4WqAU9ZLVxtavUENGDYAFqeSg2xu1maXAS_GZ4tMzVRrjzneLcEUxSKpKtQahaJg/s640/IMG_1193.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bell Mountain</td></tr>
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Though we were climbing, The Clapper, Bell Mountain at 11,612 feet, would be the theme of the day. It was staring us in the face all day!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ5a2LRYNS4FfUGPqCnY06KtHiztGL3VEnv27VzVynayefZeZBRMWrWZDYa0d2IgHrDxADz8IunrX2aknpoqvdYyb2lsNrG1Cbw1KlR5PY54hss8nUCCo-mh9VGQVHeN58_IW3ycKv-F7w/s1600/IMG_1195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ5a2LRYNS4FfUGPqCnY06KtHiztGL3VEnv27VzVynayefZeZBRMWrWZDYa0d2IgHrDxADz8IunrX2aknpoqvdYyb2lsNrG1Cbw1KlR5PY54hss8nUCCo-mh9VGQVHeN58_IW3ycKv-F7w/s640/IMG_1195.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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The route starts at roughly 6900 feet and follows the southwest ridge through sage brush until about 8400 feet. Nice low sage brush too.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7WZVDyQ8G5fB9mPnbozlPmHabTCwBOJfLsimhtWru8Xn9qmagBlPhVOVVLkYe1fATGvWmIOVZGjfUT9jkiPh95FpSO21G1xQ6UKdcYtZyTrnZ3-OCJUg86lgkd9pBLMnNu4gwpPA-65dR/s1600/IMG_1198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7WZVDyQ8G5fB9mPnbozlPmHabTCwBOJfLsimhtWru8Xn9qmagBlPhVOVVLkYe1fATGvWmIOVZGjfUT9jkiPh95FpSO21G1xQ6UKdcYtZyTrnZ3-OCJUg86lgkd9pBLMnNu4gwpPA-65dR/s640/IMG_1198.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entering the forest section</td></tr>
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Though hiking through the sage brush was nice, the forested section was even better. Wide open trees with a nice carpet of pine needles made for soft hiking.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2GmpPuzQPYogeXva4soxuc8e4LRLeuxPHK_xcdYQXLMxPkl1ASeYPRTtvGcLMHdk3soPPIVbeFCnKNtaU8dvUqZDBwhAMAY-FWBkJMMW-s4vLewcyT_3tsv0QzKq0bISRkNQAlkTjzGmQ/s1600/IMG_1210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2GmpPuzQPYogeXva4soxuc8e4LRLeuxPHK_xcdYQXLMxPkl1ASeYPRTtvGcLMHdk3soPPIVbeFCnKNtaU8dvUqZDBwhAMAY-FWBkJMMW-s4vLewcyT_3tsv0QzKq0bISRkNQAlkTjzGmQ/s640/IMG_1210.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bell in the background</td></tr>
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We kept a steady pace and didn't encounter any snow until we thought about going around point 10,095. So rather than walk around and through the snow to save a 100 feet of gain, we just went over the top. Once again Bell Mountain was right there!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW0ypDlM_6Q-LubMTCKHQSOKHbm7nq-6kRnw1hZdQ7zjko8OSnOpL_ZbRhaf7YScBAjss-sAJ2chy0qAp1yqyMwOWNABNRbqrY_hT4QyiwUAKQY2founq9nYHGb4f-NubUFpojFq7hVUSE/s1600/IMG_1219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW0ypDlM_6Q-LubMTCKHQSOKHbm7nq-6kRnw1hZdQ7zjko8OSnOpL_ZbRhaf7YScBAjss-sAJ2chy0qAp1yqyMwOWNABNRbqrY_hT4QyiwUAKQY2founq9nYHGb4f-NubUFpojFq7hVUSE/s640/IMG_1219.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bell Mountain from Point 10,095</td></tr>
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We could finally see The Clapper at this point. All we had left was a walk across a smooth ridge and a climb up some Lemhi talus.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB3Iw64I3lcIvdMeaaO4hRgQbwkOcjSevI-mfzZX8pvUP8Kd8Hc0P3qFc2PKAUieHUElBHvaqJrVsLAEaD2R8rGUKk83DfrM79vXWbRN4N8K-7nTHdbfoa3-dDI98JMjghe2fRb5fAnnfk/s1600/IMG_1221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB3Iw64I3lcIvdMeaaO4hRgQbwkOcjSevI-mfzZX8pvUP8Kd8Hc0P3qFc2PKAUieHUElBHvaqJrVsLAEaD2R8rGUKk83DfrM79vXWbRN4N8K-7nTHdbfoa3-dDI98JMjghe2fRb5fAnnfk/s640/IMG_1221.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michael with the Clapper straight ahead.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk9mtzuSesZZnhObw3r_nKQArTQSkzxOhkLXFqG8Craf392jaX2hPmj20207ivs-Vab0RyGIckzxXF03MejQN7r8sh7lBPvdNM7_i_2I_U8BkL0MXE1tSjptMzxp0tQN47D_sBSr-tCcTK/s1600/IMG_1224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk9mtzuSesZZnhObw3r_nKQArTQSkzxOhkLXFqG8Craf392jaX2hPmj20207ivs-Vab0RyGIckzxXF03MejQN7r8sh7lBPvdNM7_i_2I_U8BkL0MXE1tSjptMzxp0tQN47D_sBSr-tCcTK/s640/IMG_1224.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back at Point 10,095</td></tr>
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We were on top a short while later enjoying the views. There was barely a breath of wind and not a cloud in the sky. What a day to be in the mountains!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5EF3qDOSE34zgFRvEBH2Fav4ZM72j5uTxeyibjuseKbC__KtI-c6oZ6ikkyut-0fUWCaRwGIhzsyGfs7U6Ph5BdYUrfV3Cv0nADxhm370nbo46cHXIDtvl2pOxqRp3XCBLowXsrEc2Hs2/s1600/IMG_1227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5EF3qDOSE34zgFRvEBH2Fav4ZM72j5uTxeyibjuseKbC__KtI-c6oZ6ikkyut-0fUWCaRwGIhzsyGfs7U6Ph5BdYUrfV3Cv0nADxhm370nbo46cHXIDtvl2pOxqRp3XCBLowXsrEc2Hs2/s640/IMG_1227.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Summit shot with (what else) Bell Mountain.</td></tr>
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After a leisurely lunch, we packed up and retraced our steps back to Michael's rig. We definitely violated the windshield rule - 3 hours to summit, 2 hours to get down vs. 8 hours driving - but it was more than worth it!<br />
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Stats:<br />
7 miles<br />
4200 feet elevation gain<br />
5 hours car-carFadgen's Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16693548016894583724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308604707301670536.post-52061440113099640912020-04-26T15:42:00.000-06:002020-05-10T18:11:59.808-06:00Grape Mountain Bike and HikeTamara surprised me Saturday evening by suggesting we mountain bike up Grape Mountain rather than hike. We'd had a long road ride on Saturday and with tired legs, I'd figured a hike would do us good. But...<br />
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We negotiated the Sunday morning traffic jams on the road along Arrowrock Reservoir before turning off at Long Gulch Road and heading into the mountains. Yes traffic jams - seems like everyone was out on this Sunday morning. In no time we were up and over Slide Gulch summit and parked near the closed gate at trail 221A<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpTZCGlAjz-dRTTjwTYof49xV-GbSmjs0XWJp4R0GB0kvJXrWZ-DtwvEqpeAmOiez099oCkfKiT8NwNthLJ-23cVQWTiUG2AMtyT6ffJ7RQCQRZ4YC_HgvD0glNtj2q6y8mrfbjfb0xLXW/s1600/IMG_1095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpTZCGlAjz-dRTTjwTYof49xV-GbSmjs0XWJp4R0GB0kvJXrWZ-DtwvEqpeAmOiez099oCkfKiT8NwNthLJ-23cVQWTiUG2AMtyT6ffJ7RQCQRZ4YC_HgvD0glNtj2q6y8mrfbjfb0xLXW/s400/IMG_1095.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dusky Grouse on the drive in</td></tr>
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A short while later, we were on our bikes heading up the smooth two track in brilliant sunshine. Apparently this gated road is used to service a radio tower on the summit of Grape Mountain. It was in great shape and little used - perfect for a quiet ride.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW_SKDsXHfbxbR4tQ2tu_LajYVyJZDpp21RO6dfqwWF3gIY0SLtmF3jyNqxRA-fkQjOeUmf3W1CQ4SndQiWqBwl0V-1oi0JU24UoyrPTMjggSywspIsODIf6gisHxi1uLiiT4GXtQQ5G1s/s1600/IMG_1096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW_SKDsXHfbxbR4tQ2tu_LajYVyJZDpp21RO6dfqwWF3gIY0SLtmF3jyNqxRA-fkQjOeUmf3W1CQ4SndQiWqBwl0V-1oi0JU24UoyrPTMjggSywspIsODIf6gisHxi1uLiiT4GXtQQ5G1s/s640/IMG_1096.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grape Mountain somewhere back there</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioLARqHhid36T5EmFRD-uBjw80q1R3QJiVVeL7Lw0aY2vruL56JxYeHQIU44EhDoMeltQ1-fJWPd24o3M9q6OfM6qK616XbUzxDMV54Sq6tfBjykejpbmVFP_Ap9XDlONr40lWo3dLEOXT/s1600/IMG_1098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioLARqHhid36T5EmFRD-uBjw80q1R3QJiVVeL7Lw0aY2vruL56JxYeHQIU44EhDoMeltQ1-fJWPd24o3M9q6OfM6qK616XbUzxDMV54Sq6tfBjykejpbmVFP_Ap9XDlONr40lWo3dLEOXT/s640/IMG_1098.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tamara starting up the road</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOsK7DS5o0g6R6kR9J7t_81BjzaVKIJ1UpRtyuN4Vjvv1ehenuEpje_zD8mmiPdGI0giSiYVTMxzLRGcyMjbwlod_vRRlnLc26pG8FhiGOsbevqd4-rRyfhcMxcQ_QwwDWPUEsfnFUbbix/s1600/IMG_1101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOsK7DS5o0g6R6kR9J7t_81BjzaVKIJ1UpRtyuN4Vjvv1ehenuEpje_zD8mmiPdGI0giSiYVTMxzLRGcyMjbwlod_vRRlnLc26pG8FhiGOsbevqd4-rRyfhcMxcQ_QwwDWPUEsfnFUbbix/s640/IMG_1101.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying the sunshine</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh2Y4u-hH1gs_xKfDZlf2yFQFEFSWDU_JJ8CteYEjejcEHB3x9DBZ6DHsGlE49FvzkOTOfT5NNt_xvwPhRUtl0WRz2smNs8Fu3nsxMwby5SwERyZSCGwfhviqBee2TXv4dlmsvwcgIUSu4/s1600/IMG_1106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh2Y4u-hH1gs_xKfDZlf2yFQFEFSWDU_JJ8CteYEjejcEHB3x9DBZ6DHsGlE49FvzkOTOfT5NNt_xvwPhRUtl0WRz2smNs8Fu3nsxMwby5SwERyZSCGwfhviqBee2TXv4dlmsvwcgIUSu4/s640/IMG_1106.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All smiles</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipjLDZ8eW7lC83BbqaspPEKm2NPW46ss8UlIMDGEj9aWgAa7BbagoaiIQVWHrgju7X9FQWnB5Hm0CZSs0zdkYzSiHSwvUCuqGwC_zA0acnIZJBIPUPio7CjlQEJKQh1SM23z7lR0pPDRD4/s1600/IMG_1109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipjLDZ8eW7lC83BbqaspPEKm2NPW46ss8UlIMDGEj9aWgAa7BbagoaiIQVWHrgju7X9FQWnB5Hm0CZSs0zdkYzSiHSwvUCuqGwC_zA0acnIZJBIPUPio7CjlQEJKQh1SM23z7lR0pPDRD4/s640/IMG_1109.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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We followed the meandering road, occasionally stopping to gawk at the views or identify any birds we happened upon. There was the occasional cloud and very little wind to go along with all the sunshine. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgftRThfo4MM9ywbnULgoKftDhomfXbVlih5Nc0WHcs-vPgVBz1Jo-ROg9hQO2oL_lVcL792OComKJJN9g-K4zBsgTvim66tehvA1cH-PnotXCL70T7r6mkMvmrFhsopTX7E7g7xesJVH1l/s1600/IMG_1111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgftRThfo4MM9ywbnULgoKftDhomfXbVlih5Nc0WHcs-vPgVBz1Jo-ROg9hQO2oL_lVcL792OComKJJN9g-K4zBsgTvim66tehvA1cH-PnotXCL70T7r6mkMvmrFhsopTX7E7g7xesJVH1l/s640/IMG_1111.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John looking back at the DDP</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJMaP_yM8ILP80r4Syl3h7S4QR5lzjcEn0pc5PPb393trwmYsYoqT7omie0ZAUH7YC_TniVJIIzIGmC1TsbKiivnWBE6G5PUuy3r5KgEXdzuuggLJAjG6JptFHXDPbOy3B-bJzsKWhD6po/s1600/IMG_1112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJMaP_yM8ILP80r4Syl3h7S4QR5lzjcEn0pc5PPb393trwmYsYoqT7omie0ZAUH7YC_TniVJIIzIGmC1TsbKiivnWBE6G5PUuy3r5KgEXdzuuggLJAjG6JptFHXDPbOy3B-bJzsKWhD6po/s640/IMG_1112.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grape Mountain</td></tr>
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We were on the summit enjoying lunch in a little over 1.5 hours. <br /><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE-aXvPcSxw6hakZM4BsYqGWV1RQjhUA3Cds_HzrSf6Hz1MGjjSmf8u2nxOl-lGgsupMosAQF7y3nCHeKzwsrso5NEJ_qOH_Wo-aFouoXgxhuTPC4uJgQGGN6gi5U6k11ISemZqXtpzNe4/s1600/IMG_1114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE-aXvPcSxw6hakZM4BsYqGWV1RQjhUA3Cds_HzrSf6Hz1MGjjSmf8u2nxOl-lGgsupMosAQF7y3nCHeKzwsrso5NEJ_qOH_Wo-aFouoXgxhuTPC4uJgQGGN6gi5U6k11ISemZqXtpzNe4/s640/IMG_1114.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Summit Splattski</td></tr>
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Then it was time to saddle up and enjoy the mostly downhill ride to the base of our next objective, the DDP - Peak 5587.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-4xqBgcxR8D8KPd-dGgZSQeZxdlefST8mZxadgyg7EnpQkPnjqisTgvuAodCEeMsPcUfeeK-tTGJQlOJe-HLXy71DugMwquF3AmKKPdKq26qHze7MlAZJ3FgjduKrENERSF9vn-ZVuH3w/s1600/IMG_1117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-4xqBgcxR8D8KPd-dGgZSQeZxdlefST8mZxadgyg7EnpQkPnjqisTgvuAodCEeMsPcUfeeK-tTGJQlOJe-HLXy71DugMwquF3AmKKPdKq26qHze7MlAZJ3FgjduKrENERSF9vn-ZVuH3w/s640/IMG_1117.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSsWIe0l6MGJZTfLh9uQqhI_87DWT5_GNBMUTVMlxXo8N7KEkAD0SzAbcfxCdMwRfrxujcGAJVoPeXeviJtoE307l5trTv0TdoTk_hyphenhyphenSpwgUS5zO7vVkpZSboTjqZwfKUGzRpofU6Uj10I/s1600/IMG_1118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSsWIe0l6MGJZTfLh9uQqhI_87DWT5_GNBMUTVMlxXo8N7KEkAD0SzAbcfxCdMwRfrxujcGAJVoPeXeviJtoE307l5trTv0TdoTk_hyphenhyphenSpwgUS5zO7vVkpZSboTjqZwfKUGzRpofU6Uj10I/s640/IMG_1118.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John likes downhill!</td></tr>
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After stashing our bikes and changing shoes, we started up the ridge to Peak 5587. Other than dodging the occasional stand of manzanita, we pretty much stuck to the ridge and were on the summit in no time.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvS-DSelR1KB9rehaBBNewkNcmeU5ZKL-eZTympXVBiOh0HrwEb7JSi6xGTQuUszhc8-rvdKKwESBTuDv5f9P5YbuF8QPIEa_mWfcUOGEscAeMIj4bqbsI7Rd4ou0gyP7DOdNIJcWUVK0w/s1600/IMG_1119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvS-DSelR1KB9rehaBBNewkNcmeU5ZKL-eZTympXVBiOh0HrwEb7JSi6xGTQuUszhc8-rvdKKwESBTuDv5f9P5YbuF8QPIEa_mWfcUOGEscAeMIj4bqbsI7Rd4ou0gyP7DOdNIJcWUVK0w/s320/IMG_1119.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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We didn't linger on the summit, but quickly turned around and retraced our steps to our bikes. A quick shoe change and 12 minutes later we were back at the truck. Gotta love downhill on a mountain bike!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje0wKPQzThaPLRbFdDkaJ0jZzYcItNZGNP-6ywcM6wR41WP775HobU-i5ELqyhRizigANZ1FE-odgnexMMxLzst5oHXjaU4Dty32rvi92cgAONMObRvh0_UTMn4TglRb25q6eVE6ATSAhy/s1600/IMG_1129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje0wKPQzThaPLRbFdDkaJ0jZzYcItNZGNP-6ywcM6wR41WP775HobU-i5ELqyhRizigANZ1FE-odgnexMMxLzst5oHXjaU4Dty32rvi92cgAONMObRvh0_UTMn4TglRb25q6eVE6ATSAhy/s640/IMG_1129.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow Fritillary</td></tr>
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An excellent day spent social distancing with Tamara in the mountains.<br /><div>
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Fadgen's Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16693548016894583724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308604707301670536.post-69179293023851079192020-04-22T08:07:00.000-06:002020-04-22T08:07:22.793-06:00Danskin Moto Dodge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Saturday April 18</b></div>
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Dave had a springtime plan - 4 peaks, 4500 feet of gain, 16 miles and close to Boise. Who was in?</div>
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In keeping with the times, Dave, Michael and myself met up outside of Boise and caravanned in separate vehicles into the Danskin Mountains. Along the way we passed several motorized recreationalists enjoying the early morning sunshine around their campfires. Motorized vehicle access had opened in the Danskins the weekend before and we figured we might miss some of the traffic if we got an early start.</div>
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It was a beautiful, sunny morning as we quickly made our way up an ATV trail toward our first peak of the day - Devil's Hole Peak. We made good time considering we stopped on several occasions to identify the various birds in the area.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSHlXvakHlkYB7ZtYflWqqt2_p-Zz9Im_ySSmVxAvyV7AkaTpBbHqBjlaH1u0H-dlghHDHiYMc5djCQxBJKS0WZRdPvqKg4eLURev3-TIbMPU3fajDliAtPrXOX4ldDSHjL7dJARGalH3L/s1600/IMG_1064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSHlXvakHlkYB7ZtYflWqqt2_p-Zz9Im_ySSmVxAvyV7AkaTpBbHqBjlaH1u0H-dlghHDHiYMc5djCQxBJKS0WZRdPvqKg4eLURev3-TIbMPU3fajDliAtPrXOX4ldDSHjL7dJARGalH3L/s640/IMG_1064.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Fiddler from the saddle</td></tr>
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The ATV trail meandered up a draw until it reached a saddle and then dropped toward the South Fork. At the saddle we took a right and headed up a steep, faint trail to the summit of Devil's Hole Peak at 5944 feet.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZbbyDUfkwZiD0PZsUnNZzul3Syv368wCkM_Eypp_nheqvRxwqQHWSZopeVk6bdyCRFZjJ67PaEHn28F10zFXsxMFDZObrnPaadMHOeLq96PuHBXzXLXULZuz52O4cBk4d_pqUIZcXWBVM/s1600/IMG_1067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZbbyDUfkwZiD0PZsUnNZzul3Syv368wCkM_Eypp_nheqvRxwqQHWSZopeVk6bdyCRFZjJ67PaEHn28F10zFXsxMFDZObrnPaadMHOeLq96PuHBXzXLXULZuz52O4cBk4d_pqUIZcXWBVM/s400/IMG_1067.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dave photographing Devil's Hole Peak</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ6cASO29JEWWQ7BTcB5H3gia83AVAPuDshlob0S9D8sZtd5PzDX2xdeCjzDO_nv691ZrmLK1PTntp8khFTdwYo0E9PFvSOoB8xLb8sI8jtFr41s4XQf_6AtA4Jkz_CiPknQO_BnWM0dh9/s1600/IMG_1070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ6cASO29JEWWQ7BTcB5H3gia83AVAPuDshlob0S9D8sZtd5PzDX2xdeCjzDO_nv691ZrmLK1PTntp8khFTdwYo0E9PFvSOoB8xLb8sI8jtFr41s4XQf_6AtA4Jkz_CiPknQO_BnWM0dh9/s640/IMG_1070.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">South Fork of the Boise Canyon</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJfASMwpkFqtMHe7pypP4DIlbpwgd-_j7SnN0yE-tQ1xl6P1PafhOjkuMaHaSAP2uMjOjkGP01_JQHJdVNH5vv2FnunJS4M4suJxRls5976EA9an6OdlYYWoZG_1OtyZfWCiGWXmU7VOjl/s1600/IMG_1072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJfASMwpkFqtMHe7pypP4DIlbpwgd-_j7SnN0yE-tQ1xl6P1PafhOjkuMaHaSAP2uMjOjkGP01_JQHJdVNH5vv2FnunJS4M4suJxRls5976EA9an6OdlYYWoZG_1OtyZfWCiGWXmU7VOjl/s640/IMG_1072.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michael approaching the summit of Devil's Hole</td></tr>
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Knowing that we had a long day ahead of us, and the fact that Dave is slightly crazy, Michael and I opted to not traverse to the second peak, but rather meet Dave on our way to Little Fiddler. Dave bid us goodbye and took off down the north ridge towards Peak 5081.<br />
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With some time to kill, Michael and I took our time walking back to the ATV trail before heading north on a motorcycle trail toward Little Fiddler. We stopped at every opportunity to identify more birds.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Bbq0Nsk9O3SWhdIBkUwyYaXceEZl52tLEt1Kb56tjkCmF_3JeUqj_wRtuyrudBst94RLddX6aMs8XVWhiLCkrT9OR64ZSv5Oy91gIZYNgQsQ47EaWEPDt-842HnSAP0Zr8BrwQwtgG8p/s1600/IMG_1075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Bbq0Nsk9O3SWhdIBkUwyYaXceEZl52tLEt1Kb56tjkCmF_3JeUqj_wRtuyrudBst94RLddX6aMs8XVWhiLCkrT9OR64ZSv5Oy91gIZYNgQsQ47EaWEPDt-842HnSAP0Zr8BrwQwtgG8p/s640/IMG_1075.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dusky Grouse</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW21C9L4cyFY9Rt3JrooiRy-uHcBgM8c05-84DVevo8wlxYoKCyoDGLmxc6hY2QwGEec04saveW6tnDGy-a9fJ02O1fDSjqwVjLG-xAbMinpplfc5cSiFPb0XcTkpSdtiUQpIn1FRA4Sb8/s1600/IMG_1081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW21C9L4cyFY9Rt3JrooiRy-uHcBgM8c05-84DVevo8wlxYoKCyoDGLmxc6hY2QwGEec04saveW6tnDGy-a9fJ02O1fDSjqwVjLG-xAbMinpplfc5cSiFPb0XcTkpSdtiUQpIn1FRA4Sb8/s640/IMG_1081.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michael on the moto trail heading toward Little Fiddler</td></tr>
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After a bit, we picked a nice spot in the sunshine and lounged around talking while waiting for Dave to join us. Once Dave came hustling along, we proceeded to follow the nice sandy trail to the base of the third (or second) peak. We were feeling good with the fact that we had only heard a few motorcycles and hadn't crossed paths with any at that point.<br />
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After a short, steep grunt we were on top of Little Fiddler at 5849 feet. We were about as far away from our vehicles as were were going to get, and my out of shape feet were barking at me. Oh well.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEM8uEWpoAeIF0tWv2jYIhlkm_-4KvnGEvGWlPRy6dB23P2cqgGe3OZAfDpqEpaeO3mg-IJm1FiNot7MAsdC9NWM3hZ_mLBlETb6dVrNMusfusovQNrgplmxv8M4JoTa_Z38cAGeEJaSZj/s1600/IMG_1086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEM8uEWpoAeIF0tWv2jYIhlkm_-4KvnGEvGWlPRy6dB23P2cqgGe3OZAfDpqEpaeO3mg-IJm1FiNot7MAsdC9NWM3hZ_mLBlETb6dVrNMusfusovQNrgplmxv8M4JoTa_Z38cAGeEJaSZj/s640/IMG_1086.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dave and Michael social distancing on the summit</td></tr>
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After a relaxing lunch on top, we backtracked a bit and then started down a different motorcycle trail. By this time we could hear people buzzing all around us and occasionally see groups below us.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqDIHCbeD4a9kKeW6LZMD59OpnPYX5AHjE0xrnJXpfzJDQFnN1N9F1ppWYQGgOF2iz_V007tqR9Ct43sJiyc6SjGt2G_vdIHncTvrAbFIDeKxHuXsGO_3FMRIuvGq1NRyZeQ8UnXKAaWhQ/s1600/IMG_1088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1189" data-original-width="1600" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqDIHCbeD4a9kKeW6LZMD59OpnPYX5AHjE0xrnJXpfzJDQFnN1N9F1ppWYQGgOF2iz_V007tqR9Ct43sJiyc6SjGt2G_vdIHncTvrAbFIDeKxHuXsGO_3FMRIuvGq1NRyZeQ8UnXKAaWhQ/s640/IMG_1088.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mountain Bluebird</td></tr>
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As we dropped lower, we eventually ran into a group of motorcyclists coming down the trail. After moving off the trail and having a few words (Nothing bad - both Dave and I knew one of the guys from previous jobs) we continued down. It was difficult to pick out the next objective in all the folds of the Danskin Mountains, but List of John said it was there.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAGVACs9FSFbRzIY4_K3zrbwBqHTWFWarGAznVH5toYe63qIMXQvGkcTHC8SSUIhXN2HmHZUeGRz80kwzwyCpAm47GGhNZx0lihLGqU0AdpBCAKI3PzFgIm1_t0PYdrtfKenbsPk_bfUR3/s1600/IMG_1089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAGVACs9FSFbRzIY4_K3zrbwBqHTWFWarGAznVH5toYe63qIMXQvGkcTHC8SSUIhXN2HmHZUeGRz80kwzwyCpAm47GGhNZx0lihLGqU0AdpBCAKI3PzFgIm1_t0PYdrtfKenbsPk_bfUR3/s640/IMG_1089.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our main objective for the day - Peak 4786</td></tr>
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We dropped down to meet up with another ATV trail at the base of rounded Peak 4786. Since we were at the base, both Michael and I decided to give in a go. I figured we could reach the top in 15 minutes. It took 10.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnWyZuV87FJI-WSkgWbi_IehNBidKzrUFojPp18bZdSHrt723X1lJuXu9fJeDIytk9-kGa1qf5UW4QhpLOhZ-stdleVD5WjBDRQJ5NFVwvGMsu52Dk5SxyFuwGNb92mEpUVYwiBRcEYULG/s1600/IMG_1090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnWyZuV87FJI-WSkgWbi_IehNBidKzrUFojPp18bZdSHrt723X1lJuXu9fJeDIytk9-kGa1qf5UW4QhpLOhZ-stdleVD5WjBDRQJ5NFVwvGMsu52Dk5SxyFuwGNb92mEpUVYwiBRcEYULG/s640/IMG_1090.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Fiddler from the top of Peak 4786</td></tr>
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After that tough summit it was just a nice spring walk along an ATV trail back to our rigs. For the next four miles we side stepped to let UTVs, ATVs and motorcycles pass us. All in good fun. </div>
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We made it back to the rigs tired but happy!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWA7zWt_N9frlQeNoLKE-2diArdkPpVcijJye8X7HlFwNPuvkydQ4omywP0HkPYuNUO0YsTUYSxR7RktRKfHMfOUBqA7vc3_U_HoG7Ey1MaEoigZCRqqvCOePlSYFaqp1DOtnzpBwk_IIa/s1600/Danskin+Map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="829" data-original-width="1053" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWA7zWt_N9frlQeNoLKE-2diArdkPpVcijJye8X7HlFwNPuvkydQ4omywP0HkPYuNUO0YsTUYSxR7RktRKfHMfOUBqA7vc3_U_HoG7Ey1MaEoigZCRqqvCOePlSYFaqp1DOtnzpBwk_IIa/s640/Danskin+Map.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Map - 13.4 miles, 3700 feet gain for Michael and I</td></tr>
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<br />Fadgen's Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16693548016894583724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308604707301670536.post-9584071946036346232019-09-29T13:45:00.000-06:002019-09-29T14:28:42.626-06:00The Not So Dawn Arete<h3>
September 15, 2019.</h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglGi-hbhftzWHImOVuHGkqy73HWxlGE3zQ8TKadbG4vHgFHaV3zWJbWUG1cEyDUeO0mgETQUz0EwsRnP8eVgFvEbn5ZvLbjjWQ44Lezw7fBm57kKc7azDhZ6x2oAUuj2-Ww96AsItnA2Uc/s1600/IMG_0568.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglGi-hbhftzWHImOVuHGkqy73HWxlGE3zQ8TKadbG4vHgFHaV3zWJbWUG1cEyDUeO0mgETQUz0EwsRnP8eVgFvEbn5ZvLbjjWQ44Lezw7fBm57kKc7azDhZ6x2oAUuj2-Ww96AsItnA2Uc/s640/IMG_0568.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Howard at sunrise</td></tr>
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(Written by Dylan)<br />
I departed Logan around 9pm, full from a big dinner and with a solid handful of dark hours to drive to meet Dad at the Garden Creek CG. We recalled staying here during the Rosencrance IdahoSummits Outing in 2013 and it seemed like an ideal place to meet for a trip up Wildhorse.<br />
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I only nearly hit one herd of elk on the drive up before rolling in around 1AM, stirring Dad. We talked briefly about start times in the morning, and settled on 7AM. I slept hard until the alarm and my bladder rousted me precisely at 7.<br />
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We didn't have a clear plan of where we wanted to go, but with the goal of a few pitches of roped climbing and maybe a summit of Howard peak guiding us, we figured to try to find the Dawn Arete. I had been up Mustang the week earlier, and I had a reasonably good idea of how to get there (or thought I did.) We decided to take the trail to the approach scree on the West face, and skirt around to the east above the trees but below the cliffs. This sort of worked, although we ended up dropping into the east fork of Wildhorse anyway. Sure, we had worked way harder than we needed to, but at least we were only behind schedule, right?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHemDhEv-VldKF7jekff2195aS6uY119WEaENlQo3RhnUI5U1A_kX1RhApGaDx_Zzwq488hwg9jFse8s4pWvq1WdmOBH0hg4gKrkVgCLOAm3rB_fc1ah9MHcKAOKxFu_xUj_wyW3VUQu85/s1600/IMG_0573.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHemDhEv-VldKF7jekff2195aS6uY119WEaENlQo3RhnUI5U1A_kX1RhApGaDx_Zzwq488hwg9jFse8s4pWvq1WdmOBH0hg4gKrkVgCLOAm3rB_fc1ah9MHcKAOKxFu_xUj_wyW3VUQu85/s640/IMG_0573.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now where is it?</td></tr>
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Now in the drainage, the understanding that we really had no idea where we were going sunk in. Is this arete the Dawn? This one? That one? Should we go try to climb something on Howard? What if we try to climb what looks like could possibly be the Dawn but would still look fun? Let's do that. We settled on a short, steeper arete that emptied into the steep headwall surrounding the rim of Mustang's East face. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picking a route, we went directly up the waterfall in the notch</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidfY8VyOvYITHoYR8hzqSWawhJgv9GM7OurBtQtSmVjKtsq73B05lT6uBgWW0Cmy17lZ2uUrbWEyy0b8t6J5L7XFjQf33nYWmJ3ln86EkSLDFG7sl4W_FPXvnGAuw_6zd_UzSnhXPU_gHc/s1600/IMG_0578_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidfY8VyOvYITHoYR8hzqSWawhJgv9GM7OurBtQtSmVjKtsq73B05lT6uBgWW0Cmy17lZ2uUrbWEyy0b8t6J5L7XFjQf33nYWmJ3ln86EkSLDFG7sl4W_FPXvnGAuw_6zd_UzSnhXPU_gHc/s640/IMG_0578_3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Howard's East face (L), Mustang's East face (R)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcYQ52fkFR3oMciUsnb_nFSPu92rlYLLz3xoGTOzd0cQFZ6e-mDnT5AgHklKu-nBNir7vPdhMkcTlnXUFoPiGBLbBh2ZiverWquwAz-bcgBtY0GN75Bd6CtiN12aigCrP-wodNUravN9eP/s1600/IMG_0579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcYQ52fkFR3oMciUsnb_nFSPu92rlYLLz3xoGTOzd0cQFZ6e-mDnT5AgHklKu-nBNir7vPdhMkcTlnXUFoPiGBLbBh2ZiverWquwAz-bcgBtY0GN75Bd6CtiN12aigCrP-wodNUravN9eP/s640/IMG_0579.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading up. We climbed the right skyline (about)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnhyphenhyphenomj_oGIhbVVUqMUcsE_2WK9KkNBaQBX18YP-CPebWuaOfI87C2hpIhn0OdTnpQfcN4lp3vHZCDWlFpvBEan49cGKEOrvkb2yjJ79xDk6MwTjdLzw2eEurwWglTek6kzp5s_ZeYKMwI/s1600/IMG_0582_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnhyphenhyphenomj_oGIhbVVUqMUcsE_2WK9KkNBaQBX18YP-CPebWuaOfI87C2hpIhn0OdTnpQfcN4lp3vHZCDWlFpvBEan49cGKEOrvkb2yjJ79xDk6MwTjdLzw2eEurwWglTek6kzp5s_ZeYKMwI/s640/IMG_0582_2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rockfall across the valley on Brocky</td></tr>
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We found a slot/waterfall through the lower cliff bands at the base of the East face of Howard. A little zigging and zagging brought us to our route. Gaining the arete looked a little steeper and smoother than we wanted to do unroped, so we broke out the cord and got going. A quick pitch of face with some interesting dihedral moves brought us to the arete proper. Fun climbing ahead!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq9d0Ygfwt3CkYa4h_DN1jF7AaQ_Q7dJZXtLvnQBa4sHuz_UmDVrQZmBUf1iOB5lD7yzu0DQJZ4LM_58oTNlDP1rm9SnoYWoccePsb3zl1AeMMLU82udmJxiwWKbrjv9_SSLwaIPbzzOKu/s1600/IMG_0583.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq9d0Ygfwt3CkYa4h_DN1jF7AaQ_Q7dJZXtLvnQBa4sHuz_UmDVrQZmBUf1iOB5lD7yzu0DQJZ4LM_58oTNlDP1rm9SnoYWoccePsb3zl1AeMMLU82udmJxiwWKbrjv9_SSLwaIPbzzOKu/s640/IMG_0583.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A little roped climbing to gain the arete. I try to make my anchors look nice for the camera. And my mom. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_k8stUKnA39IQ_4HgaHoiqQTlj3-kV4US9rLMTS1uVxvQEbgT6cBil411QRzpCWCo5TQ2jcmCRLTWqnGwXN_5PmWOU0sfsLG0dv-mce5BrJ3arHMXF8S-elKR2R2iq7Ql0x8mNWj29N5J/s1600/IMG_0585.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_k8stUKnA39IQ_4HgaHoiqQTlj3-kV4US9rLMTS1uVxvQEbgT6cBil411QRzpCWCo5TQ2jcmCRLTWqnGwXN_5PmWOU0sfsLG0dv-mce5BrJ3arHMXF8S-elKR2R2iq7Ql0x8mNWj29N5J/s640/IMG_0585.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">P2, the Offwidth on the arete</td></tr>
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From here it was pretty obvious we were not of the Dawn Arete. Who cares, this looks sweet! Maybe we would care later.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB-gGcqlGGzEerSYDkYNF1JE0rY43JVBqnB-q0RD20U4WdHjHljQSP615drr1vaHeiweV8Yc5SFkL06PNRRGh1I9Z8kEqmCy6p3QX1d2WAscpiiorUDPxOtsVzqlAJHM4wX44vm9-uNGbB/s1600/IMG_0585_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB-gGcqlGGzEerSYDkYNF1JE0rY43JVBqnB-q0RD20U4WdHjHljQSP615drr1vaHeiweV8Yc5SFkL06PNRRGh1I9Z8kEqmCy6p3QX1d2WAscpiiorUDPxOtsVzqlAJHM4wX44vm9-uNGbB/s640/IMG_0585_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The actual Dawn Arete</td></tr>
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The climbing on the arete was some of the most fun and rewarding backpack-on alpine climbing I've done. Most notably, a fun 20' off width section that brought you to a small gendarme traverse, up to the goods. The Split Pillar. A glass smooth pillar about 18" wide and 30' long, entirely detached from the rest of the arete, but stuck in place with a good dose of Pioneer Magic. This was capped off by a fun roof to absolutely bomber hands.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqLtV89N0Di7rvf3czZRKbvv_mbXlkS-9ZgKl7-BPyYQtJ7_SuMhNC0KqvN439QT2omAXERlMOXQh0JvZuD_qM0oOVaZns5b_7RN34qyPFUeaE0BD9mOD9Lz0yijYJEwIbUZWBjaGzvRwu/s1600/IMG_0588.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqLtV89N0Di7rvf3czZRKbvv_mbXlkS-9ZgKl7-BPyYQtJ7_SuMhNC0KqvN439QT2omAXERlMOXQh0JvZuD_qM0oOVaZns5b_7RN34qyPFUeaE0BD9mOD9Lz0yijYJEwIbUZWBjaGzvRwu/s640/IMG_0588.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">P2, the Split Pillar</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifvWWS1JOB4m8V-30npeCOchgj-FYNkt73Mr4eLASsq0iS9Ee6vG3vN2mfw7cnt8TLQ2-yKuXenIdy31eU37mbJVucqf7GPLobegynyE4JF8iZFEEsiSYFGm1CULAHgEv0oWSy_sKVT1v_/s1600/IMG_0588_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifvWWS1JOB4m8V-30npeCOchgj-FYNkt73Mr4eLASsq0iS9Ee6vG3vN2mfw7cnt8TLQ2-yKuXenIdy31eU37mbJVucqf7GPLobegynyE4JF8iZFEEsiSYFGm1CULAHgEv0oWSy_sKVT1v_/s640/IMG_0588_1.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back on the Split Pillar</td></tr>
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After a lot of excited yelling and some light swearing, I pulled through the pillar and the roof to the absolute garbage above. Out of rope and nearly out of gear, I popped in an anchor at the lip of a nice ledge and brought Dad up. He took the next ledgy pitch, and belayed at the base of the headwall.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhASO51XO5OXmCJ6ALWqDna6CH1EWsBalr_7ehi7x1V-5DO-lwVNfctBIPcPWWo1YFNzDh0JEcqdewVU_74owrruvPwqWi385-JK9Ar7AAQpKh1QHEwuB1tOJEb3iWwL-MyC4Lb6PxgzvQR/s1600/IMG_9127.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhASO51XO5OXmCJ6ALWqDna6CH1EWsBalr_7ehi7x1V-5DO-lwVNfctBIPcPWWo1YFNzDh0JEcqdewVU_74owrruvPwqWi385-JK9Ar7AAQpKh1QHEwuB1tOJEb3iWwL-MyC4Lb6PxgzvQR/s640/IMG_9127.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John following P2</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKfjrxFEO_x9sg3NCeoyBI7XmYvSn7NdCrvjgPcKGuWbapBeLu9msGO9ckgMu_nLhOHIKnxx2F096CwHgLgWNRMwflmLLIr_MqTUVkT44Ttt0-fgaMktHozutAguj_R2wWF2HWQrl3qkzr/s1600/IMG_0589_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKfjrxFEO_x9sg3NCeoyBI7XmYvSn7NdCrvjgPcKGuWbapBeLu9msGO9ckgMu_nLhOHIKnxx2F096CwHgLgWNRMwflmLLIr_MqTUVkT44Ttt0-fgaMktHozutAguj_R2wWF2HWQrl3qkzr/s640/IMG_0589_2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">P3, Pa's Pitch</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOfPcHDx0tE7ZupQc5JawEaklrBi5hOcHZDBjpkt167rZIYxXkA7S01MRV766rLOI6f9SDYlnooxgFMXbGxMVkvIceCkfXgvXJtgb3mR7Iy7zVB6Kb2uL8aHFV1xuM0chn0sm9GXfPCfux/s1600/IMG_0590.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOfPcHDx0tE7ZupQc5JawEaklrBi5hOcHZDBjpkt167rZIYxXkA7S01MRV766rLOI6f9SDYlnooxgFMXbGxMVkvIceCkfXgvXJtgb3mR7Iy7zVB6Kb2uL8aHFV1xuM0chn0sm9GXfPCfux/s640/IMG_0590.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Following P3</td></tr>
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Here is where things got interesting. The rock is worse; mostly sand held together with lichen. With more lichen on top. All of the ledges are covered with gravel. There's an occasional tree. I decided to quest up the center of the face, hoping to piece together something fun and a little challenging, with the knowledge that we could always bail left if things got too "engaging." Things got too engaging. I groveled onto a ledge with a few small lodgepoles on them, hoping to cut left and get out of here. But, I was out of rope. I belayed Dad up and we settled in for the next part of the show, what he later dubbed "The Tightrope."<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some ledge action</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Mgr3xX1YuTP_NOu2PE4YRSGXPyAUDUVDlygItSkuLMtjC6CdMeeQBvThP_j1Hqj3ho9Y1M3582uviZ-bEH9xv1-98RNUfJUE4Boj6fQVyvNEfZbE32INCamGEP_UcvMgWshzJY7ZNUdp/s1600/IMG_0593.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Mgr3xX1YuTP_NOu2PE4YRSGXPyAUDUVDlygItSkuLMtjC6CdMeeQBvThP_j1Hqj3ho9Y1M3582uviZ-bEH9xv1-98RNUfJUE4Boj6fQVyvNEfZbE32INCamGEP_UcvMgWshzJY7ZNUdp/s640/IMG_0593.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Starting the Tightrope pitch (P5)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg32cqjhfBtSqTWzwDIBhzrkl65SEiRQMeMSrfwfBRhKAfLm2BNgT_W9tntlzYTmLkc0PnEcGy1ovGQeJSsUxyE0H1gVFJyrC3eTuTLJSRR1J7xh32mZ3v_lfX_sp_goUuE6DKDr5K8iiwF/s1600/IMG_0594.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg32cqjhfBtSqTWzwDIBhzrkl65SEiRQMeMSrfwfBRhKAfLm2BNgT_W9tntlzYTmLkc0PnEcGy1ovGQeJSsUxyE0H1gVFJyrC3eTuTLJSRR1J7xh32mZ3v_lfX_sp_goUuE6DKDr5K8iiwF/s640/IMG_0594.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mid-pitch</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4KiEE_mSFbQLPZkjTXT5bbvT8vuSJ6endhMhIU9S87PfmR_w6Yvalo_WiWUx-CmaxUzuK1ZHvr2C4SQndfSzNDG_qJ6-oxRiYKBbozcfAntY50oW5Rb6idPS3XbWnDf64CKPafkjqWLWZ/s1600/IMG_0597_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4KiEE_mSFbQLPZkjTXT5bbvT8vuSJ6endhMhIU9S87PfmR_w6Yvalo_WiWUx-CmaxUzuK1ZHvr2C4SQndfSzNDG_qJ6-oxRiYKBbozcfAntY50oW5Rb6idPS3XbWnDf64CKPafkjqWLWZ/s640/IMG_0597_3.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back from the rim- Zoom in for some slung-horn action!</td></tr>
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I gently moved out left to the end of the ledge, and started tiptoeing across small edges to the end of the face. My pack seemed to pull me out over the headwall, taunting me with nasty images of ledge falls and broken rock. I tested every piece of rock I touched, waiting for something to break in my hands. No holds broke on this pitch, but if they had it wouldn't have been pretty. I climbed a good 40' off of the ledge, and finally found some rock good enough for some pro. I slammed in a yellow totem and immediately slung a solid horn after, feeling miles better. The rest of the pitch flew by. I pulled onto the ridge and into the sun, quickly wrapped the rope around some boulders, and brought Dad up. An exciting pitch!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGBFGNu2Mf0Udsoa2QSw928JqVTGIbanGrD3zQYRifQKDGA3sElnaRJ5ogTOZERWVFhPYguTalqjkw-G6b6BtwT8RK4ARLKhEGixL9cy49dt90fHZNWhdq5g9iIumP5agtT4RXjdpBncwT/s1600/IMG_0598_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGBFGNu2Mf0Udsoa2QSw928JqVTGIbanGrD3zQYRifQKDGA3sElnaRJ5ogTOZERWVFhPYguTalqjkw-G6b6BtwT8RK4ARLKhEGixL9cy49dt90fHZNWhdq5g9iIumP5agtT4RXjdpBncwT/s640/IMG_0598_2.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Excited!</td></tr>
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Finally done, we considered the potential for this to be a new route. Was anyone misdirected enough to climb this house-of-cards chosspile? We should find out.<br />
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We left Howard for another day and headed down without incident.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp8odqBloto5ZPFeWZyZtr3AqytKiUntVvVZuwT6vsJPDbEKLJmpP4DbwaoxQCVexknGUCHmYKn9MKC-32TzQIxKavIuOXK2PvcTGRLwrBXJonz_tvpoqq4bLMKef_mGVO6oaBMZ4HavSI/s1600/IMG_9144.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp8odqBloto5ZPFeWZyZtr3AqytKiUntVvVZuwT6vsJPDbEKLJmpP4DbwaoxQCVexknGUCHmYKn9MKC-32TzQIxKavIuOXK2PvcTGRLwrBXJonz_tvpoqq4bLMKef_mGVO6oaBMZ4HavSI/s640/IMG_9144.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trail Creek East</td></tr>
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We motored down the road and out to Amy Lou's, with plenty of time to spare for burgers before another long night drive.<br />
<br />Fadgen's Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16693548016894583724noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308604707301670536.post-1678789444733896342019-09-09T11:09:00.000-06:002019-09-09T11:09:28.733-06:00Broken Arrow Arete, Mustang Peak <h3>
August 31, 2019</h3>
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A quick climb in Wildhorse.</div>
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Nicole and I left Logan around 5PM, and after a rather large Wendy's order we were headed north to the Pioneer Mountains in Central Idaho. We were hoping to score a spot in Wildhorse Campground, and either drive or pedal up to the Wildhorse TH in the morning. It was Labor Day weekend, and as we neared the campground it became apparent finding a site would be iffy at best. However, we got lucky and pulled right into a nice site, and turned off the lights around 1am. </div>
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Around 8 the next morning we rolled out of camp to the notoriously rough road to the TH, and decided to go for it in the car. After about 45 minutes of careful driving and a few moose sightings, we were at the trailhead. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Dxzqs6Ekv7uGsuUuQpUNDpWRqieOUndzevK7ezCqleQIWkrXUYErXz5LjRLyxZWSn22qBV67uzcXP0ovi_y42w27XGfQMUVbOfiQwT3ochWkdR8Oxlq1YQN0CW6LTGsTbXqeouHIQkk/s1600/IMG_0392.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Dxzqs6Ekv7uGsuUuQpUNDpWRqieOUndzevK7ezCqleQIWkrXUYErXz5LjRLyxZWSn22qBV67uzcXP0ovi_y42w27XGfQMUVbOfiQwT3ochWkdR8Oxlq1YQN0CW6LTGsTbXqeouHIQkk/s640/IMG_0392.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We went up the leftmost "scoop" to the skyline. </td></tr>
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The route is relatively straightforward: Go up the trail until you come across a large talus slope that looks like it will get you where you want to go, then scramble up until you feel like pulling out the rope. We decided to head up the face to a small col, then rope up there. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY3apEB0XfspA9UkjWZKlEptcuGZZ1_J8UHhUNzYP6JmOvZ1b4GGqeLd7vh690bPqzcpnNmk-DzQfwSXdMH2HIwuetue65w_P9CBHNV_n5WG3b_uJeigXoIqfzR5TxjBlyrdEmZGEA-IA/s1600/IMG_0377.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY3apEB0XfspA9UkjWZKlEptcuGZZ1_J8UHhUNzYP6JmOvZ1b4GGqeLd7vh690bPqzcpnNmk-DzQfwSXdMH2HIwuetue65w_P9CBHNV_n5WG3b_uJeigXoIqfzR5TxjBlyrdEmZGEA-IA/s640/IMG_0377.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The scramble</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlXTt0FB-JVDJTECTcDH8bgTvmArjQ6JyzLIeZZLODFKd5yobVc1v7yxiop-IFcb0_AlxeeY9N1m4cFt_gsTaGvUpZsvHs-yIhSSMgwCljKW7Dm_52gAzt4-Svyf_9q_1OuH0dqn3sy0w/s1600/IMG_20190831_123205505_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlXTt0FB-JVDJTECTcDH8bgTvmArjQ6JyzLIeZZLODFKd5yobVc1v7yxiop-IFcb0_AlxeeY9N1m4cFt_gsTaGvUpZsvHs-yIhSSMgwCljKW7Dm_52gAzt4-Svyf_9q_1OuH0dqn3sy0w/s640/IMG_20190831_123205505_HDR.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rope time!</td></tr>
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At about 11:30 I took off from our ledge just below the ridge. It looked like there was about 3 pitches of climbing to the top of the arete. The arete is a beautiful, exposed piece of rock, typical to the Pioneers. Long featured blocks of quartzite took protection readily, and there always seemed to be holds where you needed them. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3TUl1dBuplgnCGOfApptyDYvYRzI6G_a6OX2GDgKycpi8BVIFLRnjwDTq6w1B-AYx6mMLt3fbcLt3i9oBU9uckGfqtl4JZGKuh9sSI9Bvhslqr0VTEXdzbIxidT1nRIjCNDPldJGnwLQ/s1600/IMG_0381.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3TUl1dBuplgnCGOfApptyDYvYRzI6G_a6OX2GDgKycpi8BVIFLRnjwDTq6w1B-AYx6mMLt3fbcLt3i9oBU9uckGfqtl4JZGKuh9sSI9Bvhslqr0VTEXdzbIxidT1nRIjCNDPldJGnwLQ/s640/IMG_0381.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking up</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Oo9IHMoxzRCM87Ofc78P2yPNfPaVi4kGGSYAKpD1Jn0YmPTBL4SnxE5Cejzze6kO736rZTgEAHtzQjgkcz59d3XMqHg8CwFfIEe_366k3fbPHSaQeAImsI4aWP_o2qPOA5il3dwHxbA/s1600/IMG_0388.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Oo9IHMoxzRCM87Ofc78P2yPNfPaVi4kGGSYAKpD1Jn0YmPTBL4SnxE5Cejzze6kO736rZTgEAHtzQjgkcz59d3XMqHg8CwFfIEe_366k3fbPHSaQeAImsI4aWP_o2qPOA5il3dwHxbA/s640/IMG_0388.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back on P2</td></tr>
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Somewhere in the middle of the steepest section of the ridge (P2? My memory fails me) a stunning right facing dihedral opens up. It is almost vertical, and looks about featureless. As I got closer to this dihedral, it looked more and more difficult, maybe more than I wanted, given that my last piece was some 30 feet below me. As I made the decision to enter it, however, I noticed a beautiful 1" crack splitting the whole left side. Sweet! Fingerlocks and gear and good feet made that forty or fifty feet the highlight of the technical climbing. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP1uXzugsWYtrPddxozrlAHforYFR4KRlsPNdI6FvLwqDI-ZQOGZSx6dN3DX3WS4zKQ-wyuNuXc1MiciYKlSNwMMmriYApu-WuK43luQCVeZ-QazhXDyJJBQ-z1zCKp3b4VMQSoXht8Z0/s1600/IMG_8975.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP1uXzugsWYtrPddxozrlAHforYFR4KRlsPNdI6FvLwqDI-ZQOGZSx6dN3DX3WS4zKQ-wyuNuXc1MiciYKlSNwMMmriYApu-WuK43luQCVeZ-QazhXDyJJBQ-z1zCKp3b4VMQSoXht8Z0/s640/IMG_8975.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Topping out P3</td></tr>
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After the dihedral pitch was another full length blocky ridge pitch, and then the final fifty or so feet of roped scrambling to the end of the arete, bringing the pitch count to 4. Time to stow the gear and head to the summit for the day!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAXYOUlqIBvBWqzez_Ba9RJj3BSleRIjbeK1YjJnYKC5VZj23byRK5e3-vAOKDEkRcUs1KmTTWEJ5EdMAkUElOUrXiFHiPTc-1Egj-LPHlEon8AaBGEjbDLXnYAxS5R9h4qhmcrEoMotA/s1600/IMG_20190831_143813451.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAXYOUlqIBvBWqzez_Ba9RJj3BSleRIjbeK1YjJnYKC5VZj23byRK5e3-vAOKDEkRcUs1KmTTWEJ5EdMAkUElOUrXiFHiPTc-1Egj-LPHlEon8AaBGEjbDLXnYAxS5R9h4qhmcrEoMotA/s640/IMG_20190831_143813451.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wildhorse Canyon below </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_phmyI4lOEfRlyqsJ498J9WR6Rf4PVltXPaZ6pYdklZA6IUrXMJkfb2mnDt3dbGpCNPFWTWypgycOxRVRkrT9mrpJkzdXBnEbDjsDKapty7emBDtpnTkb_LDDPVSAvnPfoVEU5QGV7Ro/s1600/IMG_8989.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_phmyI4lOEfRlyqsJ498J9WR6Rf4PVltXPaZ6pYdklZA6IUrXMJkfb2mnDt3dbGpCNPFWTWypgycOxRVRkrT9mrpJkzdXBnEbDjsDKapty7emBDtpnTkb_LDDPVSAvnPfoVEU5QGV7Ro/s640/IMG_8989.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Almost to the top</td></tr>
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We topped out, sunned ourselves for the better part of an hour, and began the talus walk back to the head of Wildhorse creek, and then back to the awaiting cold Wendy's cheeseburger from the night before. One of the best burgers I've ever had! It turned out to be a long day, despite only being about 6 miles and 3,000' of gain. <div>
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DFadgenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119739154481308715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308604707301670536.post-56194202745025925212019-09-08T09:41:00.001-06:002019-09-08T09:41:25.934-06:00Lem and Tendoy Peaks<b><a href="https://fadgenfamily.blogspot.com/2019/08/ferguson-and-cleft-peaks-both-11509.html" target="_blank">Link to previous day</a></b><br />
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<b>Monday, August 12th</b><br />
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After a good night's sleep along the Salmon River and a great breakfast at a Salmon gas station cafe, we were on our way to our next objective - the peaks surrounding Bear Valley Lakes basin in the Lemhi Mountains. With loaded backpacks, we hit the trail a little after 9AM.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEBWCxNdRiAMJ45GONrbOMDA7AizzzJPflOww3xMCMIM_mJLWUYjTKqSul1LjGMBx3lr9KgYhT4zS0BEzQEiq6zqXapzWD7VLduDLPe3ElWpYrCvw4LIH6t_BhuLunb82CSYHv1HYHNx24/s1600/IMG_0419.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEBWCxNdRiAMJ45GONrbOMDA7AizzzJPflOww3xMCMIM_mJLWUYjTKqSul1LjGMBx3lr9KgYhT4zS0BEzQEiq6zqXapzWD7VLduDLPe3ElWpYrCvw4LIH6t_BhuLunb82CSYHv1HYHNx24/s400/IMG_0419.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to go</td></tr>
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The trail up to the basin had recently been cleared and didn't offer any outstanding views as evidenced by my lack of photographs. We covered the roughly 5.5 mile trail in a couple of hours and set up camp near the largest of the Bear Valley Basin lakes - Lake 9135.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB6B1PBTWa1cGjgiITYYq4Jye_diYzYx2R66vFyqjkbL6GhUgzZAZ_VqpGIx0iclUnOAG3aPOYP4INy1-ZSihh6wPzmz91-bNSDAniN4cVDhkbUP9Aiqgv6QR1svtbJw97U8DLOdHArcEY/s1600/IMG_0422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB6B1PBTWa1cGjgiITYYq4Jye_diYzYx2R66vFyqjkbL6GhUgzZAZ_VqpGIx0iclUnOAG3aPOYP4INy1-ZSihh6wPzmz91-bNSDAniN4cVDhkbUP9Aiqgv6QR1svtbJw97U8DLOdHArcEY/s640/IMG_0422.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our view for the night</td></tr>
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After pitching our tents and a quick bite, we were off to our first objective - Tendoy Peak. Tendoy was very prominent above our lake, but the summit wasn't obvious from below. We opted to head straight up the steep NE ridge. After a bit of huffing and puffing, were strolling along the broad ridge leading to the final steep rocky ridge to the summit. A little bit of scrambling later and we were on the summit at 10,720 feet.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1iDrOGZPKzC3SAI1U6kHhBf-gS9p4yHhTVjzohf154idRMYql3LVkdljc6eQTKXcUYd2Z4kXi1O_Nn11hlWEmjCzvwJThWtfwrjcMqUZedPJHU92HhIm_JHH4aTnVLlc6Jfsk95qNb4TO/s1600/IMG_0424.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1iDrOGZPKzC3SAI1U6kHhBf-gS9p4yHhTVjzohf154idRMYql3LVkdljc6eQTKXcUYd2Z4kXi1O_Nn11hlWEmjCzvwJThWtfwrjcMqUZedPJHU92HhIm_JHH4aTnVLlc6Jfsk95qNb4TO/s400/IMG_0424.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tendoy Peak</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhSUoeaUE9Q31BIXensUEj6O4nS0czUduUBRsC5kT8Ie3o4OTngc1sirTLCz_LOsJDu8sDDwqtFjC3BKFcezCLCAOz38QXgse0kzYJ79PTPPOYIy_Pf3HnRUUqmprcHjRrEEi1OUmxVIYo/s1600/IMG_0426.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhSUoeaUE9Q31BIXensUEj6O4nS0czUduUBRsC5kT8Ie3o4OTngc1sirTLCz_LOsJDu8sDDwqtFjC3BKFcezCLCAOz38QXgse0kzYJ79PTPPOYIy_Pf3HnRUUqmprcHjRrEEi1OUmxVIYo/s640/IMG_0426.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lake 9135 and Lem Peak from the ridge to Tendoy</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdlfhtFLqmF-7IEUsX8OGMpmyZIPvVT-fEn125Rt9pyBtq4HB0i0JC2tZfx8AjSDchywyTUPGjpwklBMubwnySBeflGUnTyzBBSAPzLjR_cRM89ulaiLDXFrbB24WUIG_sthHwSPCdC3dt/s1600/IMG_0429.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdlfhtFLqmF-7IEUsX8OGMpmyZIPvVT-fEn125Rt9pyBtq4HB0i0JC2tZfx8AjSDchywyTUPGjpwklBMubwnySBeflGUnTyzBBSAPzLjR_cRM89ulaiLDXFrbB24WUIG_sthHwSPCdC3dt/s400/IMG_0429.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dave's summit register dance!</td></tr>
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We took a short break before we split up. Michael and I opted to head back, while Dave decided to follow the ridge to Peak 10,225. I made it back to camp in time to wash off the 3 days of accumulated grime while in the sunshine. Dave eventually showed up just before dark with a big smile on his face! Mission accomplished!<br />
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<b>Day 3 stats </b><br />
Distance - 8.5 miles<br />
Elevation - 4400 feet<br />
Time - 6 hours<br />
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<b>Tuesday, August 13th</b><br />
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We had another alpine start the next morning as we hit the trail a little after 8AM. After following the un-maintained Allison Creek trail south from Lake 9135,and crossing multiple wild flower filled meadows along the way, we broke out onto a broad plateau below Lem Peak. This is some beautiful country!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWaXrnTOnuBiWQKPnNCKC_wjTbQU_87OmxRUnbU2xP2EM6voe7a2TeYJ5rn_8xiuBEBfZLF_zuf3gUUWeoNsC2gGyN5qEk2OmKUYG89BDaDHPVsR-XRya4DV8l0vo-6mG7G-yYz2_bvSl_/s1600/IMG_0434.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWaXrnTOnuBiWQKPnNCKC_wjTbQU_87OmxRUnbU2xP2EM6voe7a2TeYJ5rn_8xiuBEBfZLF_zuf3gUUWeoNsC2gGyN5qEk2OmKUYG89BDaDHPVsR-XRya4DV8l0vo-6mG7G-yYz2_bvSl_/s640/IMG_0434.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha4xPAa3D5G1Yq5s5_9bIhgix132UHYW5JUz3TeqLVVkXwdCeSSl8gzmk61rBo3EViH4HSMswfd0OmE5zF4ChD6v4Np9jmAkeMehit4ZlQTv3bvVTf1LcYVaUeC89chgmRT93nNWS1nwOD/s1600/IMG_0436.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha4xPAa3D5G1Yq5s5_9bIhgix132UHYW5JUz3TeqLVVkXwdCeSSl8gzmk61rBo3EViH4HSMswfd0OmE5zF4ChD6v4Np9jmAkeMehit4ZlQTv3bvVTf1LcYVaUeC89chgmRT93nNWS1nwOD/s640/IMG_0436.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lem Peak</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQHbdhDvn3gGebqT2OgBN8U-EWMw9uJA7sawW9TYzW3RMV3XpxXq9ZD9b_6Rbd9jNwkegqaDTaClXhHnNddtf3ly5GEjN8csI58FQVm9JrKKVpA9wCEAocXBQ0jBNgtCAD2jjeiqoJwJN0/s1600/IMG_0438.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQHbdhDvn3gGebqT2OgBN8U-EWMw9uJA7sawW9TYzW3RMV3XpxXq9ZD9b_6Rbd9jNwkegqaDTaClXhHnNddtf3ly5GEjN8csI58FQVm9JrKKVpA9wCEAocXBQ0jBNgtCAD2jjeiqoJwJN0/s640/IMG_0438.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dave looking for the best route to the top</td></tr>
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The remnants of the trail switched back and forth across the scree before heading up to a saddle, where it joined an old Jeep trail coming up from the other side. The Jeep trail looked like it'd be a nice gentle route.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj18PK_Yjfuo3lGwhOelaty_2J-n58HY7NpmCN2obT7UQn66m9KwlqFUq-pefBXx76DdrfZpcRivqMldk5yVjn-WEMyQ2_6jFvuYTRDIj62S8sQkVBwOW8bxJFWmQt0WUJ0OOa78fB_VqLe/s1600/IMG_0444.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj18PK_Yjfuo3lGwhOelaty_2J-n58HY7NpmCN2obT7UQn66m9KwlqFUq-pefBXx76DdrfZpcRivqMldk5yVjn-WEMyQ2_6jFvuYTRDIj62S8sQkVBwOW8bxJFWmQt0WUJ0OOa78fB_VqLe/s640/IMG_0444.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saddle below Lem Peak</td></tr>
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We took a short break at the saddle to hydrate and re-fuel. From the saddle, we did our best to follow any bit of goat trail we could find. For the most part we did a great job, with the exception being a short portion I led.<br />
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I followed what I thought was a goat trail only to have it wither away. Faced with either back tracking to the ridge or heading up the steep, loose rocks, I chose the latter. After a short, 50 foot stretch of very loose rock, we were back on the ridge. Whew!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michael navigating the loose section</td></tr>
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After bypassing a few gendarmes and skirting another sketchy section or two, we were on the summit at 10,985 feet!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sort of summit Splattski</td></tr>
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The surrounding views were a bit hazy, but still outstanding! After a short break, we re-traced our route down. After all, Dave had another peak to climb!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0iul5OV5FRFnob573rQH-3O82sjogMcd-BfifUwZsxJvRrDY47Qfw57qkmgv-mvb-r1iIyxpzsa9KGT1Bgej2ibq-g_eZ3uN44kBX_2kYVrLOFGF2nFd5n9HPlAhUFrBrbOH9Gcs4Arh0/s1600/IMG_0463.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0iul5OV5FRFnob573rQH-3O82sjogMcd-BfifUwZsxJvRrDY47Qfw57qkmgv-mvb-r1iIyxpzsa9KGT1Bgej2ibq-g_eZ3uN44kBX_2kYVrLOFGF2nFd5n9HPlAhUFrBrbOH9Gcs4Arh0/s640/IMG_0463.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading down</td></tr>
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While Michael and I lounged in the sunshine in a large meadow below, Dave continued on the connecting ridge to Peak 10,456 (Little Lem Peak).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvuAipEIOIKznHp6HW-0B44bUkacDMgX5tT6A4pGfZ4Kn93qtLtzgRchp9FDqif0uPJddZ7DmJjR3zDlZ6aDJuzCb0OpKOoG6iZmhSDL9s6AljGhZ8MBxOCi_JH9bVTYlNMe1j-hMpkXTG/s1600/IMG_0468.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvuAipEIOIKznHp6HW-0B44bUkacDMgX5tT6A4pGfZ4Kn93qtLtzgRchp9FDqif0uPJddZ7DmJjR3zDlZ6aDJuzCb0OpKOoG6iZmhSDL9s6AljGhZ8MBxOCi_JH9bVTYlNMe1j-hMpkXTG/s640/IMG_0468.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dave on the summit of Peak 10,456</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Close up</td></tr>
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Dave eventually re-joined us and we strolled back to our packs and then proceeded down the trail back to our vehicles. Other than meeting a group of disgruntled youth, with oversized packs, headed up the trail, the trip down was just long, dusty and hot.<br />
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Once back to the cars, we bid goodbye to Dave, and Michael and I turned north to our next objective - Snowshoe Peak north of Missoula, Montana.<br />
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Just south of Salmon is a place called the Baker Country Market. This is an Amish run place with a large assortment of canned and baked goods, including an excellent deli. The sandwiches, which featured fresh bread, vegetables and possible homemade mayonnaise, were to die for! Of course, a full day of hiking could have had something to do with that...<br />
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<b>Day 4 stats </b><br />
Distance - 10.4 miles<br />
Elevation - 2200 feet<br />
Time - 7:15<br />
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<br />Fadgen's Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16693548016894583724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308604707301670536.post-62363658341896835892019-08-31T11:59:00.000-06:002019-08-31T11:59:08.454-06:00Ferguson and Cleft Peaks (Both 11,509')<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Saturday, August 10th</b></div>
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Michael had been planning a follow up to last year's Montana trip with another visit to Big Sky country. But, as the weekend approached, the weather took a turn for the worse, so we made a quick decision Friday evening to head to the Lost River and Lemhi ranges before turning North.</div>
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Like last year, Michael, Super Dave and I would be the participants. After the short 5 hour drive from Boise, we arrived at the Swauger Lakes trailhead under beautiful skies. NOAA had a 30% thundershower prediction for the following afternoon, so we figured we'd climb the peak with the longer ridge approach today - Ferguson Peak.</div>
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We quickly made our way up the switchbacks on the nice Swauger Lakes trail and took a left turn as the trail headed the other way. We followed the valley southwest until we reached 10,300 feet before climbing the steep scree field to reach the ridge to Ferguson.<br />
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At the base of the scree field, we spotted a couple dozen sheep in a few groups. This ram allowed me to get a picture before he scampered off.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michael headed up the scree</td></tr>
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Once on the ridge, we could see Ferguson. It looked to be a ways off with some interesting features between us and the summit.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDOCfqHg-b_oBRnUGGlSwwnVRcYeFrSDDRF0yAy-xVCuCdlc0CxIdmVxxYkYf3Lw-G6qCC7BY5MB8Upr1L-INmIWmlwnT9zNCe5Tpte-oqCWECUfUarYaE6sEu_sVAlpNJfZYstE5vZNuw/s1600/IMG_0352.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDOCfqHg-b_oBRnUGGlSwwnVRcYeFrSDDRF0yAy-xVCuCdlc0CxIdmVxxYkYf3Lw-G6qCC7BY5MB8Upr1L-INmIWmlwnT9zNCe5Tpte-oqCWECUfUarYaE6sEu_sVAlpNJfZYstE5vZNuw/s640/IMG_0352.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dave contemplating the ridge</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ferguson Peak</td></tr>
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We followed the crest of the ridge as best we could, but deviated around the sketchy sections by following the sheep trails. After almost two miles and two hours of ridge, we were at the summit.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Half-assed Splattski</td></tr>
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After signing the summit register and having a snack, we retraced our steps across the ridge back to the saddle. Here we split up; Dave continuing on up to climb peak 10,648, while Michael and I relaxed on the down climb.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michael on a ledge headed back from Ferguson</td></tr>
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We eventually met up just prior to the switchbacks and hiked back to the car discussing where to camp that night.<br />
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<b>Day 1 stats </b><br />
Distance - 10.3 miles<br />
Elevation - 4300 feet<br />
Time - 7:40<br />
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Our next objective, Cleft Peak, was in the drainage to our North. We only had to drive a short while before we happened upon a nice spot to pitch our tents.<br />
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<b>Sunday, August 11th</b><br />
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We woke to a beautiful sunny morning, and we were not in any great hurry to get going. So, after a leisurely breakfast and a bit of bird watching, we finally broke camp and made the short drive to the end of Dry Creek road.<br />
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It appeared that NOAA's prediction of precip might come true as dark clouds were moving in quickly from the West.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQNnviJAgfKUkmagv4lVy1wklBQOAA9KWgzeCglxsCnP1gwF-WuAS-D52JJhhY0Sfdi0zde1De2OVh1Rqg9cP1xAnQpYtWzjZXCCBLL9daUbqv1P69V_1-tq7HslTBb4OkGdbLjEYXcSz/s1600/IMG_0371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQNnviJAgfKUkmagv4lVy1wklBQOAA9KWgzeCglxsCnP1gwF-WuAS-D52JJhhY0Sfdi0zde1De2OVh1Rqg9cP1xAnQpYtWzjZXCCBLL9daUbqv1P69V_1-tq7HslTBb4OkGdbLjEYXcSz/s640/IMG_0371.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ferguson Peak from the other side</td></tr>
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As we hiked up Dry Creek, we did get a few sprinkles, but continued on what appeared to be an old ATV trail. After close to four miles of flat walking, we left the trail and took a right up the appropriate drainage.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cleft Peak on the left</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNQfMTtOIp2G5NTfMlIFK2KeXQBCrKIzO2Wf1Xr7PiiX668t9lDMrrkZOxSK3BQCFII-72puFhZiE8Vb8LHnj94RvHr8HfLplPrtEwsOxn5rjntDo66k7Rxj0ZWL2zRls_Ep9FjhyWiq9D/s1600/IMG_0379.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNQfMTtOIp2G5NTfMlIFK2KeXQBCrKIzO2Wf1Xr7PiiX668t9lDMrrkZOxSK3BQCFII-72puFhZiE8Vb8LHnj94RvHr8HfLplPrtEwsOxn5rjntDo66k7Rxj0ZWL2zRls_Ep9FjhyWiq9D/s640/IMG_0379.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now where is the trail again?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisWt2ax_E1VotdVEjwc30ykRsldm3xBWBZdk6j6GNC3AMGkrfi6N-6o-o4RrCwB3fJ36_obuAKYFU3InvY-r8QPltbUH5Vc2ydQY-M8cDGXnpNlJfvv0IX9zGQiCwdaglZHYvSiBeB5n17/s1600/IMG_0384.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisWt2ax_E1VotdVEjwc30ykRsldm3xBWBZdk6j6GNC3AMGkrfi6N-6o-o4RrCwB3fJ36_obuAKYFU3InvY-r8QPltbUH5Vc2ydQY-M8cDGXnpNlJfvv0IX9zGQiCwdaglZHYvSiBeB5n17/s640/IMG_0384.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading up the drainage</td></tr>
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The drainage was a mix of deadfall, avy debris, brush, rocks, rocks and more rocks. Occasionally we would come to a choke point and we'd either go over or move around it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj9MvUl35NvpxonGBoUfNi9-FAjoy9IVYKsTYaPa9e6drHq48FwwwKbOFUyNZMKnsRhWp8JD5uzsi6v_p4IHIsbAxU25nfRyRBfH1KJqTYDdg8I6n8MOCZavFP1iDcmvVO3Xyt56ZFD65w/s1600/IMG_0385.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj9MvUl35NvpxonGBoUfNi9-FAjoy9IVYKsTYaPa9e6drHq48FwwwKbOFUyNZMKnsRhWp8JD5uzsi6v_p4IHIsbAxU25nfRyRBfH1KJqTYDdg8I6n8MOCZavFP1iDcmvVO3Xyt56ZFD65w/s400/IMG_0385.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dave on a 3rd class scramble in the drainage</td></tr>
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As the drainage opened up, the cloud cover dissipated and we were left with nothing but scree.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgROCZXXCXJETaoyn1x__zKzTOt8q2F3dprQc172kgPJLJzoln4xdTE1vFwrWzvGogi_ggSuRV2AzGFMkokHbodHThScEd40eb7TsF5Ss1vy5wHtSJ4wWdZg6SlwVLibn0EY0Tue4QSFZER/s1600/IMG_0394.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgROCZXXCXJETaoyn1x__zKzTOt8q2F3dprQc172kgPJLJzoln4xdTE1vFwrWzvGogi_ggSuRV2AzGFMkokHbodHThScEd40eb7TsF5Ss1vy5wHtSJ4wWdZg6SlwVLibn0EY0Tue4QSFZER/s640/IMG_0394.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj76QMtixlAeHDwYQCe61MzHjvICiWUJN5X-rll_P-xAh8fjmnq39xXu8ws4LhI3wENY4md6H7qLC1aFpJnUX2KpHZQaFmoszXXcmGnfptdIzrsO7i0N1IabdnT8Wa3SvEkUillbNnRbdtv/s1600/IMG_0395.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj76QMtixlAeHDwYQCe61MzHjvICiWUJN5X-rll_P-xAh8fjmnq39xXu8ws4LhI3wENY4md6H7qLC1aFpJnUX2KpHZQaFmoszXXcmGnfptdIzrsO7i0N1IabdnT8Wa3SvEkUillbNnRbdtv/s640/IMG_0395.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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We each chose our own line, put our heads down and zig-zagged our way up the steep scree field until we reached the ridge at 10,800 feet.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmBmsyGo1ZFrG0exxQo2xQyS3hZmOM35x8cCAu0eu5pudLxIyxicMiECnlAfomYrus_EiqU_EgHqXs8ix3GI7iEfGgUdQ8wFnIQmldSymRi2zeHilwHUXHdTbqTrZohaqUYPlZ8mexGz2a/s1600/IMG_0400.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmBmsyGo1ZFrG0exxQo2xQyS3hZmOM35x8cCAu0eu5pudLxIyxicMiECnlAfomYrus_EiqU_EgHqXs8ix3GI7iEfGgUdQ8wFnIQmldSymRi2zeHilwHUXHdTbqTrZohaqUYPlZ8mexGz2a/s640/IMG_0400.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Once on the ridge, we had a few scramble sections, but nothing too difficult. Unlike the long ridge the previous day on Ferguson, the ridge to Cleft was only 1/2 mile long.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic4PG24rnUaV1yYN9h7DtGT08eo0IzKi4qhWLwRmtSUEanmY1m2mfhnTSRKwx7Gw28nZuq5Fm-8UaFT7AKoyrteGkAlIWVnHr6ExQWljoyiMii7kD1H2MEsdGYA6URGe54bDvXarjXzbbV/s1600/IMG_0407.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic4PG24rnUaV1yYN9h7DtGT08eo0IzKi4qhWLwRmtSUEanmY1m2mfhnTSRKwx7Gw28nZuq5Fm-8UaFT7AKoyrteGkAlIWVnHr6ExQWljoyiMii7kD1H2MEsdGYA6URGe54bDvXarjXzbbV/s640/IMG_0407.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAi_4GB_vGApD9P5zQC4hP4tB-7HUdfj0E9HgQf8lVNuWWT8XeqifpvZQ-LdcbSDYxgoobLFO7BM91anDTAqyR0K9tDkaMHDWYe2iXcbE7v5IizhdynH4h1YA53smVORlhYSduVfFzE-SI/s1600/DSC04364.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAi_4GB_vGApD9P5zQC4hP4tB-7HUdfj0E9HgQf8lVNuWWT8XeqifpvZQ-LdcbSDYxgoobLFO7BM91anDTAqyR0K9tDkaMHDWYe2iXcbE7v5IizhdynH4h1YA53smVORlhYSduVfFzE-SI/s640/DSC04364.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">D. Pahlas photo</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUvSHuZTqi5PqoUnvZHO9X2ipDLBM_kTsb9CU6428AJbyEzIJVXSJB7FetEF0fMq4Uv0WhwkXslCfMT1dqLPjm9h33u5UAhqC8-1GOMevv0WjXSNxa7L8UYDc1aJ1K8EawzETCdPSNLyti/s1600/IMG_0412.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUvSHuZTqi5PqoUnvZHO9X2ipDLBM_kTsb9CU6428AJbyEzIJVXSJB7FetEF0fMq4Uv0WhwkXslCfMT1dqLPjm9h33u5UAhqC8-1GOMevv0WjXSNxa7L8UYDc1aJ1K8EawzETCdPSNLyti/s640/IMG_0412.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our summit is there somewhere</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGlK5rSRA5d4kn6REutQEdcnjT-BT1Moc6eY_4T-xIw5SzKdeRxQlfZ8V3zh6C8K0n2qgUdnNWxguXutlb0IEm9yo5mrNyj-p8XsWIZz06ygYlaX_St9MSCLGk2QMPCngtJuAVZ0HJtF6_/s1600/IMG_0414.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGlK5rSRA5d4kn6REutQEdcnjT-BT1Moc6eY_4T-xIw5SzKdeRxQlfZ8V3zh6C8K0n2qgUdnNWxguXutlb0IEm9yo5mrNyj-p8XsWIZz06ygYlaX_St9MSCLGk2QMPCngtJuAVZ0HJtF6_/s640/IMG_0414.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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We reached the south summit at roughly 3PM. Where had the day gone? We couldn't recall if the south or north summit was the high point, so we scrambled over the the north summit just to be sure.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVoP7P5w13wZFfIMIUQvmlmSD_UBQwti5URF3kveoaaROqIiMMK5v4ik977JwNPwFT1tjBaSgWXpAhLc2H4dOcyEnoMH0iynsK2wFOap4E0-xl8n_TKNv5pitPwHL6ka5BNHYxYrHDNG1x/s640/IMG_0415.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">North summit of Cleft</td></tr>
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We enjoyed the views while contemplating the remainder of the week. But, realizing we had over 7 miles to get back to the cars, we didn't spend too much time on top.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMCTj564FkfPBntVD894mI9s2Q8_kJJghVPDMipTb1Pg1Qwr8-yl1KjwEosZh8PK1DP1R6F4sOFSFTG50l042BervKR18szOTPlVhAZdTDQhcn2EUzl2YDf3IZMzJX-lx1X2XAJuFSYCz7/s1600/IMG_0418.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMCTj564FkfPBntVD894mI9s2Q8_kJJghVPDMipTb1Pg1Qwr8-yl1KjwEosZh8PK1DP1R6F4sOFSFTG50l042BervKR18szOTPlVhAZdTDQhcn2EUzl2YDf3IZMzJX-lx1X2XAJuFSYCz7/s640/IMG_0418.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michael plunge stepping his way down</td></tr>
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It was a long, hot, walk back down the drainage. We were beat by the time we reached the ATV trail and the last three miles of flat walking were painful. <br />
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We finally reached the cars a little after 7PM. After a quick discussion, we opted to try and get to Mackay for a cheeseburger. We pulled into Amy Lou's in Mackay at 8:45PM on Sunday evening, and after some sweet talking, convinced them to restart the grill for us. Three excellent cheeseburgers later and we were on our way to find a camping spot along the Salmon River.<br />
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<b>Day 2 stats </b><br />
Distance - 14.8 miles<br />
Elevation - 4300 feet<br />
Time - 10:00Fadgen's Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16693548016894583724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308604707301670536.post-76359911604699792722019-08-25T14:59:00.003-06:002019-08-25T20:01:45.257-06:00Lone Peak Cirque, August 16-18, 2019<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Driving just outside the town of Alpine, Utah led us to a locked gate. The most direct route to the Jacob's Ladder trailhead was closed. Apparently it had been for years, but no one has bothered to tell Google. </div>
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Nicole and I were planning to head to the Lone Peak Cirque, a five-ish mile, 5,000' gain stroll straight up the face of the Wasatch to the promise of sweeping 700' granite walls in an alpine setting. We rolled into the current trailhead at about 8:45, and started walking up the trail around 9. Knowing we were in for a long night, we had a few pre-made burritos for dinner on the trail. The Cirque usually dries out mid-July, but we knew there was a chance this wet winter could keep the springs running. Not knowing for sure, we had 10 liters of water between us, a little bonus weight to add to the rope, rack, and gear for two nights.</div>
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After five or so hours of walking, we quietly arrived in the Cirque and set up the tent, exhausted but relieved to be where we were supposed to. At 2:30am we were finally asleep. Despite it being the first night at 10,400', we slept great. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvG5cisJyJJREt8FKPEfjHqdfzq-97fEFFrY1Juh5tl0XYbTS7s_9ETwHJr2dwrlJMSc-L2nID_qYPmxPWYOIqhYf9QB2GbI5d1Scs6LCjd1_m9w0QMJvXAU3RXUzXyWv9zQL6KfoCj7E/s1600/IMG_8905.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvG5cisJyJJREt8FKPEfjHqdfzq-97fEFFrY1Juh5tl0XYbTS7s_9ETwHJr2dwrlJMSc-L2nID_qYPmxPWYOIqhYf9QB2GbI5d1Scs6LCjd1_m9w0QMJvXAU3RXUzXyWv9zQL6KfoCj7E/s640/IMG_8905.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Summit and South Summit walls of the Lone Peak Cirque</td></tr>
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The main objective for the trip was a three-pitch 5.8 on the Question Mark Wall, the Lowe Route. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLin8Hl1hjwnyeNKGfMUGwaKCPwR6umNY0kbhQB_mzAhyphenhyphenkUamC9KTVhzlT5V-lETzYctFt6gwEfksNUlzESS5QMJPOjMPPAerLCpl54fZb5wycSWMXtU9gt9ln4bh-xbdJltI1HXduaYM/s1600/IMG_8823.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLin8Hl1hjwnyeNKGfMUGwaKCPwR6umNY0kbhQB_mzAhyphenhyphenkUamC9KTVhzlT5V-lETzYctFt6gwEfksNUlzESS5QMJPOjMPPAerLCpl54fZb5wycSWMXtU9gt9ln4bh-xbdJltI1HXduaYM/s640/IMG_8823.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tent is down there somewhere</td></tr>
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This route includes a wandering low 5th class approach pitch, which I still managed to muff up. After some creative problem solving on Nicole's end, we were at the base of the first pitch of our route, a slightly off-vertical dihedral ranging from tight hands to fists, with a healthy dose of face holds. At the top of this dihedral is a nice ledge. I went up and noticed a few fixed pieces in the normal anchor spot, and deciding to save some time and gear, used them. While Nicole was switching from approach to climbing shoes, I unstuck one of the pieces and replaced it in a location it could be retrieved. Sweet! Nicole's improving crack skills were apparent on this pitch, and she joined me on the ledge in just a few minutes. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJKifBeckkpos5EwCCUe0_ys_bXUXkZMHBAd7IC8VYSMSkzWk2-lvZu_Q2zwIBLy6wwI8lLeuUlCfdbqFU5uU2fyOptNaWoCFn8wAsJmPywDH94bYkhv1OOwY9UKGNadIcTNvAStgebo8/s1600/IMG_8832.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJKifBeckkpos5EwCCUe0_ys_bXUXkZMHBAd7IC8VYSMSkzWk2-lvZu_Q2zwIBLy6wwI8lLeuUlCfdbqFU5uU2fyOptNaWoCFn8wAsJmPywDH94bYkhv1OOwY9UKGNadIcTNvAStgebo8/s640/IMG_8832.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking down the first pitch of the Lowe Route</td></tr>
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While getting some water from my harness bottle to spray on the stuck cam, I managed to unclip one of my approach shoes from the carabiner they were sharing. We watched it bounce down the face, jettisoning my sock on the way down. It nestled itself just uphill of a snowfield, at least giving us a good spot to aim for to find it on the way down.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjjEZadKFBDGinF8HDch4SJ8fXuTu3cbvrFnkNipC3f_ai1PL67ZimY4Biav-JcOxwt515Ml5UazXDgu7VukG8CpLJpQ4B1h1qAqnJkH3ow6XRIDlM56NYuc4PPrnbWELikuhWJtJj0Lo/s1600/IMG_0327.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjjEZadKFBDGinF8HDch4SJ8fXuTu3cbvrFnkNipC3f_ai1PL67ZimY4Biav-JcOxwt515Ml5UazXDgu7VukG8CpLJpQ4B1h1qAqnJkH3ow6XRIDlM56NYuc4PPrnbWELikuhWJtJj0Lo/s640/IMG_0327.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smiling because my harness is a lot lighter without both shoes!</td></tr>
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After the dihedral pitch is a wandering ledgy pitch, followed by the wild headwall above. 150' of easy face and relatively sparse pro lead to the top of the wall.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGqvZfzylwizi_Zv_QCK9FbeoBkU0XrvhGoQ3rIM_75TTzltMBbhkvI9Awz-nIy_PRLhQd8Mz1gDqA2dziZ4DjLn1IPOIcPo_AKf4kKsB5Pr3Q24tY-treRXdQXFcRGGTAAVjVOmHdT7U/s1600/IMG_8849.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGqvZfzylwizi_Zv_QCK9FbeoBkU0XrvhGoQ3rIM_75TTzltMBbhkvI9Awz-nIy_PRLhQd8Mz1gDqA2dziZ4DjLn1IPOIcPo_AKf4kKsB5Pr3Q24tY-treRXdQXFcRGGTAAVjVOmHdT7U/s640/IMG_8849.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On top of the Question Mark Wall</td></tr>
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We headed down and discussed our options for the rest of the day and the next. We decided to have lunch and explore the other basin in the Cirque, and maybe climb the Open Book on the Summit Wall the next morning, trying to make it out on time for dinner at home. The upper Cirque is beautiful, and definitely a more secluded place to camp for next time!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgcBZPTCvrYEs8FYITXp6KLnFZOfjerQ4acClvn07sjP-86qThSZfI5lgjIk_PHUE0sK4GtHMy7tao9NnNjYHIXO_i2dDZNRaE_MBzjj5_MnGQLAIYKaSrZMd_XBnJy8k2OB4qunQ7LOc/s1600/IMG_8869.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgcBZPTCvrYEs8FYITXp6KLnFZOfjerQ4acClvn07sjP-86qThSZfI5lgjIk_PHUE0sK4GtHMy7tao9NnNjYHIXO_i2dDZNRaE_MBzjj5_MnGQLAIYKaSrZMd_XBnJy8k2OB4qunQ7LOc/s640/IMG_8869.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Perry's Primrose on the way down. Or, as Nicole says, Perryman's Penstemon. Must have been the altitude. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_-Wczipd6y3n74Nl4CiOlho1iO2UxTb1eNYjE7nSkqwmncfIjfuf11mxtkgWDZduVCSabjfcCAMY1hfozE5dYxfQc5JzhINmS0_z9VWN4qFUECUdRgMflYQa6gKKDHYm7mw92bMGEY_c/s1600/IMG_0339.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_-Wczipd6y3n74Nl4CiOlho1iO2UxTb1eNYjE7nSkqwmncfIjfuf11mxtkgWDZduVCSabjfcCAMY1hfozE5dYxfQc5JzhINmS0_z9VWN4qFUECUdRgMflYQa6gKKDHYm7mw92bMGEY_c/s640/IMG_0339.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pika!</td></tr>
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The next morning we awoke around 8, ate a quick breakfast, and decided to skip the Open Book in the interest of time, and make the hour or so walk to the top of Lone Peak. The hike up was great, with the last few hundred feet of ridge requiring a bit of exposed scrambling.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7dOgFGltgVWOrxZSRaWKEMkgVbZwCHz1bPJ-DSbCXBJc4PooJa_Cq-nttHyPLA1ZXgsMzWidDdg86sDKjX-BsH-QjLONMrO6-RlQJLZ_U22xc9dAX82Buc7oa9Q0B6BDRANzJsxQ-vQ0/s1600/IMG_8908.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7dOgFGltgVWOrxZSRaWKEMkgVbZwCHz1bPJ-DSbCXBJc4PooJa_Cq-nttHyPLA1ZXgsMzWidDdg86sDKjX-BsH-QjLONMrO6-RlQJLZ_U22xc9dAX82Buc7oa9Q0B6BDRANzJsxQ-vQ0/s640/IMG_8908.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Up</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFtmT5GSDXYfKfboXewA9HfEtM6Az6PcVDNAuIpnqoFBcsaFnDma3r7guStSpbFv9PMN8gbItmg9rADr6KOvjjcacVCQkY6almccRY2vwnPqHpIbu3TiZOK6woapAuUU6elzKEAvgwekI/s1600/IMG_8913.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFtmT5GSDXYfKfboXewA9HfEtM6Az6PcVDNAuIpnqoFBcsaFnDma3r7guStSpbFv9PMN8gbItmg9rADr6KOvjjcacVCQkY6almccRY2vwnPqHpIbu3TiZOK6woapAuUU6elzKEAvgwekI/s640/IMG_8913.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The ? Wall from the summit of Lone Peak</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUTBvmI0cDJB2vMCeoaB_pvEuzUmTTjVELmncBtv0IDE5InYhF6T8tINNd1XCFtyUsoJNTKJjdMrc3FuzuSf6PAYd3Z0wPDKnnnhrhOgWclbfrwex6WG_X_cDoAwkmXcjBFMt2G9p_xkc/s1600/IMG_8923.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUTBvmI0cDJB2vMCeoaB_pvEuzUmTTjVELmncBtv0IDE5InYhF6T8tINNd1XCFtyUsoJNTKJjdMrc3FuzuSf6PAYd3Z0wPDKnnnhrhOgWclbfrwex6WG_X_cDoAwkmXcjBFMt2G9p_xkc/s640/IMG_8923.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On top!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNrcIN4QlZxO-wML3db0wiM56xYzTMYgLrhKclfa8Cn70_6Dpx0tdjbFv4m_mLMnLA9L5mnlpRzXuIU1tXV1E41_mpWHSmWAFfqSAif3xpj8HxkA1AznLZpU3L1JY_gkX9XZrOiUsrS0s/s1600/IMG_0351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNrcIN4QlZxO-wML3db0wiM56xYzTMYgLrhKclfa8Cn70_6Dpx0tdjbFv4m_mLMnLA9L5mnlpRzXuIU1tXV1E41_mpWHSmWAFfqSAif3xpj8HxkA1AznLZpU3L1JY_gkX9XZrOiUsrS0s/s640/IMG_0351.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Down</td></tr>
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<div>
On the way down we ran into a family of goats in the upper Cirque, we had our eyes peeled after seeing a bunch of sign the days prior. </div>
<div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX5NwXfsxSFmdkO_bwMPAsGLxIrobMatSiayEENBAzEv3mP2vp87woRvVATm9JNCGwl48IL9dKuldiGvfwmPZWa32ZpTJwrwkKjx_pnP9qR9oBYJPlJbWoc3dxwv4eGg7Z7mZNigjGd2k/s1600/IMG_0361.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX5NwXfsxSFmdkO_bwMPAsGLxIrobMatSiayEENBAzEv3mP2vp87woRvVATm9JNCGwl48IL9dKuldiGvfwmPZWa32ZpTJwrwkKjx_pnP9qR9oBYJPlJbWoc3dxwv4eGg7Z7mZNigjGd2k/s640/IMG_0361.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Goats</td></tr>
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After the summit we packed up, ate our remaining food, and boogied. We hoofed it down the cirque and out of the talus, stopped to fill up on the last water we could find, and made short work of the steep (80% max grade, 18% average grade!) hike out. Dusty and hot we began the quest for burgers in Salt Lake with Taylor and Chase.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgma9TTUDbc2ZHhKMTwMkrujyzqoqzMWM7g-OhHmqgLVO6nvkn3jQ19OQWKPSTqIv_YT2Qn7MnZX3G2QbSw7inAuggjr-wOB8VE0dmrdFkVMZz72E-kVCkSK18liy7UhqgDQLaeJcHBoVs/s1600/IMG_8930.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgma9TTUDbc2ZHhKMTwMkrujyzqoqzMWM7g-OhHmqgLVO6nvkn3jQ19OQWKPSTqIv_YT2Qn7MnZX3G2QbSw7inAuggjr-wOB8VE0dmrdFkVMZz72E-kVCkSK18liy7UhqgDQLaeJcHBoVs/s640/IMG_8930.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The super fun talus at the base of the Cirque</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicdJEsojXMbJAA84dXadDOK-JjkUi7r5vS42D-9n_w34gNh8LEpnrV10hIdx9T4jewo94YPU4jPeIBeJDQxLC-AzLML5P9rbpScWv2cg2RRVEOCuZUNO8tyM2LJmJlRM_7Y8vpKg2Rd44/s1600/IMG_0364.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicdJEsojXMbJAA84dXadDOK-JjkUi7r5vS42D-9n_w34gNh8LEpnrV10hIdx9T4jewo94YPU4jPeIBeJDQxLC-AzLML5P9rbpScWv2cg2RRVEOCuZUNO8tyM2LJmJlRM_7Y8vpKg2Rd44/s640/IMG_0364.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Filtering water for the walk out</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
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DFadgenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119739154481308715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308604707301670536.post-8859378125188501242019-06-10T08:24:00.000-06:002019-06-17T21:39:51.947-06:00Apex Peak, aka Peak 11,220<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-vxdHXUicvUg2GpdoDHo86194P3ywFFwDh3hxKen_D028epBHzpu9JFV910TWNiQZ5eE_GdwByYUpDZlLLrrdTZyoI44tCGqHsnVZ4uQgJVN1T6UNv8UBJabBuOrw7cR8dSPlwU8J6mcG/s1600/IMG_20190608_201713684_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-vxdHXUicvUg2GpdoDHo86194P3ywFFwDh3hxKen_D028epBHzpu9JFV910TWNiQZ5eE_GdwByYUpDZlLLrrdTZyoI44tCGqHsnVZ4uQgJVN1T6UNv8UBJabBuOrw7cR8dSPlwU8J6mcG/s640/IMG_20190608_201713684_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apex Peak on the left</td></tr>
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As Michael and I drove over Double Springs Pass in a snow squall Saturday afternoon, we discussed our intention of climbing Apex Peak. At 11,220 feet, Apex Peak is one of the more obscure, Lost River Range, 11K peaks. The weather was rather frightening on our drive up from Arco, with high winds, rain and snow, but NOAA promised us a clear day for Sunday.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfumlVJ-cWC9rVHgKkTpkxOJmfAq-gw3aDxdHhyphenhyphenWtnFcsALfDwNXn_NL6h2F578o-SzRRlAup0Q-YW8-ZR7-xXvUTwVDwQbXR5SBOjL6h7BBQxqVhwqtqJpS98OtreioqD-nhyV3-vB7-t/s1600/IMG_20190608_201926538.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfumlVJ-cWC9rVHgKkTpkxOJmfAq-gw3aDxdHhyphenhyphenWtnFcsALfDwNXn_NL6h2F578o-SzRRlAup0Q-YW8-ZR7-xXvUTwVDwQbXR5SBOjL6h7BBQxqVhwqtqJpS98OtreioqD-nhyV3-vB7-t/s320/IMG_20190608_201926538.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spotted this baby Pronghorn on the way in</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We drove to the end of the road on the east fork of Burnt Creek and made camp in a damp meadow, near some recently fallen snow. A quick dinner of BBQ chicken, ramen, and a bottle of Pinot was enjoyed as night fell. We knew we were in for a cold morning as we finished off the last of the very chilled wine.<br />
<br />
After a quick breakfast, we were heading up the surprisingly nice east fork trail by 7:30. As NOAA predicted, it was cold, calm and there wasn't a cloud in the sky.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggcc6h0C-uFznU41bVuFrxfl-Ma0hBSl7CiWImG9viLstZciYH5yJEfWEAZJh9tccNY5JQoY4n8x2n91Er4kVnZo9CWLjurY-BIcd2lzipz9AQpEW_NKWlVWXC7e3oRg5j4fq6-p-K5N67/s1600/IMG_20190609_073043459_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggcc6h0C-uFznU41bVuFrxfl-Ma0hBSl7CiWImG9viLstZciYH5yJEfWEAZJh9tccNY5JQoY4n8x2n91Er4kVnZo9CWLjurY-BIcd2lzipz9AQpEW_NKWlVWXC7e3oRg5j4fq6-p-K5N67/s640/IMG_20190609_073043459_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking up the other (west) fork of Burnt Creek</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiorhMuMnmdEMpJ3FbmGXoa1_Xuxo3KJ1kx5jfNnJVlxSF4k3jNtxkFBKkW__ngrAMGMv6ShsI5Dt2hJR83jVi7qUBJgFFQaINOHcu7s2p7f2r_1Kk9e_w0icLgHbfsZuLZxgsu2Y2RVYu2/s1600/IMG_20190609_080833554_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiorhMuMnmdEMpJ3FbmGXoa1_Xuxo3KJ1kx5jfNnJVlxSF4k3jNtxkFBKkW__ngrAMGMv6ShsI5Dt2hJR83jVi7qUBJgFFQaINOHcu7s2p7f2r_1Kk9e_w0icLgHbfsZuLZxgsu2Y2RVYu2/s400/IMG_20190609_080833554_HDR.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A possible DDP, Peak 10,149</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSAQTrYfvyi0mt-YIzBZzhGP76npuM5wQdnHDOO1f6GE5RJFrjTsG1ZvZO4qnaq0_5PF6gJT1To6WD99MaM1ykHDm6NDNjj-wS-mjfkmttG-uHSgTWveDPuji5diE2FH7f0qzCiw4ZCV5g/s1600/IMG_20190609_084134795_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSAQTrYfvyi0mt-YIzBZzhGP76npuM5wQdnHDOO1f6GE5RJFrjTsG1ZvZO4qnaq0_5PF6gJT1To6WD99MaM1ykHDm6NDNjj-wS-mjfkmttG-uHSgTWveDPuji5diE2FH7f0qzCiw4ZCV5g/s640/IMG_20190609_084134795_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Upper drainage of EF Burnt Creek</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We followed the diminishing trail almost to the saddle between peak 10,149 and Apex, before putting on crampons and taking a hard right.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSGFhqwpWKR0S2EYW8O2-AN98jBDqm6Ho086f0p-HxX8lCiFHEd4EVNXb2khyphenhyphen_9CKrY4UbX8Pyyr7cfZot2pMnBokpTIctwbsWZIpVqfBYASw4pg8aMBSofRbdriZICPNkDC4hyphenhyphenPeCcjgC/s1600/IMG_20190609_092447405_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSGFhqwpWKR0S2EYW8O2-AN98jBDqm6Ho086f0p-HxX8lCiFHEd4EVNXb2khyphenhyphen_9CKrY4UbX8Pyyr7cfZot2pMnBokpTIctwbsWZIpVqfBYASw4pg8aMBSofRbdriZICPNkDC4hyphenhyphenPeCcjgC/s640/IMG_20190609_092447405_HDR.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Upper East Fork Drainage</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYslVyAKXs4VsoLKpywRcO3f2mko3Bgq1B1bIAZHJdw_LYvFQR4UAG0ifkN_7A0IT-fvjUqUghMau0IpAfz_QRs4-f1D5d1LA-tMZy_o7_ZuDbi4obOLuhWpPv0MrQ-zZhjrIrLoiLdCJk/s640/IMG_20190609_094517339_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Micheal heading up</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYslVyAKXs4VsoLKpywRcO3f2mko3Bgq1B1bIAZHJdw_LYvFQR4UAG0ifkN_7A0IT-fvjUqUghMau0IpAfz_QRs4-f1D5d1LA-tMZy_o7_ZuDbi4obOLuhWpPv0MrQ-zZhjrIrLoiLdCJk/s1600/IMG_20190609_094517339_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYslVyAKXs4VsoLKpywRcO3f2mko3Bgq1B1bIAZHJdw_LYvFQR4UAG0ifkN_7A0IT-fvjUqUghMau0IpAfz_QRs4-f1D5d1LA-tMZy_o7_ZuDbi4obOLuhWpPv0MrQ-zZhjrIrLoiLdCJk/s1600/IMG_20190609_094517339_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
As we got higher the views opened up. Unfortunately, I left my digital camera at home and had to resort to the camera on my phone. I hope to not have to do that again.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLyxPOsVhA_7U4lcPnTWrtOCPZATqIMtQRsfFxgxqmEfwdaGV97LYyII6UAghctpwFB_jNSKpCnqv9YsVe3fvP8rfxh06Ta3pUge95aG4x6dLpLxrNRwygbMf8GG3LCKqynQXrvZpqVIZH/s1600/IMG_20190609_094758842_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLyxPOsVhA_7U4lcPnTWrtOCPZATqIMtQRsfFxgxqmEfwdaGV97LYyII6UAghctpwFB_jNSKpCnqv9YsVe3fvP8rfxh06Ta3pUge95aG4x6dLpLxrNRwygbMf8GG3LCKqynQXrvZpqVIZH/s640/IMG_20190609_094758842_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">EF Drainage with Peak 10,149 on the right</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6olaIs58_9oIotvRRvtYjxMFXJAXJaZ6zrctsIT63O05xjMfHa0fckjE8x7X8iObfSJUJiNY0toWMyvlBIW4HSQZfU2pJ09hzsLgYE5kIZN4GUUmLgwwezfiH3yH7EAGv2jTNp1IxUBVY/s1600/IMG_20190609_094828478_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6olaIs58_9oIotvRRvtYjxMFXJAXJaZ6zrctsIT63O05xjMfHa0fckjE8x7X8iObfSJUJiNY0toWMyvlBIW4HSQZfU2pJ09hzsLgYE5kIZN4GUUmLgwwezfiH3yH7EAGv2jTNp1IxUBVY/s640/IMG_20190609_094828478_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAYBR6W9T5vqFWhQ3vZju-eRHD4Gq78P4Qed5eGkeAulQ_6yQT7pstkzdHaXnOJaLtqdMLhkb6SgWtv6Lwjkbac8_fUpkWMh9J7dP_lnN6sA1_iOTDX9eEfG2NDzn5tjOPQLe5Xib_nZXw/s1600/IMG_20190609_103429114_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAYBR6W9T5vqFWhQ3vZju-eRHD4Gq78P4Qed5eGkeAulQ_6yQT7pstkzdHaXnOJaLtqdMLhkb6SgWtv6Lwjkbac8_fUpkWMh9J7dP_lnN6sA1_iOTDX9eEfG2NDzn5tjOPQLe5Xib_nZXw/s640/IMG_20190609_103429114_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ferguson Peak (11,509)</td></tr>
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We zig-zagged our way up the steep snow field and eventually reached the north ridge at 10,800 feet. The views of the east side of the Lost River Range were fantastic! However, my phone camera skills were not.<br />
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We followed the meandering ridge to the summit at 11,220 feet.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7GgdVvvFmjA9EJNzxJuFuajfRfYa8psRvXfXxm3iCOt-D5oSL9Tnnu8246IuH_wzJb5qNZag5lk3S7obpGdZb01X1K3Pt3XaUTLMJmkGdXQydOx7Vxsyh2wcbdcbvdydPb7ZWtXDpd4MB/s1600/IMG_20190609_110813620_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7GgdVvvFmjA9EJNzxJuFuajfRfYa8psRvXfXxm3iCOt-D5oSL9Tnnu8246IuH_wzJb5qNZag5lk3S7obpGdZb01X1K3Pt3XaUTLMJmkGdXQydOx7Vxsyh2wcbdcbvdydPb7ZWtXDpd4MB/s640/IMG_20190609_110813620_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The North ridge</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFtpj6S_K_LgqbQBiyIhPWjz_uyAaOcsmpADs8Ln1JDjhcZvjNZbIWpufeQNfgxPjNm6eTVtZm7fRHMOEHkTgv28thMBWci_4fnY2SY2geo2UP6p9YVjz5giaY1aGYqzlP62DhJbpRZV5D/s1600/IMG_20190609_112504026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFtpj6S_K_LgqbQBiyIhPWjz_uyAaOcsmpADs8Ln1JDjhcZvjNZbIWpufeQNfgxPjNm6eTVtZm7fRHMOEHkTgv28thMBWci_4fnY2SY2geo2UP6p9YVjz5giaY1aGYqzlP62DhJbpRZV5D/s640/IMG_20190609_112504026.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Summit!</td></tr>
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After a short break, we started down. I spied a nice glissade path that would take us down to the saddle. So, after stowing away crampons, we were off! We dropped 1000 feet or so to the saddle and briefly talked about climbing peak 10,149. Since there was nothing compelling about this peak, we opted to continue glissading down.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLcgERMLuE97cN0UGRH8rd8hXaivqczH4ojxCBTDwsCN5-ed-eQy3sJuKMrT_PrfmXDlvwCciVIG8jqAPFFUGG4lHqSMWpLzF-07sC6JCzeiImjc08JlwmfNtylNSR0J_ZOkv5iEteWPCg/s1600/IMG_20190609_120744301.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLcgERMLuE97cN0UGRH8rd8hXaivqczH4ojxCBTDwsCN5-ed-eQy3sJuKMrT_PrfmXDlvwCciVIG8jqAPFFUGG4lHqSMWpLzF-07sC6JCzeiImjc08JlwmfNtylNSR0J_ZOkv5iEteWPCg/s640/IMG_20190609_120744301.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glissade path<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Once back in the drainage we just followed the path back out to our campsite.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Another excellent adventure with Michael!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Stats:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Time: 6 hours round trip, 4 to the summit</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Distance: 7.5 miles</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Elevation: 3300 feet</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></div>
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Fadgen's Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16693548016894583724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308604707301670536.post-87975599678130409932019-05-28T17:46:00.000-06:002019-05-28T18:47:11.229-06:00Denali 2019<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
A grand trip in a grand range. </div>
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First things first, I needed to pick up Thomas in Logan. </div>
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He was graduating, so Nicole and I spent the day with him and his family enjoying the free lunch and various festivities. </div>
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After that, it was a quick push up to Kuna to sort the rest of our gear, say goodbyes, and make sure Shadow knew she was to survive until I got back.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCBIwbnBaiPHfOb9YAiYWgdApqWs456FySdoU-E3_jniE455zljeasLzJiTuBE4SihXYNW8PYoaxFczQECoeO283Et0V31dHrWZET3Pgb_FIu5gUsgzp7L15giiQo5TqbquJ48rWfuewLK/s1600/IMG_8260.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCBIwbnBaiPHfOb9YAiYWgdApqWs456FySdoU-E3_jniE455zljeasLzJiTuBE4SihXYNW8PYoaxFczQECoeO283Et0V31dHrWZET3Pgb_FIu5gUsgzp7L15giiQo5TqbquJ48rWfuewLK/s400/IMG_8260.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Need a TNF sponsorship!</td></tr>
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The next morning, the 5th of May, Thomas and I set out to Seattle to meet with his friends Shannon and Donald, who graciously offered us a place to park the car for the duration of the trip, a place to stay for a few nights, and airport transportation. We owe them a lot more than the six pack we brought.</div>
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May 6th was the day we were set to arrive in Talkeetna. The early flight to ANC and the van ride to Talkeetna Air Taxi (TAT) went off without a hitch, and we ended up checking in for our flight to the glacier around 2pm. Time to sort gear.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx9-zZC7nXo0SHmBGMt7np4UWeTu245LJfOHMGJLoWMsLZgsaoJgoISYI94vHKKMQT54kHSmbit7Wv99mZ5OiOKe2tOG9MTivhXJmk-UB1gwkOryLhewbAVykQmxUk-Pl8qUAfoDfHTP2x/s1600/IMG_8275.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx9-zZC7nXo0SHmBGMt7np4UWeTu245LJfOHMGJLoWMsLZgsaoJgoISYI94vHKKMQT54kHSmbit7Wv99mZ5OiOKe2tOG9MTivhXJmk-UB1gwkOryLhewbAVykQmxUk-Pl8qUAfoDfHTP2x/s400/IMG_8275.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The TSA was responsible for two lost pudding cups on the flight.</td></tr>
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Our bags were in compliance with the airline's standards, so we needed to rearrange and drop an extra bag to get ready for the trip. We opted to do a full duffel of food (about 60lbs), a duffel with tents and a few snacks and extras, and personal gear in packs. This would keep the overall pack weight low for the first few legs of the journey, we hoped to save our shoulders as much as possible. Turns out any way you pack them, big packs and heavy sleds suck. Our flight was set to leave at 8am the next morning, but the weather did not look good. They hadn't flown that day or the day prior, any hopes were not high for the next few days. </div>
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Commence the Talkeetna Hang. </div>
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Fast forward a few days of walking laps around town in search of cheap food and free coffee. </div>
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May 9, 2019. Day one-</div>
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The day dawned relatively clear and sunny, we rousted about 7:30am from the TAT bunkhouse and packed up, just making it to Conscious Coffee in time for one more cup before we made it to TAT. We were flying today! </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUHBjJyMwjcF4XJ9jVPtAxEA1-MOhtve9wNmUqAfFaXh-aT812maQHMMtjFwXNEsjG_EgjVj6b7dfApLBCqTydaYH9extIqUiFeFdnvpv4aVLScO5-bUyyNqBEjeTk9MiMJgonhovDQqrw/s1600/IMG_8296.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUHBjJyMwjcF4XJ9jVPtAxEA1-MOhtve9wNmUqAfFaXh-aT812maQHMMtjFwXNEsjG_EgjVj6b7dfApLBCqTydaYH9extIqUiFeFdnvpv4aVLScO5-bUyyNqBEjeTk9MiMJgonhovDQqrw/s400/IMG_8296.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thomas and Plane.</td></tr>
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We were scheduled to be in the second plane out, and there was a little waiting around in mountain boots and shell pants on the tarmac to let a few errant clouds clear and for the plane ahead of us to clear. But, around 11am, we took off, destination Kahiltna Base. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2wGvfgXBLR15NxoaEFI9dRfxMVxel84Hs7S5nT5piOB6_Jz1RCidNJ1xa4yWD5sxSDfjuXrAAZNVlPyrnri4sxlkq97EAq63Vvyv9sSiUyWaymqpfVE2tXRIn8HKvqb74PYa0JrlOQgsP/s1600/IMG_3550.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2wGvfgXBLR15NxoaEFI9dRfxMVxel84Hs7S5nT5piOB6_Jz1RCidNJ1xa4yWD5sxSDfjuXrAAZNVlPyrnri4sxlkq97EAq63Vvyv9sSiUyWaymqpfVE2tXRIn8HKvqb74PYa0JrlOQgsP/s400/IMG_3550.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Base camp from Hunter Pass.</td></tr>
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The flight in was truly and experience. You can see Denali from the airstrip, our first view of it on the whole trip. Since Talkeetna is only at about 350' above sea level, Denali is an easy 20,000' above us. Big is an understatement.<br />
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We landed, picked up our fuel, and pulled our gear off the landing strip and started sorting. We had decided to push to 7,800' camp that day, and we had neglected to fill our water bottles at TAT. So Thomas started melting water as I headed up the hill to bury an extra Clean Mountain Can, some snacks, and a few day's worth of food in case we couldn't fly out immediately on return to base. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja4heF2nz7yoOJJquCEc-y5PAGZVzFr_y30jLSDBmMAolt1fDOm6cqTNTcvdRYNGQ-hVBJB2sWA_7mJzvauY2KMqhpR11ClbHDBli38thiWz27O1lxV72EeTgfv9gvyXOWdGOo8EzVcOBc/s1600/IMG_8301.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja4heF2nz7yoOJJquCEc-y5PAGZVzFr_y30jLSDBmMAolt1fDOm6cqTNTcvdRYNGQ-hVBJB2sWA_7mJzvauY2KMqhpR11ClbHDBli38thiWz27O1lxV72EeTgfv9gvyXOWdGOo8EzVcOBc/s400/IMG_8301.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Base and Mt Hunter.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC_TJXMrjnU0EFCVkczqbDwHAG6YIWgazB_VpiyHDiXm-cb7hm0cenHUNxzU4DE96bt0bucI5VHelACPY9jbuYX_6u5T_Xq2qIe8qOixrn40Wb5HaEWTwgeoPuG-HZHjos8dAYQYLE3Pbv/s1600/IMG_3558.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC_TJXMrjnU0EFCVkczqbDwHAG6YIWgazB_VpiyHDiXm-cb7hm0cenHUNxzU4DE96bt0bucI5VHelACPY9jbuYX_6u5T_Xq2qIe8qOixrn40Wb5HaEWTwgeoPuG-HZHjos8dAYQYLE3Pbv/s400/IMG_3558.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Starting down Heartbreak Hill, Mt. Crosson above, Kahiltna Dome to the right.</td></tr>
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This walk was a killer. Packs were heavy, sleds nearly unbearable. The sun bouncing off the snow-covered peaks around us made it unbearably hot, but the solar radiation prevented one from exposing too much skin to cool. The scale on the lower Kahiltna is hard to imagine. The glacier is easily a mile across, but it looks like an easy ten minute's walk to the other side. Luckily(?), clouds soon obscured the sun, and it was snowing lightly by the time we pulled into what we thought was 7,800' camp. Little did we know we wouldn't be without fresh snow for the next nine days. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBKjup98Tv_Ao3it0ggTqFRQM8MPD_pnYeQTGCIAbh_iC3B6CAplgObkrFpe_7TsXFQ5ba6Sch1dMtwb31wQ4d5hjOf3WKSbO9YmWmtZvgivsh_i2kiiTvIwRP5_I3hBlhQE647aeCYwlL/s1600/IMG_8305.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBKjup98Tv_Ao3it0ggTqFRQM8MPD_pnYeQTGCIAbh_iC3B6CAplgObkrFpe_7TsXFQ5ba6Sch1dMtwb31wQ4d5hjOf3WKSbO9YmWmtZvgivsh_i2kiiTvIwRP5_I3hBlhQE647aeCYwlL/s400/IMG_8305.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"7,800" camp</td></tr>
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We dug a half-assed snow wall, unpacked as little as we needed to, and dove into the tent, utterly spent.<br />
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May 10. Day two-</div>
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Snow. Snow everywhere. The sides of the tent were half buried, every side of the tent was buried. At least a foot of snow had fallen over night, and it wasn't letting up. Luckily, the wind wasn't blowing. Thomas and I didn't have much weather info, but figured if the wind wasn't unbearable then it couldn't really be that bad. We packed up camp slowly and decided to keep moving, maybe making it up to about 9,800' being the goal for the day. </div>
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We started slogging at our soon-to-be usual start time, about 12pm. The lack of overnight darkness made for some good sleeping in; The Alaskan Alpine Start, as I dubbed it. </div>
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It was snowing, the wind was blowing lightly, and visibility was poor. We had made it about 200' up and half a mile over when we came across another grouping of tents, this time with a group of NPS rangers and some other folks. This camp was right at the base of Ski Hill, and we quickly realized this was the actual 7,800' camp. At this time, the clouds descended even further, and we couldn't see more than 15' in front of us. There was no broken trail, only wands, but even those were completely obscured. Oh well. Time to make camp agin. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyEzTayvJVvUUgdgBfZK0MiJdHgk9-aDN7A8M3al1YgStDKsBAeFwPv7zk9DDWgnXvBr8FMWQxdb-te2z-UauIF5qEFiZ-SLGMBumTpr5iq10ZUoBq09gzgZ3JNE3-c2aoIRm7U60hMUlp/s1600/IMG_8329.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyEzTayvJVvUUgdgBfZK0MiJdHgk9-aDN7A8M3al1YgStDKsBAeFwPv7zk9DDWgnXvBr8FMWQxdb-te2z-UauIF5qEFiZ-SLGMBumTpr5iq10ZUoBq09gzgZ3JNE3-c2aoIRm7U60hMUlp/s400/IMG_8329.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Visitor at 7,800' camp.</td></tr>
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More snow. More wind. We ate, screwed around camp a bit, making this one much more weatherproof, and read. Then off to bed around midnight.<br />
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May 11. Day three- </div>
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The weather had not cleared, but we awoke to some movement around us. Two guys from Oregon were pushing up the hill in skis, breaking trail. Sweet! We quickly got a cache together with the intention of carrying up to 9,800' camp and heading back down. We motored up the hill, feeling light without sleds, and quickly caught up to the other two guys. We passed them around the top of Ski Hill, and wandered around between wands until we found some guys in a deep camp. They had been holed up for a few days already, and we had the pleasure of dropping our cache in the windless area behind their camp. With that done, the only thing left to do was turn into the wind and get the hell out of there. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnLRvc_C7q9AoG67OHZaYuOQwf_pVEGIgy_coNzo4811FoGUlo_2dazz-dpzXW0ojDk-Vu8uLheRv7m44GIEjAPHa7QtEWWejfWE7WJqp8issWZq514OHisfDkLCnA8BxKNy7fKg2Wijxf/s1600/IMG_3563.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnLRvc_C7q9AoG67OHZaYuOQwf_pVEGIgy_coNzo4811FoGUlo_2dazz-dpzXW0ojDk-Vu8uLheRv7m44GIEjAPHa7QtEWWejfWE7WJqp8issWZq514OHisfDkLCnA8BxKNy7fKg2Wijxf/s400/IMG_3563.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dressed for the occasion.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSweXhxJIsvVzl9jLhhAKECBkWW1FA_y3rMpiw4DbHq957efMmJE8mJD98D4GuFYp8OUoOj6oRdJ0g64Q1dONKJG2Fsk706Pc05qPbeCoLksgR-x1Y-eMBRiIhZwhIOJ1whdqO9cUBl_yD/s1600/IMG_8319.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSweXhxJIsvVzl9jLhhAKECBkWW1FA_y3rMpiw4DbHq957efMmJE8mJD98D4GuFYp8OUoOj6oRdJ0g64Q1dONKJG2Fsk706Pc05qPbeCoLksgR-x1Y-eMBRiIhZwhIOJ1whdqO9cUBl_yD/s400/IMG_8319.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dinner!</td></tr>
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May 12. Day four-</div>
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Sun! Or, sort of. Not snow, it was close enough. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZt1v9jN4pncIhZWjvFaTDoQK2z8faYeLgK0UrPmsCj82OysAYrvdB-h7SUkXBaUJAH2YhMpLACTGaXd0C67RKtcttMvxuwMoihRB4I0R8mT_kzwrZ89wZEgbRYg60i7eliCd2pO3BbWK9/s1600/IMG_8339.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZt1v9jN4pncIhZWjvFaTDoQK2z8faYeLgK0UrPmsCj82OysAYrvdB-h7SUkXBaUJAH2YhMpLACTGaXd0C67RKtcttMvxuwMoihRB4I0R8mT_kzwrZ89wZEgbRYg60i7eliCd2pO3BbWK9/s400/IMG_8339.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Someone...</td></tr>
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It was time to go. Thomas and I fully intended to move up to our cache, retrieve it, and move a little higher up the Kahiltna until we found a suitable place to camp. The camp and the one below us had been growing steadily busier as groups filtered in and no one left. And with our slow mornings, many people had started up the hill and groomed it nicely for us. By the time we were moving it was around 12:30, and the sun was finally starting to shine. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYNdyXPyTHv6ag18DN9sbfzk_M96PWR__MU2v4tdHnoNu_CpOvOPcqWTM478DEmIIVWSI9kQf9iaOcmRciMyvIt-bMr3xPq20qUufm-gj5D9WgBu2RjqhVmT0PDsGIxdzzG7QOIZwW39Fk/s1600/IMG_8352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYNdyXPyTHv6ag18DN9sbfzk_M96PWR__MU2v4tdHnoNu_CpOvOPcqWTM478DEmIIVWSI9kQf9iaOcmRciMyvIt-bMr3xPq20qUufm-gj5D9WgBu2RjqhVmT0PDsGIxdzzG7QOIZwW39Fk/s400/IMG_8352.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to go.</td></tr>
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We made good time up Ski Hill, passing most parties by the time we reached our cache. We scooped it up, now slowed by the extra gear, and kept plodding along. We reached the Kahiltna Pass area, and decided we wanted no part in camping on that windswept piece of property. We moved a few hundred more vertical feet, to where the valley turns towards 11k camp, and made a nice camp in a snowy hollow. We were finally above the weather, and were rewarded with some awesome views, both of where we came from and where we were going. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir0uvz8nIqlcvC7R7SYkQiqfA1I3N0EYfbWlWi0_9D-WZzQCNo4qMhnmT_yHUlYxFkxC64g9KahzSfIowF3TT0fhKvaV1SMdSH7B3xUHY5nmCwQeIwlcbrqOIyOsaMEvJkUtS7SESrCKdt/s1600/IMG_8359.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir0uvz8nIqlcvC7R7SYkQiqfA1I3N0EYfbWlWi0_9D-WZzQCNo4qMhnmT_yHUlYxFkxC64g9KahzSfIowF3TT0fhKvaV1SMdSH7B3xUHY5nmCwQeIwlcbrqOIyOsaMEvJkUtS7SESrCKdt/s400/IMG_8359.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">10,300' camp.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLUfBR78R998MjRhnoy0vMYcknQ8S9nNUp1OIDQfY0F4i8V0GgfMqZLWiHInIkfS-c6U-Swu2JlpAYs7Z52M0zCkruvW0XXwnbMcg9t-b09fkEJdJahpfHnZukjtFlnn7hqcqb_87rq7Fr/s1600/IMG_3580.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLUfBR78R998MjRhnoy0vMYcknQ8S9nNUp1OIDQfY0F4i8V0GgfMqZLWiHInIkfS-c6U-Swu2JlpAYs7Z52M0zCkruvW0XXwnbMcg9t-b09fkEJdJahpfHnZukjtFlnn7hqcqb_87rq7Fr/s400/IMG_3580.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crosson, Foraker, and KD.</td></tr>
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May 13. Day five-</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaA4JKMiXLXtRjn26ubv6yj5nGgvDJNyhlUwKHkr_VU502Z9YNAEIJrDlkM5MUyfNb3L9dCfhheJYmmXCgcPco64sHbGeQhAMh-_yb6QJdGmEFviJFHnxfUXZxRTUjBQEXcmQ1YLMSJAOv/s1600/IMG_8371.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaA4JKMiXLXtRjn26ubv6yj5nGgvDJNyhlUwKHkr_VU502Z9YNAEIJrDlkM5MUyfNb3L9dCfhheJYmmXCgcPco64sHbGeQhAMh-_yb6QJdGmEFviJFHnxfUXZxRTUjBQEXcmQ1YLMSJAOv/s400/IMG_8371.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking up-route on the morning of the 13th.</td></tr>
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Beautiful morning. We only had about 700' to go to get to 11k camp, so we took our time. All in all an uneventful day.<br />
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May 14. Day six- </div>
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Woke up in 11k camp well rested after an easy previous day. The winds were manageable, and we were ready to get moving. We decided to bring a cache up to Windy Corner, and sleep at 11k again. We were the second group out in the morning, following a guided group up Motorcycle Hill. We reached the crest of MH in no time, but the winds were much stiffer up there. The guided group decided to turn back (they had sleds) and we decided to find somewhere out of the wind to figure out our move. Luckily, the only place out of the wind was halfway up Squirrel Hill!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzmW2CNCh5K4aQal2bJet49BkF08VnHXM5h5yC5jEaQRCVFM_1qBfXvzQRidAtOKWhFx9Lg9T3VqfMuzQGJrLURMmRP4dMr2goZYsnloU6oR9Q6vMVEiviUDfuZs9undoHt_JUbxa2V_ji/s1600/IMG_0292.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzmW2CNCh5K4aQal2bJet49BkF08VnHXM5h5yC5jEaQRCVFM_1qBfXvzQRidAtOKWhFx9Lg9T3VqfMuzQGJrLURMmRP4dMr2goZYsnloU6oR9Q6vMVEiviUDfuZs9undoHt_JUbxa2V_ji/s400/IMG_0292.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Switching from slowshoes to crampons with the West Buttress looming above.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We tethered our snowshoes on an ice screw in the blue ice on Squirrel and started moving. Squirrel was icy, but there was a nice strip of styrofoam snow off to the left that allowed us quick and easy ascent.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZzdGIPrRlX6-dZ_flR62yeF6XReWZzHTP2DuwqeWCFt1VfPZW4k706WyDbjiVhhog5xz9O1sTW1oBi1iAwhzoo81DWNEQkvcznYeLHFxhFG_W_JChtHnF4j1ylD-9SSPw04E1hYWk4a0X/s1600/IMG_0293.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZzdGIPrRlX6-dZ_flR62yeF6XReWZzHTP2DuwqeWCFt1VfPZW4k706WyDbjiVhhog5xz9O1sTW1oBi1iAwhzoo81DWNEQkvcznYeLHFxhFG_W_JChtHnF4j1ylD-9SSPw04E1hYWk4a0X/s400/IMG_0293.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We crossed the Polo Fields without much issue, and started up the long gradual hill to Windy. When we got there, all the snow had blown off the ground, leaving nothing but ice. Can't dig there. We poked around the rocks to the side of Windy, and buried some fuel, the small tent, and some extra gear in the rocks. Time to head down.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAAsxwIai54JPREHq7XExp_b-xIpl3tOmqqFsiqYXQFN3Igx_UhSM5ILgbtG5GZToAiekZK7EVdKNhZywKUbpARfKeiFfh3t_SImZeGnyzJPyT7896Uy1vnIiK_YCkbnt8Oz_tpC33slgw/s1600/IMG_0300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAAsxwIai54JPREHq7XExp_b-xIpl3tOmqqFsiqYXQFN3Igx_UhSM5ILgbtG5GZToAiekZK7EVdKNhZywKUbpARfKeiFfh3t_SImZeGnyzJPyT7896Uy1vnIiK_YCkbnt8Oz_tpC33slgw/s400/IMG_0300.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finding a hiding place. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Upr2xPnK4I11g6AYQMHNqXitNLonAm6p9C_j61EJ2PbcJhMbjzeLe0kzLtgQeWoaZZIlhMGGhDd1D7nTJzqA88cnulms4bUnIlBrvyPjykcI9H08qWnQev-80A-UoagntPyenvRkdPzK/s1600/IMG_3585.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Upr2xPnK4I11g6AYQMHNqXitNLonAm6p9C_j61EJ2PbcJhMbjzeLe0kzLtgQeWoaZZIlhMGGhDd1D7nTJzqA88cnulms4bUnIlBrvyPjykcI9H08qWnQev-80A-UoagntPyenvRkdPzK/s400/IMG_3585.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading down.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
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May 15. Day seven- </div>
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<div>
The push to 14. The morning followed the regular routine- Scrape frost from the inside of the tent, start some water, pack up the inside of the tent, eat some oatmeal and drink some coffee, pack up the outside, pack the sleds and packs, rope up and roll. </div>
<div>
Motorcycle and Squirrel passed without incident. So did the Polo fields. The hill to Windy is where things got weird. There was a huge bottleneck on the slope up to Windy, with about 30 people slowly moving up into the wind. We did our best to pass them and avoid the hidden crevasses, and managed to make it up to the turn cleanly. The few hundred feet past Windy were a little harrowing, with a hard snow traverse over a few gaping crevasses (with a sled pulling you down!), and some thin snow bridges. We made it through slowly, and rested in a nice bowl on the other side. Just a few hundred easy feet to camp now! The last few hundred feet still managed to take two hours. We found a nice snow wall, our first of the trip, modified it slightly, and bedded down. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSYtDQcloO55t2A79w1FlckU9Mtx-Tpy2bA1wzd5nqQfkDj1D-U5_rtQYbbc1KpKUDTjkQEIfHfnbbJ6eBR0FWoh1oGxMuatWzCoXVGlWV1huHsEwFXiZ4pOhaRkarbs0Zrrx71GHEfl2p/s1600/IMG_3593.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSYtDQcloO55t2A79w1FlckU9Mtx-Tpy2bA1wzd5nqQfkDj1D-U5_rtQYbbc1KpKUDTjkQEIfHfnbbJ6eBR0FWoh1oGxMuatWzCoXVGlWV1huHsEwFXiZ4pOhaRkarbs0Zrrx71GHEfl2p/s400/IMG_3593.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">14k camp.</td></tr>
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May 16. Day eight-<br />
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An easy day, we needed to run down and grab the cache at Windy. We kitted up and were moving around 1. A 45 minute jaunt down to the cache, an hour and a half walk back to camp. It was good to stretch the legs after the hard day prior. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQEzRwYXMptSY2IviEfBWAi6iCov0RwVAAe7WPnogno-7B2Pb_ZiACS67ewmVXTIr0w8ksqdMQq9LIsYdH1oBusdgkB9a6TOqt62HX1ifeMVpPf7twKJb8W5N47zDczlZsgbx4zR_3bhcr/s1600/IMG_8396.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQEzRwYXMptSY2IviEfBWAi6iCov0RwVAAe7WPnogno-7B2Pb_ZiACS67ewmVXTIr0w8ksqdMQq9LIsYdH1oBusdgkB9a6TOqt62HX1ifeMVpPf7twKJb8W5N47zDczlZsgbx4zR_3bhcr/s400/IMG_8396.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Foraker</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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May 17. Day nine, decision day-<br />
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The weather forecast was looking questionable for the next three days. It would take us at minimum four days from 14k to summit and return to base. So, if we waited until the forecast got better (how long would that be?) we may not have the time needed to go up and get down. What did the future hold? We chatted with the rangers at 14k in between a helicopter bringing in supplies, and they commented how the forecasts for the season had not been at all consistent. No one had been higher than 17k yet this year. No one was above 14k at the moment, and the general consensus around camp was one of waiting. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvX1V3HhZSDyV79JWknqY935VCvE0g4d7-Qm8_bxk8ERcXbaKbKt0ya8rzFo4FT-CoHn2eog0uvBosbgUEjVSbfNAtKgAPZ-PSKPJkkAOIYirQrLw2O0HW3_7lVhwFdKK1lfsbfbhCfOLV/s1600/IMG_8393.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvX1V3HhZSDyV79JWknqY935VCvE0g4d7-Qm8_bxk8ERcXbaKbKt0ya8rzFo4FT-CoHn2eog0uvBosbgUEjVSbfNAtKgAPZ-PSKPJkkAOIYirQrLw2O0HW3_7lVhwFdKK1lfsbfbhCfOLV/s400/IMG_8393.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking down from 14k.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_2mPvvMtZyxnDFZKx7C-O3qmPLvoZ6FMDQ5dE08GQ7-ZKjrvjXtDAQDYFY4sCSv3WDIK0fXrmjkp39csl7tLd2IXra4GRvyp58Izcw-mxy7-lkIBk8bCa5j6WhZdBkntSviGlDTZHyRKs/s1600/IMG_8394.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_2mPvvMtZyxnDFZKx7C-O3qmPLvoZ6FMDQ5dE08GQ7-ZKjrvjXtDAQDYFY4sCSv3WDIK0fXrmjkp39csl7tLd2IXra4GRvyp58Izcw-mxy7-lkIBk8bCa5j6WhZdBkntSviGlDTZHyRKs/s400/IMG_8394.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking up from 14k.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic-AP0Q9ImYgugCnLfWDLwlpcwDypr47J0uziM6W2D003wa0sU3Rb4MZ6nRA-E2XUeIegaRVhLNflJEDw7Vlq2TBdGTFqrCU3LF7BJo9fGgoDEMpzrCr4GH7cvpLDYSBDBrk3n9eOpav3A/s1600/IMG_3596.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1203" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic-AP0Q9ImYgugCnLfWDLwlpcwDypr47J0uziM6W2D003wa0sU3Rb4MZ6nRA-E2XUeIegaRVhLNflJEDw7Vlq2TBdGTFqrCU3LF7BJo9fGgoDEMpzrCr4GH7cvpLDYSBDBrk3n9eOpav3A/s400/IMG_3596.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The team.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div>
After a long hard conversation, we agreed on the safer option. We packed up and headed down, stopping at 11k to unbury a cache. It was snowing hard, and windy. Maybe we made the right call after all. We pushed down to 7,800' that night. As we walked the final few hundred feet to camp, the weather broke and we were treated to beautiful views of the lower glacier. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtnY9H-koOdpY7DcMt7D1UeN3f9UXQCz0YXsy-vBTIc_dPZ3j_Z5VPvH9XqKtfA6i8grEm1M49EOyEqw6bO4jiZwIl-Kq6tRwnPhAX7zGze9F_pAyRRQBy_X3EGJxlHk3NKZCzX2abpYiV/s1600/IMG_8400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtnY9H-koOdpY7DcMt7D1UeN3f9UXQCz0YXsy-vBTIc_dPZ3j_Z5VPvH9XqKtfA6i8grEm1M49EOyEqw6bO4jiZwIl-Kq6tRwnPhAX7zGze9F_pAyRRQBy_X3EGJxlHk3NKZCzX2abpYiV/s400/IMG_8400.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back from about 8k.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We slept in the small tent that night, and could not stop commenting on how few gear lofts and pockets it had. </div>
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May 18. Day ten-</div>
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Beat feet down to the airstrip, and hope there's a plane. The morning was sunny, which was kind of a slap in the face. But, as the day wore on and we descended, it became clear we made the right call. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdk16x_RyG05NdI73MhGL_415-AdkWAXbDjQRYioEJ22j6HLATgZ-osgVysgGbrIYbSqT2BfrlVRq1xT9s8n4sIERjKezbQ7CPGzxu6aAtQ8wZfmQjHpQBMueVGn9_4StAHu3No8FC8pNU/s1600/IMG_8403.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdk16x_RyG05NdI73MhGL_415-AdkWAXbDjQRYioEJ22j6HLATgZ-osgVysgGbrIYbSqT2BfrlVRq1xT9s8n4sIERjKezbQ7CPGzxu6aAtQ8wZfmQjHpQBMueVGn9_4StAHu3No8FC8pNU/s400/IMG_8403.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The best view we got.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijxlwJXEwKdJk6MRwNLsq7IVpbzWdCKYnbr1xrl_NCohcNM3HTQykaoYmrb__qX-dLB5zp4w-L7Rde8eEP9p0lvVpzuciZCfmALoAQxDOibajTppykd_YqCrbmq8bY9QCZdFHxGD09XVbf/s1600/IMG_3601.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijxlwJXEwKdJk6MRwNLsq7IVpbzWdCKYnbr1xrl_NCohcNM3HTQykaoYmrb__qX-dLB5zp4w-L7Rde8eEP9p0lvVpzuciZCfmALoAQxDOibajTppykd_YqCrbmq8bY9QCZdFHxGD09XVbf/s400/IMG_3601.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An approaching storm.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
After three hours of walking, we rolled into Base, dug up our cache, and only waited around for twenty minutes until our plane ride out. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCKH74DYk4h5W32K2e5c61B3GukG3uyG9bbK8bUiXi9q5h1n316lcxWzUPRoMpA8Z3SdR1NdtcQpGf5bfyYK_0b0CaCC7zIdimL5R4SFj0ruFb6wV6MI1TLy2oOuIv9NzeJGMS1-a1bsHq/s1600/IMG_8443.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCKH74DYk4h5W32K2e5c61B3GukG3uyG9bbK8bUiXi9q5h1n316lcxWzUPRoMpA8Z3SdR1NdtcQpGf5bfyYK_0b0CaCC7zIdimL5R4SFj0ruFb6wV6MI1TLy2oOuIv9NzeJGMS1-a1bsHq/s400/IMG_8443.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last look.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
What a trip. We'll both be back. Maybe not for the West Butt in that style, but other routes. The Northwest Butt, the Cassin, the West Rib. The West Butt in a few days, and countless other trips to the range.<br />
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Fadgen's Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16693548016894583724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308604707301670536.post-66360744149689505842019-02-04T09:24:00.000-07:002019-02-04T12:51:35.687-07:00More South-er of the Border (Wall)- Ecuador<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I figured I'd piggyback off of what acclimatization and fitness I had left after Mexico, so I took a flight out of Vegas bound for Quito, Ecuador. One long travel day and a few delayed flights later, I was settled into my $7 a night hostel in downtown Quito, at around 3am. The next day dawned rainy, but nonetheless it was time for my first peak- Cumbre Ruco Pichincha.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX-cezT0E2MoKWAVjTrjjx5LlKqU43APjSRIvofMoQ2qQs0DNQIuGtYeHw5e2-eJiaMEvACT4eSkYfDhrtexnyI6mjriB1dKuS_rJIde6pRh0vezeXgbdRmcf4LNJwID3aLNUkgigVS5v5/s1600/IMG_7624.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX-cezT0E2MoKWAVjTrjjx5LlKqU43APjSRIvofMoQ2qQs0DNQIuGtYeHw5e2-eJiaMEvACT4eSkYfDhrtexnyI6mjriB1dKuS_rJIde6pRh0vezeXgbdRmcf4LNJwID3aLNUkgigVS5v5/s640/IMG_7624.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ruco Pinchincha from the top of the Teleferico</td></tr>
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Quito, with a rather robust tourism industry, installed a gondola up to about 12,500' on the slopes of Ruco, with some hiking and mountain biking trails departing from the upper station. A beautiful three-or-so hour walk and a little scrambling brought me to the summit, where I met a few other Americans and a few Caracaras.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQGZtd7k0wDPEh0zj5pYCcOrKUxA65YohEzgm_eWmvld5wvm3hKmIORDQnHJJALsI7NJCC3yZn2aKi_5U26lGYUUqOdI8SkVyFkfVaoUHJK4Vl694lr6ROGzQgKc2LXfW7SKZTxeGjzWQ3/s1600/IMG_7636.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQGZtd7k0wDPEh0zj5pYCcOrKUxA65YohEzgm_eWmvld5wvm3hKmIORDQnHJJALsI7NJCC3yZn2aKi_5U26lGYUUqOdI8SkVyFkfVaoUHJK4Vl694lr6ROGzQgKc2LXfW7SKZTxeGjzWQ3/s400/IMG_7636.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Summit sign, 15,406'</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Caracara keeping me company </td></tr>
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Then it was back to the hostel to prepare for the next day, the bus ride to Riobamba.<br />
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I thought I was going to hop on a single bus, and it was going to take me the 100 or so kilometers to Riobamba. I was very wrong. After three <i>very</i> confusing hours, three different buses, and numerous people asking me to pay them in numbers I had a preschooler's grasp on, I exited a bus in the town of Riobamba. My goal here was to find the office of Andean Adventures, the outfit with which I had set up my climb of Chimborazo (the Ecuadorian Gov't requires the use of a guide on most volcanoes). A short walk, some paperwork, and another cheap hostel got me set up for the next day. </div>
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The plan at this point was to get up with my guide, Raul, in the morning, ride up in a taxi to the hut at 15,750', spend one night at the hut, hike around the next day, and try to sleep until 9pm the following evening and depart for the summit at 10. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">High altitude Ecuadorian flora</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg4c13EkJ60VzVVGt_-msHWwEToI_IXudhyphenhyphend1WBscDzZFvepSGyJ_sGWL8duc13kcttOeSWcgegsdWxyHQg-mdhIePc-WawyA3x1SWb5cH34zB5_Jdk5FbsUlc1nnQC4B1s9R2_LmjhYYa/s1600/IMG_7674.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg4c13EkJ60VzVVGt_-msHWwEToI_IXudhyphenhyphend1WBscDzZFvepSGyJ_sGWL8duc13kcttOeSWcgegsdWxyHQg-mdhIePc-WawyA3x1SWb5cH34zB5_Jdk5FbsUlc1nnQC4B1s9R2_LmjhYYa/s640/IMG_7674.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chimborazo from the Park entrance </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoyViPK4kMuainQLqvPvBJZ3GRCdmK6Yn_cRIEbBLWGUch6ZygtVnaJS_qSL1tJAi8dSCWSA2xaXcRoSM28Tu7TVs6jdeROtXgCgdMCTko_crANzvPDMaFsYT-4uYFjqPkLygYsME4fF47/s1600/IMG_7702.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoyViPK4kMuainQLqvPvBJZ3GRCdmK6Yn_cRIEbBLWGUch6ZygtVnaJS_qSL1tJAi8dSCWSA2xaXcRoSM28Tu7TVs6jdeROtXgCgdMCTko_crANzvPDMaFsYT-4uYFjqPkLygYsME4fF47/s640/IMG_7702.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset- the one time we were not shrouded in mist at the hut</td></tr>
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9pm the day of the summit bid came around early, after laying in bed staring at the mattress above me for five or so hours. We stepped outside ready to roll just after 10pm, and to my surprise, could see stars! And familiar constellations, but in entirely different positions than I was used to. </div>
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We were headed up Ruta de Corredor, a 4.5km direct route to the summit with 4,700' of gain. The route starts with a heinous steep climb up loose volcanic scree, but luckily(?) for us it was frozen. So mud-frontpointing in crampons it is! This was painful, but a rapid way to gain elevation. We crested the ridge at El Castillo (18,050') at some point around 11pm. This is where the route gets engaging. Raul led a nice 4th class step and we skirted a few small cliff bands to gain the glacier. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We took the red line</td></tr>
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At this point, I was getting beat. The wind was howling, it was cold, and I was in full parka and over mittens. The cold, coupled with just crossing 19,000', had made it a challenge to eat. At about 12:30 I told Raul I needed a break, so we stopped to refuel and assess our (read: my) options. I choked down some cold chews, and Raul poked around in the snow above us. At this point we had already crossed some pretty big crevasses, and the snow conditions were not ideal. The last few days of snow had set up firm over a deep layer of sugary facets, not ideal on a 55 degree slope. Raul tried explaining to me that no one would summit today, and the snow was no good. I, now totally apathetic and ready to go home, agreed without question. Raul was slightly confused about my lack of anger over turning around, so I tried the best I could to explain to him that the mountain wasn't going anywhere, there is always more time, etc. We turned around and headed for the hut, passing groups below us and informing them of the conditions. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNoIxDSjP-MSiz1SGnfe3edtQ9QSM-HihmA0z71-4JVxxeI-YGUjZkkqokPQeKsqLaHITw_Dgy6Yt-pwO9KEbcVpYxghfzgpI-DfmLqif0O-ODrWNpTqFwjDf66_VTG0sFkDHfErW9_n1M/s1600/IMG_0195+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNoIxDSjP-MSiz1SGnfe3edtQ9QSM-HihmA0z71-4JVxxeI-YGUjZkkqokPQeKsqLaHITw_Dgy6Yt-pwO9KEbcVpYxghfzgpI-DfmLqif0O-ODrWNpTqFwjDf66_VTG0sFkDHfErW9_n1M/s640/IMG_0195+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Summit for the day! Looking down the glacier at 19,100'</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQFN2H_LDk3VR9BnrUToVNBc-90bPv4U5CIjRNeR9XQQ51cVnurwI38vnLoBpW-_5KofvjRhic5es4WWPRF2t3e4SMUnMvjQkWIx4JMyDxFx1oAqWJ7cbl6zpLqVB0eUnajvNFvslRN_vn/s1600/IMG_7717.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQFN2H_LDk3VR9BnrUToVNBc-90bPv4U5CIjRNeR9XQQ51cVnurwI38vnLoBpW-_5KofvjRhic5es4WWPRF2t3e4SMUnMvjQkWIx4JMyDxFx1oAqWJ7cbl6zpLqVB0eUnajvNFvslRN_vn/s640/IMG_7717.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Raul and I back at El Castillo, enjoying the beer I had carried up for us</td></tr>
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Practically running down the mud slope, we were back to the hut by 5am, ready for bed. The next morning around ten we headed back down to town, and I straight to bed after that. Then a bus to Quito the next day. </div>
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And here I sit, trying to occupy my last day in Quito before heading back to the States tomorrow. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu_WexN2caKQUQZg7rYPMM6Dl68okNnnGcjiGFiicR2YcAr3rLty_FZB0QZWC-SJEJ4_pqKYnIdMVw9RuodP6BbTt8perhGyOR7cpfqg8rjy2kgGeOMAmQ3-Zmi78sEdn2Ht6nkqN8CER_/s1600/IMG_7720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu_WexN2caKQUQZg7rYPMM6Dl68okNnnGcjiGFiicR2YcAr3rLty_FZB0QZWC-SJEJ4_pqKYnIdMVw9RuodP6BbTt8perhGyOR7cpfqg8rjy2kgGeOMAmQ3-Zmi78sEdn2Ht6nkqN8CER_/s640/IMG_7720.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chimborazo (20,564') from the Wymper Hut</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCPb4qWXCdGPpI6dbe56bp-5rjv7I5de-bILkzMNf45XGO1nZaAjISUCn5-AGH6MWLryU7AQ4dPDN4ni_NvqUWjf7v_amoKMd1sr6mOSIu6-du_bJu5rCxgq6qPv-tSWBUVw79DRcm81F1/s1600/IMG_7684.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCPb4qWXCdGPpI6dbe56bp-5rjv7I5de-bILkzMNf45XGO1nZaAjISUCn5-AGH6MWLryU7AQ4dPDN4ni_NvqUWjf7v_amoKMd1sr6mOSIu6-du_bJu5rCxgq6qPv-tSWBUVw79DRcm81F1/s640/IMG_7684.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The higher hut, Refugio Wymper</td></tr>
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I don't think I would have made the summit had the snow conditions been perfect. The lack of food, combined (I strongly believe) with being awake for the 26 hours before we departed conspired against me. Lots to digest and learn from before Denali this coming May.<br />
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Fadgen's Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16693548016894583724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308604707301670536.post-85103805584797447772019-01-19T10:51:00.000-07:002019-02-04T21:21:37.509-07:00South of the Border (Wall) - Pico de Orizaba<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
After Izta we hung out in Puebla, relaxing for a few days. We even had the whole family out in an old cantina owned by some friends of Vicki and Miguel for a few adult libations!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhNGkd28YtTbLIl6cNjFrQWPrVZ-H5x71KIycXpkjq3Cr_6MGerUkwkn0bPF5HsxLaEoSyYl7pO2PyIGCfAc-7rAUEpNbsYNioj3vndR33x5jmJmc4ZvWPvSXPp33vYfl3ELDqMgq8p6zx/s1600/image.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhNGkd28YtTbLIl6cNjFrQWPrVZ-H5x71KIycXpkjq3Cr_6MGerUkwkn0bPF5HsxLaEoSyYl7pO2PyIGCfAc-7rAUEpNbsYNioj3vndR33x5jmJmc4ZvWPvSXPp33vYfl3ELDqMgq8p6zx/s640/image.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The whole crew (CW from left - Dylan, Thomas, Tania, Aranza, Miguel, me, Tamara, Vicki, Miguel, Christian, Cheko)</td></tr>
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Eventually, it was on to our main goal - Pico de Orizaba...</div>
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We had a bit of confusion on bus availability to Tlachichuca, so we just hired another Uber to take us directly to <a href="http://servimont.com.mx/en/" target="_blank">Servimont</a>, our base for climbing Pico de Orizaba. We arrived at Servimont early Friday afternoon and were the only inhabitants of the place. We explored the grounds, but generally just lounged around in the sunshine. There was even an old climbing wall to keep Dylan and Thomas occupied.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwndC9015646N9NrKBdbhZD1HMYolCGF-E3v_L4yBwpBvG4Af9I-VoC3VtgBRynqgi0_FS0sc6k5hdWojcJBSxLLYx3Kfbh65pzjecFNWRO0ksMkbv2BTk2h74VC1_aUoFk1UbEzO72LjV/s1600/IMG_0064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1202" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwndC9015646N9NrKBdbhZD1HMYolCGF-E3v_L4yBwpBvG4Af9I-VoC3VtgBRynqgi0_FS0sc6k5hdWojcJBSxLLYx3Kfbh65pzjecFNWRO0ksMkbv2BTk2h74VC1_aUoFk1UbEzO72LjV/s640/IMG_0064.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pico de Orizabo</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outside the Servimont "compound"</td></tr>
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One of the many benefits of using Servimont was the included breakfast and dinner meals. We were joined at dinner that evening by Dema, a climber from the Ukraine, who was planning to climb alone. Later in the meal we were joined by a couple of American guys, who introduced themselves as Micah from Denver and Randy from Castle Rock. We now had a team of six for Pico.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Servimont Lodge</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguNRpq4itLZZF6Bizc5FHzHyir7zXMVMe9NClHg8zdSOxKnWua2gfcJqyd5RKTR7rxDHLNd_YakUPxB_7-r27Yv7O3MGoYIxY27YWG7cHrP6G10ZresIlgWRNqokEs0hxDL2wMvlKqlV-p/s1600/IMG_0068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguNRpq4itLZZF6Bizc5FHzHyir7zXMVMe9NClHg8zdSOxKnWua2gfcJqyd5RKTR7rxDHLNd_YakUPxB_7-r27Yv7O3MGoYIxY27YWG7cHrP6G10ZresIlgWRNqokEs0hxDL2wMvlKqlV-p/s640/IMG_0068.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Servimont Lodge</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidoVdVBe9LDK-nuSbDAgnV_jQhtybos9zRaRIPXcyMj82AoUCsqaXO8Y6BL-w-Up5aZIV_6A4jqtOOXkfXPnh6UlJOey2GYMS4OsZ1mYoSM6gmI0w7RrOAjMAjTY3hY8HVurFJr1v2dJ9Z/s1600/IMG_0075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidoVdVBe9LDK-nuSbDAgnV_jQhtybos9zRaRIPXcyMj82AoUCsqaXO8Y6BL-w-Up5aZIV_6A4jqtOOXkfXPnh6UlJOey2GYMS4OsZ1mYoSM6gmI0w7RrOAjMAjTY3hY8HVurFJr1v2dJ9Z/s640/IMG_0075.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thomas and Dylan in hurry up and wait mode</td></tr>
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After a great breakfast the next morning, the six of us loaded up in the camper of a Ram 4x4 to make the rough, dusty, two hour drive from Tlachichuca to the climbing hut, Refugio Piedra Grande, at 4275 meters. Unlike the refugio on Izta, this hut was a bit more rustic. A big open area with three levels of "accommodations". Since it was early, we figured we'd better grab an open spot, so we got to cleaning an area for our sleeping bags.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_twISLa0EEg-fa0X5Ehyphenhyphen8t62wHfBMRqm0dFtCodga8HYSaGv94c1VO5hXfzmjZXdAygziAowRoeNBBkopiP5qJRtIwKmEjQ1HfH_oa34utZNikl0DTnAqvJJYXSCbez7538jH0DZeSwQU/s1600/IMG_0079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_twISLa0EEg-fa0X5Ehyphenhyphen8t62wHfBMRqm0dFtCodga8HYSaGv94c1VO5hXfzmjZXdAygziAowRoeNBBkopiP5qJRtIwKmEjQ1HfH_oa34utZNikl0DTnAqvJJYXSCbez7538jH0DZeSwQU/s640/IMG_0079.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Micah and Dylan on the second floor with Dema holding a makeshift dustpan</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3S6Ga5gPKvsAbgRIFsXJDcIsghOyDOcnGjJDXxtnbasyU1gK1wjEkNESbdS03ofs2oJoI1y7Eu3UnqnKpxQo7TzG6NYm4qbej3mEz9jsS148BplOrV-PO86ntyYOLy0Y9F65RZ30kQ0WU/s1600/IMG_0080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3S6Ga5gPKvsAbgRIFsXJDcIsghOyDOcnGjJDXxtnbasyU1gK1wjEkNESbdS03ofs2oJoI1y7Eu3UnqnKpxQo7TzG6NYm4qbej3mEz9jsS148BplOrV-PO86ntyYOLy0Y9F65RZ30kQ0WU/s640/IMG_0080.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking from the far end to the entrance</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKruyvp9Wpm8gxsKqW3JaPuNPBRvb9FspcTqfaIGu9X-wisxAklPL-yCZQLvLjPnJxkIkIX3DIsB21VcLqOHFQIBHVZQheHaWbG3wDQ8OXJJzF6LL4SrFwZS8fhrdG7uIrzYYG7uy4meeX/s1600/IMG_0083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKruyvp9Wpm8gxsKqW3JaPuNPBRvb9FspcTqfaIGu9X-wisxAklPL-yCZQLvLjPnJxkIkIX3DIsB21VcLqOHFQIBHVZQheHaWbG3wDQ8OXJJzF6LL4SrFwZS8fhrdG7uIrzYYG7uy4meeX/s640/IMG_0083.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Refugio Piedra Grande</td></tr>
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After getting situated, the six of us took off for an afternoon hike to acclimatize a bit. We left the hut via a covered, concrete aqueduct, skipping over the many holes, before starting up the steep, loose, switch-backed trail. Man was it hard to breathe!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFkwkyDrx0rpLVSINMRN6mz4vSZlaS09bBPHW26NyKOpHmvdPorGbmg4zhCTjqHsW4GyvafxW3zqOF14AmA3yq6ZjncwMJXWYlMdpKBysjxQgtRD8pPSzee3q94rGB2ZYP82cza4p8Dm06/s1600/IMG_0085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1202" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFkwkyDrx0rpLVSINMRN6mz4vSZlaS09bBPHW26NyKOpHmvdPorGbmg4zhCTjqHsW4GyvafxW3zqOF14AmA3yq6ZjncwMJXWYlMdpKBysjxQgtRD8pPSzee3q94rGB2ZYP82cza4p8Dm06/s640/IMG_0085.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking up at the glacier from the steep trail</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoU0uSFA1eLUrHn5zImp1etJ_HiBHRRW_wuGJzgdUC8T1JE65XooC3RyhEkZDS5bhrtnOTR3IGpZmpTVKz4TeS3UPp_wXgAEyXxgidsTy-cqxw8xMUD24kAAGdjBdNfdExW7nVrWmdNR0Q/s1600/IMG_7582.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoU0uSFA1eLUrHn5zImp1etJ_HiBHRRW_wuGJzgdUC8T1JE65XooC3RyhEkZDS5bhrtnOTR3IGpZmpTVKz4TeS3UPp_wXgAEyXxgidsTy-cqxw8xMUD24kAAGdjBdNfdExW7nVrWmdNR0Q/s640/IMG_7582.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back down (D Fadgen photo)</td></tr>
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As we continued higher, the wind moved the clouds in and out, keeping the temperature relatively cool. We eventually reached at altitude of roughly 4750m where we got a view of "The Labyrinth". This section is a mixture of steep rock and snow/ice couloirs in irregular patterns and was supposedly the toughest section of the climb. Didn't look too bad in the daylight, we'd see (or not) what darkness brought.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIi-paQeaQ4rFNmAaqbYGvvM7v70XM5fCPBHR2hKS08rRcSAYgTWeNrR9dm-nPQufh2Xu2dvEgbtIMkgJs-yxbrZoalfdEPvQ2eJxGwrM4I9ZvyB1h0cycyUZSA4JdkvSWIHMuzDGW2atm/s1600/IMG_0095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIi-paQeaQ4rFNmAaqbYGvvM7v70XM5fCPBHR2hKS08rRcSAYgTWeNrR9dm-nPQufh2Xu2dvEgbtIMkgJs-yxbrZoalfdEPvQ2eJxGwrM4I9ZvyB1h0cycyUZSA4JdkvSWIHMuzDGW2atm/s400/IMG_0095.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Labyrinth</td></tr>
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Refugio Piedra Grande was hopping when we returned a couple of hours later. All the "sleeping slots" appeared to be full and a large group was setting up tents just outside the hut. We were debating on a start time, but seeing the self arrest practice going on on a dirt slope right outside the hut convinced us we needed to leave earlier than everyone else.<br />
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After a quick dinner of steamed tamales (leftovers from breakfast a few days prior) and avocado, we hit the sack at 8:30 to try and get some sleep.<br />
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The six of us woke at 11:30 and by midnight we were slowly marching up the aqueduct in the bright (blood) moonlight. We were excited to be the first group out.<br />
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We stopped at our previous high point, below the labyrinth, to brew up some coffee and eat the pastries we'd been hauling. I'm not sure what the temperature was, but it was definitely below freezing and there was a light breeze. We had a great view of the many headlamps heading our way as we sipped hot coffee trying to stay warm.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAHAD79Edm8JTw7ym8jZ-TJUSYQ4cmMOH7O8O1tJ5qWkOUhyn-DfDwlzwQYhjmDfJGxaW_WQIljWjxl8Q8UQDqsE_XKQl20_S45ffRERZ-PM-A1lqlfiOYEZoW6AxJ17PGnup18YIA8Was/s1600/IMG_0148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAHAD79Edm8JTw7ym8jZ-TJUSYQ4cmMOH7O8O1tJ5qWkOUhyn-DfDwlzwQYhjmDfJGxaW_WQIljWjxl8Q8UQDqsE_XKQl20_S45ffRERZ-PM-A1lqlfiOYEZoW6AxJ17PGnup18YIA8Was/s640/IMG_0148.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">D Fadgen photo</td></tr>
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We put on our harnesses, crampons, grabbed our ice axes and entered the maze called "The Labyrinth". What looked easy the previous afternoon appeared much more difficult in the dark (duh!). For the most part, the six of us stuck together as we wound up, over, and around. This was all great fun at 17,000 feet! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All smiles at the base of the labyrinth</td></tr>
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After an hour of wandering through the Labyrinth, we popped up over a ridge and were at the base of the Jamapa Glacier at roughly 5050m. We stopped here for another extended break and were joined by a guided group of 7 or 8 climbers.<br />
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The guided group formed into two rope teams and started up the glacier. We waited a few minutes and started after them, not roped up. We headed up the glacier for a bit across the hard snow before we found the well worn boot track that steeply switched back and forth to the crater rim.<br />
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We reached the rim just as the blood moon was setting on our right and the sun was rising to the left. Awesome sight! It was 7AM, colder than hell, a bit windy, and the summit was in view.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmQcFvKMAeEnWjfN5p3ITrHygjkfsxAbJ2G6uieIk_iUMeEABmTpExe-MeSjsMupQtXVsIaST6yqtwtY9UVYxxoMT59ZcJQZ4lUsbd4DdSSWGmeYzczyYNOTaSH4ecFf3OaflZEq0ayDZe/s1600/IMG_0103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmQcFvKMAeEnWjfN5p3ITrHygjkfsxAbJ2G6uieIk_iUMeEABmTpExe-MeSjsMupQtXVsIaST6yqtwtY9UVYxxoMT59ZcJQZ4lUsbd4DdSSWGmeYzczyYNOTaSH4ecFf3OaflZEq0ayDZe/s640/IMG_0103.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cold but happy to be above 18K feet!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The guided group ahead of us</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTGKjFUNmeIZTluQfROPWvHpz7FeVgcaFas3ecwmfG9zS8zztswoybYUjvkspyhskxBVZAKqdkHccf-98bisOdq7EPimQ80uaHEv8Rv6QeJerop0fQofCKc1DN6t5Hyx9VKa3RJiBap3HZ/s1600/IMG_0110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTGKjFUNmeIZTluQfROPWvHpz7FeVgcaFas3ecwmfG9zS8zztswoybYUjvkspyhskxBVZAKqdkHccf-98bisOdq7EPimQ80uaHEv8Rv6QeJerop0fQofCKc1DN6t5Hyx9VKa3RJiBap3HZ/s640/IMG_0110.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting ready for the summit at the crater rim</td></tr>
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From the rim, it was just a short walk and another 30-40m elevation gain to the summit at 5650m (18,490 feet).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYI1_i_wJflSUSHNfHHXATyOdlf0UMI-wqxTlJeE3D77VewPM2mCaYz5fkHKoLzwqHnNG_mebzhyUdhA9snJt8iaVI8uM_Aqh6MvUiefj7pJLm4qjC_3evyKsIYY5ngOEQ_EK_JbkTLOiW/s1600/IMG_0117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYI1_i_wJflSUSHNfHHXATyOdlf0UMI-wqxTlJeE3D77VewPM2mCaYz5fkHKoLzwqHnNG_mebzhyUdhA9snJt8iaVI8uM_Aqh6MvUiefj7pJLm4qjC_3evyKsIYY5ngOEQ_EK_JbkTLOiW/s640/IMG_0117.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Summit selfie - Dylan, myself and Thomas</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh1PfWvgwcr-HC-QaOFv_nkLYAx1UeKNjxlOV9URbuejEQao3xjBseAXPoFjxoEq8swSRenR2IjMXcr35w2_w9ruX1r4rMX7Y2n7DwOXjHuh2SSLjkxUbVJ9NGp_jChnp22-MjnxVHA4ev/s1600/IMG_0171.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh1PfWvgwcr-HC-QaOFv_nkLYAx1UeKNjxlOV9URbuejEQao3xjBseAXPoFjxoEq8swSRenR2IjMXcr35w2_w9ruX1r4rMX7Y2n7DwOXjHuh2SSLjkxUbVJ9NGp_jChnp22-MjnxVHA4ev/s400/IMG_0171.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dema on the summit</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaZOqo8Ce8V31b5OIfdCpDrhxjGsiDfhu9-_aDlIxqhr0zqBfQHeji3WNjG3VoAaFB7kNrzBGc25glyWxgNqVm93O3H-RmJqNhMPyehGouWz2SIfhqFW8PsuD4peHPgnEE87CECWxxAq-i/s1600/IMG_1394.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1198" data-original-width="1600" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaZOqo8Ce8V31b5OIfdCpDrhxjGsiDfhu9-_aDlIxqhr0zqBfQHeji3WNjG3VoAaFB7kNrzBGc25glyWxgNqVm93O3H-RmJqNhMPyehGouWz2SIfhqFW8PsuD4peHPgnEE87CECWxxAq-i/s640/IMG_1394.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Randy (left) and Micah (M DeHenau photo)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpc47v2A_NjnK7l8eHNtkiVIi-vVXQX-pQA9AC61n7ENOanwYjn5SloyyK9ElYSpmqbAM0LZDBBiejNenuVgg9SJ6vLhTrf3xb_6bUi8AzRH-q7QqR2zNLalXcE-mKj_SnwxNvW8HUYh5u/s1600/IMG_0119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpc47v2A_NjnK7l8eHNtkiVIi-vVXQX-pQA9AC61n7ENOanwYjn5SloyyK9ElYSpmqbAM0LZDBBiejNenuVgg9SJ6vLhTrf3xb_6bUi8AzRH-q7QqR2zNLalXcE-mKj_SnwxNvW8HUYh5u/s640/IMG_0119.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This the the view we came for</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We didn't linger on the summit too long. It was too damn cold! I was pretty beat by this time, so asked Dylan to put me on a rope for the glacier descent. As we headed down, we had to move around the (mostly delirious) folks headed up.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhbZVvYiyaWT1MxsYCIMNLJG7rzTwmQKYwYalkqceTZ53Rx5cBeUGgOhrZZX6zBsnbVVkD4WS8KOe1KyZ3RClDZ8-dz7LveM8vyzwYGkuPl_kK0TEt3PLF7HLv2sjoxiaQy1FoqocxSA-3/s1600/IMG_0182.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhbZVvYiyaWT1MxsYCIMNLJG7rzTwmQKYwYalkqceTZ53Rx5cBeUGgOhrZZX6zBsnbVVkD4WS8KOe1KyZ3RClDZ8-dz7LveM8vyzwYGkuPl_kK0TEt3PLF7HLv2sjoxiaQy1FoqocxSA-3/s640/IMG_0182.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The hordes of Sunday climbers heading up (D Fadgen photo)</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Before too long we were off the glacier looking for a spot out of the wind. Once we found that spot, we all took another extended break to fuel up.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEischUKIi8znFFWjHLy6KDNlJlwMSKVu_alArVBDVQTpngXgMR2mw6MJjS965IYb3mLL7tXBSs0SWLuCkYdBb7yfvz5XdawcZm-FtQ01Pb-dV-G81MEibVX4y5o-RO7d73zBxtJsli9reJt/s1600/IMG_0126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEischUKIi8znFFWjHLy6KDNlJlwMSKVu_alArVBDVQTpngXgMR2mw6MJjS965IYb3mLL7tXBSs0SWLuCkYdBb7yfvz5XdawcZm-FtQ01Pb-dV-G81MEibVX4y5o-RO7d73zBxtJsli9reJt/s640/IMG_0126.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dylan taking a break</td></tr>
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Then we came to down climbing the Labyrinth section. Rather than just putting our crampons on, facing inward and just going down a steep snow/ice couloir, we all farted around trying to find an easier way. This wasted considerable time, and eventually some of us final resigned to putting our crampons on.<br />
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<div>
Once through the Labyrinth, it was just a knee busting stroll through the loose volcanic rock back to Piedra Grande.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqT4gOa6chKA6e4gbe5BT3wrSOy29k3mHvScEDdyC_cPiWjYzBXCU4wtwLk1CBED-7uS5i8Yc56BlKV6iGpvUtk4yRUjV6o20h9tOOpa93FdekoyCv83wT0XTo5TIw60Sf1ve9KXiTECdQ/s1600/IMG_0127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqT4gOa6chKA6e4gbe5BT3wrSOy29k3mHvScEDdyC_cPiWjYzBXCU4wtwLk1CBED-7uS5i8Yc56BlKV6iGpvUtk4yRUjV6o20h9tOOpa93FdekoyCv83wT0XTo5TIw60Sf1ve9KXiTECdQ/s640/IMG_0127.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I joined Dema, Thomas, and Dylan at the hut a little before noon, with Randy and Micah showing up a little later. I was one whipped guy!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKEO3uajdOXRHJ3JUYwZCIFg4unN9IsXf3DYcSIQd32JIdo_OqV4gzqDOvQmtJH3t4OwYyAVmksQSNFOxhFg81M_rORq0a3FERDUmv8sdOCPh1ATP35zWdgjUmi3qYcLUHZ0WXVooiRGxN/s1600/IMG_0128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKEO3uajdOXRHJ3JUYwZCIFg4unN9IsXf3DYcSIQd32JIdo_OqV4gzqDOvQmtJH3t4OwYyAVmksQSNFOxhFg81M_rORq0a3FERDUmv8sdOCPh1ATP35zWdgjUmi3qYcLUHZ0WXVooiRGxN/s640/IMG_0128.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back up at the summit of Pico de Orizaba</td></tr>
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Luckily for us, the Servimont transport truck showed up a short while later, and we loaded up and made the tortuously slow drive back to Tlachichuca.<br />
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After a shower, a couple of Tacos el Pastor and a few cervezas, we were feeling pretty good.<br />
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Overall, it was an excellent climb with my son, his buddy Thomas and some great new friends, Dema, Micah and Randy!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkS1pGDPBgSo15tIkIQjZNGMTPJrw1hFZ5xNS82GY8VPa-yvqt6kn59igDbVJSQv_6icqrHCw4WpD6PhnIsdcZfgD0PTC_-SoN3YElooFwqU4gxvnScB3PQO2MacJ3UpfoxQjxbQY0iw8Z/s1600/IMG_0131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkS1pGDPBgSo15tIkIQjZNGMTPJrw1hFZ5xNS82GY8VPa-yvqt6kn59igDbVJSQv_6icqrHCw4WpD6PhnIsdcZfgD0PTC_-SoN3YElooFwqU4gxvnScB3PQO2MacJ3UpfoxQjxbQY0iw8Z/s640/IMG_0131.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting for the bus to Puebla</td></tr>
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<br /></div>
Fadgen's Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16693548016894583724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308604707301670536.post-63622147878861417872019-01-13T17:45:00.000-07:002019-12-24T10:25:20.794-07:00South of the Border (Wall) - IztaccihuatlDylan and his buddy, Thomas, set up a trip to Mexico to climb North America's third tallest peak back in August. Once I caught wind off it, I weaseled my way into being a part of it. After all, Pico de Orizaba is the third tallest peak in NA, after Denali and Mt. Logan. With the climbing being based out of Puebla, I talked my lovely bride into coming down with us. It was a win-win situation - I could climb with the boys and she could visit with her sister (and her family), who just happened to live outside of Puebla City, in Cholula.<br />
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Tamara and I arrived in Puebla City Sunday evening after Dylan and Thomas had achieved a personal altitude record while climbing <a href="https://www.summitpost.org/la-malinche/150260" target="_blank">La Malinche</a> that morning. The next day we toured the downtown Cholula area, ate some Tacos Arabes, and got settled in with the Rodriguez family.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQn0jA9kMDguDkqeR7RYEE_hdMJ5xU2Kh76iJaXtVO19VZpSdvXvfykqLUoPWE1AuCY3yphyphenhyphenF2kT7edVAvOYOnRqzc73nCTAVx7PhndmNkkLNG4OAUNGjTIRS731D_IYZZBHegH4ctXsc5/s1600/IMG_0015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQn0jA9kMDguDkqeR7RYEE_hdMJ5xU2Kh76iJaXtVO19VZpSdvXvfykqLUoPWE1AuCY3yphyphenhyphenF2kT7edVAvOYOnRqzc73nCTAVx7PhndmNkkLNG4OAUNGjTIRS731D_IYZZBHegH4ctXsc5/s640/IMG_0015.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tamara and I with Popocatépetl on the left and IztaccÃhuatl on the right</td></tr>
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The boys had Tuesday pegged as the day to travel to the trail head for our attempt at Iztaccihuatl or "Izta" at 17,160 feet. You can read about "Izta" here: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iztaccihuatl" target="_blank">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iztaccihuatl</a> As "Izta" is considered the sleeping lady, the trail traverses from the feet, to the knees, across the belly, to the highpoint, the chest (pecho).<br />
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I kissed the wife goodbye just as the Uber driver pulled up. The plan was to Uber to San Nicolas de Los Ranchos and then find a taxi to take us to the Izta-Popo Zoquiapan National Park headquarters on Paso de Cortes. Turns out this is the "non-standard" route, due to the 20km of dirt road required to get to the park headquarters.<br />
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But Dylan and Thomas worked their magic and convinced the Uber driver to take us all the way to the park headquarters "por dinero".<br />
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We knew we needed to purchase passes at the park headquarters to climb Izta, so we did that. Then, we went back outside to find a way to get to the La Joya trail head, 8km up another dirt road. After 20 minutes or so, I flagged down a taxi driver heading over the pass who offered to take us to the trail head for a small fee.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja1INmnstrym9-MnCxw_KY_bZM6HhJ85hPGRUlo_194x3htluHenkRGeMcmnJ1tufQBMX2pboVp9zQw3PNdJuFeOR0GbnIxA_ShyiSbwVY18xEBy3CBP4CjYHrBQnjSDZJt3X9VDCSJcAM/s1600/IMG_0016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja1INmnstrym9-MnCxw_KY_bZM6HhJ85hPGRUlo_194x3htluHenkRGeMcmnJ1tufQBMX2pboVp9zQw3PNdJuFeOR0GbnIxA_ShyiSbwVY18xEBy3CBP4CjYHrBQnjSDZJt3X9VDCSJcAM/s640/IMG_0016.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Popo" from the park headquarters</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj_0syF8zYC5bQAHqBwWuFzCPT7Uvh7SPKfyXUpzFjmjd2RkftxowkdKvnuSW0vUIPMnI3I3E77lKn0Fyr25qz5OEMIzpCRD8rCPQOz-CJFUfN6F_90lu5cRwENbm8VB8kj9kwemEUoehg/s1600/IMG_0017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj_0syF8zYC5bQAHqBwWuFzCPT7Uvh7SPKfyXUpzFjmjd2RkftxowkdKvnuSW0vUIPMnI3I3E77lKn0Fyr25qz5OEMIzpCRD8rCPQOz-CJFUfN6F_90lu5cRwENbm8VB8kj9kwemEUoehg/s640/IMG_0017.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The south side of "Izta" from the park headquarters. The "feet" are on the right.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivFl-W5EXh9jUUVghThNhBInumXaf2qbDW41ObZa_vtbqCf95hDVpV23tXE7W6WnqlYlVf4jSzTGk2kl_nf0iHNQ4LAM4wW-veQMD9k0dcn1Z9cj4DtOBKnvDnBby6UqAK0c2MQ-kthKQy/s1600/IMG_0019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivFl-W5EXh9jUUVghThNhBInumXaf2qbDW41ObZa_vtbqCf95hDVpV23tXE7W6WnqlYlVf4jSzTGk2kl_nf0iHNQ4LAM4wW-veQMD9k0dcn1Z9cj4DtOBKnvDnBby6UqAK0c2MQ-kthKQy/s640/IMG_0019.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">La Joya trail head</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We'd brought camping gear with the intent on staying at La Joya, but the wind and cold had us considering staying at the refugio. I convinced the guys that we should at least walk up the mile to check out Refugio de Altzomoni.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisPsHjieskkWDVn6531bT0L-FgjaxbSwiWbW_SQMRzoLtd2ZwS1J1HRbuPlnswvHphn6u8oANfsIhLATcvRaBZP60zmzKNEAvd61-CGlxMs98w1ZOieG-E813ncsmTm0DPu7cReQMWuEu1/s1600/IMG_0018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisPsHjieskkWDVn6531bT0L-FgjaxbSwiWbW_SQMRzoLtd2ZwS1J1HRbuPlnswvHphn6u8oANfsIhLATcvRaBZP60zmzKNEAvd61-CGlxMs98w1ZOieG-E813ncsmTm0DPu7cReQMWuEu1/s400/IMG_0018.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading to the refugio</td></tr>
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It was a good call. Though, apparently, you are supposed to pay to stay at the refuge, we convinced a nice Mexican gentlemen to allow us to share his room. After all, we didn't have transportation to get to the park headquarters. He was there to cook for a guided group acclimatizing for Pico (<a href="http://climbingthesevensummits.com/orizaba-express/" target="_blank">Climbing the Seven Summits</a>) and offered up some bunks in his room for a small tip.<br />
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Our original plan was to get going at 1AM, but we changed that to a 3AM start. When we left, the weather was clear and not too cold, considering we were at 13,000 at 3AM. We retraced our steps to the La Joya trail head, stashed our duffel bag, and started up the steep trail. The trail to the summit of "Izta" follows the curves of the body of the "Sleeping Lady" to her chest.<br />
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As it was dark, and the trail was steep, I did not take any photos. After a couple of hours, we arrived at the refugio at the base of the "knees" at 15,450 feet just as it was getting light enough to see without a headlamp. It was occupied by the group that had left our refugio earlier, so we didn't linger.<br />
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At this point, the trail really steepened and we had to deal with loose volcanic soil and rocks as we ascended the "knees". After struggling for half an hour in the loose, steep crap, we eventually reached a ridge just at sunrise. And to our amazement, Popo let off a cloud of smoke!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyHjLYztB86HVmN7eBXMZc_GsZjWWCBKGk5ymoEmCZWsr2WDx2GdhaoarTnV5ybCvIxdJGfrD2Qv5X8kUujaMS5WIaq-rvBmgSDJWMNgSsQj82str88fPBEqVg3K3OTASUyQ2zLzamBDiQ/s1600/IMG_0030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyHjLYztB86HVmN7eBXMZc_GsZjWWCBKGk5ymoEmCZWsr2WDx2GdhaoarTnV5ybCvIxdJGfrD2Qv5X8kUujaMS5WIaq-rvBmgSDJWMNgSsQj82str88fPBEqVg3K3OTASUyQ2zLzamBDiQ/s640/IMG_0030.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dylan on the ridge with Popo behind him</td></tr>
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With sunlight came strength. We had a short, fun, class 3 scramble to the top of the "knees" and could finally see our summit. Or could we?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhewui1wwk8rtv-UMRonLMGnhyevAsSal90mMB0BVCwqoQ3agO0cY1lMzYC1pG8SLF99N8KjbWax6Hv0fkxMSMHJdXEUsiTzt4xSzr5abJ6mVEgfjt_1e8H5SFHMi-7KZjQxJaorG0LwjSD/s1600/IMG_0032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhewui1wwk8rtv-UMRonLMGnhyevAsSal90mMB0BVCwqoQ3agO0cY1lMzYC1pG8SLF99N8KjbWax6Hv0fkxMSMHJdXEUsiTzt4xSzr5abJ6mVEgfjt_1e8H5SFHMi-7KZjQxJaorG0LwjSD/s640/IMG_0032.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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At this point it was close to 7:30, we were above 16K feet and the summit looked a long way off.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSqzSx3_jWWs6x1DOSGSzrYoDUk0IVZ9V3QmMZ0gUcXgtmqFeYsT4O5G729Mi3J-aDw8fHpuMWvzOGvIx-aC2fyhM-j3mvVX0WULHFMjbz9Oj7KBG5YscBI5NdoWx_v1F5nPbRv6M-ewmC/s1600/IMG_0035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSqzSx3_jWWs6x1DOSGSzrYoDUk0IVZ9V3QmMZ0gUcXgtmqFeYsT4O5G729Mi3J-aDw8fHpuMWvzOGvIx-aC2fyhM-j3mvVX0WULHFMjbz9Oj7KBG5YscBI5NdoWx_v1F5nPbRv6M-ewmC/s640/IMG_0035.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Summit is back there somewhere</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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We eventually came to the remnants of the stomach glacier, necessitating crampons for some security.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbgLJPAg7Ot_Y-Uz1zZ8-th9Vlguy7QHqycxYEnYBE8vRwcgJmxev2Tf52XnV7-Xl9KWP46J6_vee2H9ebxBLa7ghFyDB_5KyvzI_IxYdux__k6PdkCdTXXAo0-BHp2218iUVh7pDJWOT2/s1600/IMG_0041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbgLJPAg7Ot_Y-Uz1zZ8-th9Vlguy7QHqycxYEnYBE8vRwcgJmxev2Tf52XnV7-Xl9KWP46J6_vee2H9ebxBLa7ghFyDB_5KyvzI_IxYdux__k6PdkCdTXXAo0-BHp2218iUVh7pDJWOT2/s640/IMG_0041.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYak1Ifgi0YKE8Snaa31NxSCPdd-MzaVAQPy6gfbqzD-ciPukkysznVnIItPUHW8YgZVjyZFodChO6QyyA8ntf4XCS0MYcgvoYjRksQek_5mxsriy6TFMdapsMXcj84DdGAMhudRbPRpRy/s1600/IMG_0045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYak1Ifgi0YKE8Snaa31NxSCPdd-MzaVAQPy6gfbqzD-ciPukkysznVnIItPUHW8YgZVjyZFodChO6QyyA8ntf4XCS0MYcgvoYjRksQek_5mxsriy6TFMdapsMXcj84DdGAMhudRbPRpRy/s640/IMG_0045.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crossing the glacier</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpQ6P9ybwQW4dkR8Rgbi0i5msUynP25TTvlDAFOakvfFb4rKrax-ujklBpFgJWgejSREOYfVqt-aNAhnnmt01X7AdHYHivC4Cf37eEJhhjCfpZjG0990HB42ZOH252mQ3POPZM4Zhyphenhyphen4QNC/s1600/IMG_0048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpQ6P9ybwQW4dkR8Rgbi0i5msUynP25TTvlDAFOakvfFb4rKrax-ujklBpFgJWgejSREOYfVqt-aNAhnnmt01X7AdHYHivC4Cf37eEJhhjCfpZjG0990HB42ZOH252mQ3POPZM4Zhyphenhyphen4QNC/s640/IMG_0048.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back across the glacier (note the one crevasse on the left)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After a couple of undulations, we reached the crater rim. It was 9:45, and I was beat. Dylan pointed out that though this was recognized as the summit (there was even a marker), the true summit was across another snowfield.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTSREaIjEkbfHtbCCxbbiFxwmMhGbKvDE08Hgc8g9cDopOkqBbrEKejpAsl0D0cVLsKGKTmO2o7MhMY69gttKvFiVvdrxpE_iFtaNjrrs1257ImRQ3BxcXQK7FQ82pvdvmNKWaokbhjyIz/s1600/IMG_0051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTSREaIjEkbfHtbCCxbbiFxwmMhGbKvDE08Hgc8g9cDopOkqBbrEKejpAsl0D0cVLsKGKTmO2o7MhMY69gttKvFiVvdrxpE_iFtaNjrrs1257ImRQ3BxcXQK7FQ82pvdvmNKWaokbhjyIz/s640/IMG_0051.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbORNP2ac1TgHLoDcxy2dLR1_uOnwNVSFULlBu4mX20OVbYjte5FBP1-b8Fq8dYgOIXfq3D5caSyW4fJa6y4yWP_EGyV4JpeB3Ql_iUwWw8YNlPFgEJXyL5grO2VFr7YholdrOhxMEN0Fg/s1600/IMG_0053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbORNP2ac1TgHLoDcxy2dLR1_uOnwNVSFULlBu4mX20OVbYjte5FBP1-b8Fq8dYgOIXfq3D5caSyW4fJa6y4yWP_EGyV4JpeB3Ql_iUwWw8YNlPFgEJXyL5grO2VFr7YholdrOhxMEN0Fg/s640/IMG_0053.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
So, we set off across the crater snowfield toward the true summit. Maybe is was the altitude (17K feet) but the north summit seemed a long way away. It wasn't.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghXiAVOy5voCHIKhWjUGhFnUtY8G2-Md6gHT0ImY84lw4updhfcHRLgowhNQhTcJWqYFW1WxTPelXaY7S82VOUJXr5mErKUzARQ847olMLSS4r2RFHwxGNswGliKrCuxLHUhiyzTtHY_H3/s1600/IMG_0054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghXiAVOy5voCHIKhWjUGhFnUtY8G2-Md6gHT0ImY84lw4updhfcHRLgowhNQhTcJWqYFW1WxTPelXaY7S82VOUJXr5mErKUzARQ847olMLSS4r2RFHwxGNswGliKrCuxLHUhiyzTtHY_H3/s640/IMG_0054.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMAekYETFf_qt-ubKQimf97USi9MdRNJs0KHhaTCS8Pa-RlSv3QMtJF16RRT6vcOgXZ20rWSNpIO7jSG_Ta7X9oZXwPYqoc9S3z4opLdopvduQanRR-eLhZk-4F1iEwgs8zV2B5WhRCOcy/s1600/IMG_0056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMAekYETFf_qt-ubKQimf97USi9MdRNJs0KHhaTCS8Pa-RlSv3QMtJF16RRT6vcOgXZ20rWSNpIO7jSG_Ta7X9oZXwPYqoc9S3z4opLdopvduQanRR-eLhZk-4F1iEwgs8zV2B5WhRCOcy/s640/IMG_0056.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm the good looking one without the facial hair.</td></tr>
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We reached the summit, 17,160 feet, at 10:15. Hugs all around, a few photos, some snacks, and it was time to turn around. We were the only ones on top, and we could not see any one else following our tracks.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglViEXrMaoS3q6vYhK2ByvfjV4AsHp9SKxx8-EIO5w_kDrIhscOIYoU9NvmnCLLbWHjrtgnRt26hX_-2ekWbB5gkkZKGo-PQhzdzjyIoozWHFCcsO6J64zPLkMKcR0UijOk9RBskajJLMl/s1600/IMG_0057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglViEXrMaoS3q6vYhK2ByvfjV4AsHp9SKxx8-EIO5w_kDrIhscOIYoU9NvmnCLLbWHjrtgnRt26hX_-2ekWbB5gkkZKGo-PQhzdzjyIoozWHFCcsO6J64zPLkMKcR0UijOk9RBskajJLMl/s640/IMG_0057.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading down</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAIpVN-d5X9mvB1Net5XknzEEY-6bNtjExheQrWpqGjPgsK8WfwEH_8OEWPwh2DFnRGGDK0UFQI8Zo2Bkf4cLmAQAbfeUtUmR-e2A7PREcZ30s5aBND6XTSmAHdIa0O2tqA5gLDcRSKcZn/s1600/IMG_0060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAIpVN-d5X9mvB1Net5XknzEEY-6bNtjExheQrWpqGjPgsK8WfwEH_8OEWPwh2DFnRGGDK0UFQI8Zo2Bkf4cLmAQAbfeUtUmR-e2A7PREcZ30s5aBND6XTSmAHdIa0O2tqA5gLDcRSKcZn/s640/IMG_0060.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
It was an uneventful descent other than the clouds building on the southern (trail head) side making for a cool hike.<br />
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We eventually reached the La Joya trail head at 2PM, for an 11 hour, 10 mile, 5000 foot day. We were all whipped.<br />
<br />
Now we needed to figure out how to get back to Cholula. Unfortunately, we didn't think about hiring someone to meet us a the trail head and drive us back. Unlike me, Dylan and Thomas were not worried. So after a short break, we loaded up - Dylan with his and Thomas's packs, Thomas with the camping duffel, and me carrying my gear, and headed down the road.<br />
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As we moved slowly down the road, we spotted a box truck heading down from the refugio. Even luckier, they happened to see Dylan running down the trail in their direction and stopped! With the three of us squeezed into the back of this telephone company box truck, a short bumpy ride brought us back to the National Park headquarters.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGgEfhjkG9u86rrSIa4HG162aMHk_2JuUl_a2u_D5c6fs_NdBKhB0VyN5_3oMwNVhheqEG1XCrbdrWQAEx3ci45rd-8qimAMBg6vl9y3JKMR5YxMXHpPPEAPFYkiWJPQjUpxsoMMkG3lwW/s1600/image1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGgEfhjkG9u86rrSIa4HG162aMHk_2JuUl_a2u_D5c6fs_NdBKhB0VyN5_3oMwNVhheqEG1XCrbdrWQAEx3ci45rd-8qimAMBg6vl9y3JKMR5YxMXHpPPEAPFYkiWJPQjUpxsoMMkG3lwW/s400/image1.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy that we have a ride down!</td></tr>
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While waiting around outside the park headquarters, a taxi (with customers) stopped. After a couple of gyrations with Google translate, we eventually figured he would take us down our side of the mountain after he transported his current customers down the other side.<br />
<br />
He said he'd be back in 40 minutes. Two hours later, he showed up and we hopped into his van for the mad scramble down the dirt road. Rather than take us to Cholula, he dropped us off in the town square of the first little town we came to.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKMETyEy93crDbRybxgMiOH3tCNIyWrvC9MFUhH6fTCBZOETSBq5-5oeHQr5rLRY1Xj2QnKfXYaN48hzXslpxJTPnFl3P2Mv9cdpw6deXupmBubJVcI3GZKLSiPZn-PtNeWmojYkeIjY7U/s1600/IMG_0063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKMETyEy93crDbRybxgMiOH3tCNIyWrvC9MFUhH6fTCBZOETSBq5-5oeHQr5rLRY1Xj2QnKfXYaN48hzXslpxJTPnFl3P2Mv9cdpw6deXupmBubJVcI3GZKLSiPZn-PtNeWmojYkeIjY7U/s640/IMG_0063.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the taxi</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Ten stressful minutes later, a van showed up with a Cholula sign in the window. Our ride! We climbed in and spent the next hour and a half crammed into the mini-van "taxi" with all our gear and between 6 and 12 other people. We eventually reached our destination a little after 7PM, exhausted.</div>
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<span id="goog_1444776726"></span><span id="goog_1444776727"></span><br />Fadgen's Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16693548016894583724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308604707301670536.post-268028706352297672018-11-21T20:24:00.001-07:002018-11-21T20:24:51.984-07:00Borah DNFA long Thanksgiving break lent itself well to bigger plans- Why not Borah? After meeting Ralph for some spare tools (Thank you Ralph!), Max and I hit the road for a cold and clear night at Joe T. Fallini. The thermometer in the car when we pulled up read 10, and it got a whole lot colder. The next morning we took it slow, toured around Doublesprings, and ended up leaving Rock Creek around 2. Bad move?<br />
Yes.<br />
The going was slow, the snow was fresh and deeper than we would have liked, and we opted to take the tent instead of the planned bivy sacks after the freezing night in the campground. After picking our way up the drainage, the sun went down and we made camp at around 9500'. The next morning we got our first proper look at the face-<br />
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We took the Hidden Couloir to "Classic" finish.<br />
Had there not been 8-12' of fresh powder, the ice would have been perfect, top to bottom. Instead, the snow was in fact there, and very unconsolidated.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZg3FUWBOu_fN0x8csv1kxJNPZoFIBnhNtxs67qupnW4ahBaeZ691IvBiZ5awopNb9ObiNOU65na0ghrHMtQwbB44q-ogdX0Q0SLNXK-ybHs0MZm4K6dkNfVT9zNCKF00byFwDQ3Rq-3h1/s1600/IMG_7256.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZg3FUWBOu_fN0x8csv1kxJNPZoFIBnhNtxs67qupnW4ahBaeZ691IvBiZ5awopNb9ObiNOU65na0ghrHMtQwbB44q-ogdX0Q0SLNXK-ybHs0MZm4K6dkNfVT9zNCKF00byFwDQ3Rq-3h1/s640/IMG_7256.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking up Hidden</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFmqTPCNqcvTxPeW80D_siR_iBd9Y7RtrvXOjJR-Jp9l2n8dUkbrKYpGnP4_tOZFTNN_gKbDnmRmYVc8aITphR_KFzyNZh_3UHG7NtVOjjK5hhm9cf0SL0tp3rgBtrQUrLKF8clFcELMNi/s1600/IMG_7257.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFmqTPCNqcvTxPeW80D_siR_iBd9Y7RtrvXOjJR-Jp9l2n8dUkbrKYpGnP4_tOZFTNN_gKbDnmRmYVc8aITphR_KFzyNZh_3UHG7NtVOjjK5hhm9cf0SL0tp3rgBtrQUrLKF8clFcELMNi/s640/IMG_7257.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking down Hidden</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmmLTIt3xjd7KtS7ZbxB1bLxmJ3PCsfiefLhfq08jwlMi-o0-YJpTGfAzcPxuiTkt00IPMjxEATJNUhtiOUjUWmb1Sbh9ULZRNiC4uX5OfL2TPCJP2YZ9ik4EYAK3lxjyNcAXE6n-AOv1G/s1600/IMG_4674.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmmLTIt3xjd7KtS7ZbxB1bLxmJ3PCsfiefLhfq08jwlMi-o0-YJpTGfAzcPxuiTkt00IPMjxEATJNUhtiOUjUWmb1Sbh9ULZRNiC4uX5OfL2TPCJP2YZ9ik4EYAK3lxjyNcAXE6n-AOv1G/s640/IMG_4674.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Perfect ice! Under snow. Tool for scale</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We simuled most of the lower face, stopping twice to switch over kit and warm the hands. When we reached the final couloir it was 3pm. A little late. The last few pitches looked perfect- with the exception of the last fifty feet- which consisted of house-of-cards rocks covered in a few inches of loose snow.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfRWca47kmPN1ZOeyMs3Vz4v3hgzqmiR6Z_dGqovosxGg5woQ1P-Pk4cK84hGCj005cT3kjC9V5a95HPsrNKGPfxK7PqpgZwVQ3yzWYBJblTE66S_qh-iLn3_PKi2KSVvpcL5GfJBt6wdW/s1600/IMG_7283.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfRWca47kmPN1ZOeyMs3Vz4v3hgzqmiR6Z_dGqovosxGg5woQ1P-Pk4cK84hGCj005cT3kjC9V5a95HPsrNKGPfxK7PqpgZwVQ3yzWYBJblTE66S_qh-iLn3_PKi2KSVvpcL5GfJBt6wdW/s640/IMG_7283.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Textbook terrain belay! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgulU_0EqZJ5NZM_mjFyGTwZ1GykM4b5568LL5HC2BUvArGKZff0yHsp_efIOqkS5VTJKyK4m3omeiwdI1mtTSpt-sh_VVosi84Fh7SATtDnun0tYxY5nvXBMj0OFiEK7wTpBTjbYYJGqby/s1600/IMG_7300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgulU_0EqZJ5NZM_mjFyGTwZ1GykM4b5568LL5HC2BUvArGKZff0yHsp_efIOqkS5VTJKyK4m3omeiwdI1mtTSpt-sh_VVosi84Fh7SATtDnun0tYxY5nvXBMj0OFiEK7wTpBTjbYYJGqby/s640/IMG_7300.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting steeper-</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXZTbXx3AtqR-VqrDnkzu3duzHm76YabwL613xbI0IWJLnsBrMNTDN9RLB6L4JA4LIca_K_6aBqXn5WQbkqnU9LIWETWrAi6DLrZP5vvf05BwBjd6QNWDjy7E7YoO3iAdfAvNp0IEF21kA/s1600/IMG_7303.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXZTbXx3AtqR-VqrDnkzu3duzHm76YabwL613xbI0IWJLnsBrMNTDN9RLB6L4JA4LIca_K_6aBqXn5WQbkqnU9LIWETWrAi6DLrZP5vvf05BwBjd6QNWDjy7E7YoO3iAdfAvNp0IEF21kA/s640/IMG_7303.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Final pitches- We went right</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieX1BGdf_jqUiC83xlIysaALIeKrPUK3zJP4xBqDXD-ParWRjrppCBWdiv7Zd_w8-Zugxh2jtnCjZsDQwtI2nlc95pOlACVOt-0hRC3QXoslLTNu4mHVS4AuTWYT3dKiANJ3Kg_tCHhLQy/s1600/IMG_7306.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieX1BGdf_jqUiC83xlIysaALIeKrPUK3zJP4xBqDXD-ParWRjrppCBWdiv7Zd_w8-Zugxh2jtnCjZsDQwtI2nlc95pOlACVOt-0hRC3QXoslLTNu4mHVS4AuTWYT3dKiANJ3Kg_tCHhLQy/s640/IMG_7306.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Topping out into the sunset!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSOT_UmXpkeS5B2WCx9ZcCABliqD0s-9foUbRIbiyOfrcupMBXFsqPuCJUxqyTHkHipbRsN49KqPK_rDfak6BXKt2T5oQ5fFJcJPmy1HVb9AWT-XDkREjCW1eBhiGSvYaswfRx1lu3fXSN/s1600/IMG_7308.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSOT_UmXpkeS5B2WCx9ZcCABliqD0s-9foUbRIbiyOfrcupMBXFsqPuCJUxqyTHkHipbRsN49KqPK_rDfak6BXKt2T5oQ5fFJcJPmy1HVb9AWT-XDkREjCW1eBhiGSvYaswfRx1lu3fXSN/s640/IMG_7308.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking down the last 50'</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We topped out the face at about 5:30, which this time of year means sundown. Time to dig in. We stayed in the last notch before the summit on the NW ridge at 12,300', barely out of the wind. After a sleepless night, we set off in the morning to get up and get down. <div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-wKrSpHwagPOtb_D5FinsQ-Ch4brG3kroXqZywXEgmwG646mVx2agquweve8mlnSltTMTIzqqEM1dclGeMnzJ7LxmcAJ2hDJ_sIL28MmUb2o7Ixu2_984CnKdzAIGNrPGhWGP46ITk8p4/s1600/IMG_7310.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-wKrSpHwagPOtb_D5FinsQ-Ch4brG3kroXqZywXEgmwG646mVx2agquweve8mlnSltTMTIzqqEM1dclGeMnzJ7LxmcAJ2hDJ_sIL28MmUb2o7Ixu2_984CnKdzAIGNrPGhWGP46ITk8p4/s640/IMG_7310.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Almost there</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0mi9OqdZMBTaj-BH_zNr42XEPnuGSf2_c16YckNqr3K5IICwjyCXWWUUvHXJP5Z_bQz1VaSWSxEwoE83eOz5cX_8llq1df7GfFf-qgo9c5mShb0cRH4H-hmcixQqOI_AOfJGExcPE8PUt/s1600/IMG_7323.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0mi9OqdZMBTaj-BH_zNr42XEPnuGSf2_c16YckNqr3K5IICwjyCXWWUUvHXJP5Z_bQz1VaSWSxEwoE83eOz5cX_8llq1df7GfFf-qgo9c5mShb0cRH4H-hmcixQqOI_AOfJGExcPE8PUt/s640/IMG_7323.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg58tYvoC7pGJDvzHvL3F2qj_vLvIGWfq85Z0QmBmuUV0XQcptFb4wwo6vQ_55e8kWg9WYJYscto-cuefMRf0ZqDAgJfuIcKxmOdvyWLF5_IKVfkBKJc453hqoKBlb978Zc6JZc1eUB5qrc/s1600/IMG_7325.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg58tYvoC7pGJDvzHvL3F2qj_vLvIGWfq85Z0QmBmuUV0XQcptFb4wwo6vQ_55e8kWg9WYJYscto-cuefMRf0ZqDAgJfuIcKxmOdvyWLF5_IKVfkBKJc453hqoKBlb978Zc6JZc1eUB5qrc/s640/IMG_7325.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking south</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjskX5YNurtHEloB0BITCc_BVgvWgBYnFBqbcQwiFbuXEUnSN-TBv4vY3eMry8Ypsdhpg4uByMbo273gUfkbz0Ctiq-lWYFL3Ydqr4KlSQvnAdazpxf5v38_nntUeLcQM8Uh_0Ee35se9i_/s1600/IMG_4687.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjskX5YNurtHEloB0BITCc_BVgvWgBYnFBqbcQwiFbuXEUnSN-TBv4vY3eMry8Ypsdhpg4uByMbo273gUfkbz0Ctiq-lWYFL3Ydqr4KlSQvnAdazpxf5v38_nntUeLcQM8Uh_0Ee35se9i_/s640/IMG_4687.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Downclimbing from COR</td></tr>
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<div>
One four-hour, relatively uneventful descent later, we got back to the car in Rock Creek, exactly 48 hours since we started. Good trip!<br /><br /></div>
</div>
Fadgen's Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16693548016894583724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308604707301670536.post-27034921505956397082018-10-10T11:47:00.000-06:002018-10-10T11:47:48.815-06:00Yosemite 10/18Dylan here-<br />
Having just returned from my now-annual Yosemite Facelift (The 15th anniversary!) trip, here is a bit of a download-<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdJsj5NxE16CQQISoDel0S014XHajTrkk8_v7eiA1l22iJU_UBloc0TLVsAb6XSG38Ousp79StjCa3LwlqIHjyJM74mYhd4jG9meWgGHrJaDi-oLE2vbmhcYwsbP2-6wz46rdYhGL-zFlt/s1600/IMG_6972.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdJsj5NxE16CQQISoDel0S014XHajTrkk8_v7eiA1l22iJU_UBloc0TLVsAb6XSG38Ousp79StjCa3LwlqIHjyJM74mYhd4jG9meWgGHrJaDi-oLE2vbmhcYwsbP2-6wz46rdYhGL-zFlt/s640/IMG_6972.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Big Stone at dawn</td></tr>
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I arrived early in the day on September 24th, without much of a plan other than to participate in the Facelift and hopefully climb a bit with my longtime climbing partner Cody, who had been working in the Valley over the summer. He was a bit busy, so I went the usual route of posting an ad at the Camp 4 message board looking for a partner.<br />
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<div>
Fast forward a few days, to a three-hour hanging belay on a one day push up the Grade V West Face of Leaning Tower with a French-Canadian lady I'd never climbed with.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJoLYq3mpwwRKw-4Eek6AQ2QCe7dMBDaHPRNQKU4cuuJhMpLwD2oJ3y68L8uOP02AEbP-IADgaFlHpR_ne27cCmwmKKHXNM37r8UTqpqx-azVefVtvimM_X_XUdrQ8Tw0l2A5JCGvXTsMx/s1600/IMG_6999.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJoLYq3mpwwRKw-4Eek6AQ2QCe7dMBDaHPRNQKU4cuuJhMpLwD2oJ3y68L8uOP02AEbP-IADgaFlHpR_ne27cCmwmKKHXNM37r8UTqpqx-azVefVtvimM_X_XUdrQ8Tw0l2A5JCGvXTsMx/s640/IMG_6999.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking down on Awhanee Ledge on the WF of Leaning Tower</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6dN_1RJg01b_Kkc0re_y430c8RmT675r20kF8kg0DlBbnZV4MnP9hmJsAqvXNfY4vuqIG03eEnd5y66HTJu6DjFsOcugfFY6v4q9kboRqL0ELjStNlPdeiIGtJYv4XuK-MnfwiSizd37e/s1600/IMG_7015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6dN_1RJg01b_Kkc0re_y430c8RmT675r20kF8kg0DlBbnZV4MnP9hmJsAqvXNfY4vuqIG03eEnd5y66HTJu6DjFsOcugfFY6v4q9kboRqL0ELjStNlPdeiIGtJYv4XuK-MnfwiSizd37e/s640/IMG_7015.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After ripping the first four pitches in under four hours, it was time to wait in line. For another ten hours.</td></tr>
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After fourteen hours of hanging belays, it becomes very apparent why Leaning Tower is called that. It leans!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt_5qxQOiLoEXgMbHgOPPeoYLXFXZyqhEC9tpDbnbbsDCMio9lfdebqOz2hJG-Wlg1GGOQ8pdx650BTPCoJILHqJOZDuxoP25w5ltTZix-h0iao9mt2q_E5H8QTiNL96ZIGr5RR_LgmYyh/s1600/IMG_6991.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt_5qxQOiLoEXgMbHgOPPeoYLXFXZyqhEC9tpDbnbbsDCMio9lfdebqOz2hJG-Wlg1GGOQ8pdx650BTPCoJILHqJOZDuxoP25w5ltTZix-h0iao9mt2q_E5H8QTiNL96ZIGr5RR_LgmYyh/s640/IMG_6991.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The West Face route follows the right-hand skyline of the formation</td></tr>
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A few days pass and Cody propositions me with something I haven't considered- The Nose. It's been over a year since he and I had bailed from the Sickle Ledge, and I had then sworn off big wall climbing. We have both grown as climbers since then, and his suggestion of a third member (Tyler) to the team made the endeavor much more appealing. We decided to wait out the approaching rainstorm, and do a three-day ascent of El Cap. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBmEeFO1j1Gv_XrH2_PO4-dpvd9N3VMx5nIpUe-iuj1ixSNZjHRjzFe19jHrIIkodgEozulcVJoijMT4-hISoJt2cnj82zGJpMWr3FiNLcukdJE52ElwiUpCXr39Knpywf3Y8xa_BnPaa3/s1600/IMG_3823.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBmEeFO1j1Gv_XrH2_PO4-dpvd9N3VMx5nIpUe-iuj1ixSNZjHRjzFe19jHrIIkodgEozulcVJoijMT4-hISoJt2cnj82zGJpMWr3FiNLcukdJE52ElwiUpCXr39Knpywf3Y8xa_BnPaa3/s640/IMG_3823.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cody and I preparing to pre-haul to the Sickle Ledge</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCHYbLx8oAdet-Ema6zb95hDFroazvqvreyRxuH1czDhUSBswJ5vzsmXaSZo7ZSK9GJWZ5hn8Am0roa5lh2psHelmXLCdi1xBzlpAr-PdztZcZwXWF28sjAUagFFBMNGIovVlE18ReQGlv/s1600/IMG_8959.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1600" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCHYbLx8oAdet-Ema6zb95hDFroazvqvreyRxuH1czDhUSBswJ5vzsmXaSZo7ZSK9GJWZ5hn8Am0roa5lh2psHelmXLCdi1xBzlpAr-PdztZcZwXWF28sjAUagFFBMNGIovVlE18ReQGlv/s640/IMG_8959.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Going up-</td></tr>
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Because of the rain, and how busy the Valley was, we decided it advantageous to haul to the Sickle Ledge in the rain, get a good nights sleep on the ground, and blast off from there the next day. <div>
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What followed was one of the most intense and rewarding experiences of my life. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiLIgFnZxZUtPviMB6rDeMJlOwaEBOAKyGV-Wkfv0vhWS4DnHNddiM8nLmERNrkKWqrRaX3DHDDtxg0VGVxPPxxvKoWXwZaZpTC73BExF4Ka2VqpDJOEKodKpm9dqRdib9cR-_Hmlgg7Yi/s1600/IMG_7041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiLIgFnZxZUtPviMB6rDeMJlOwaEBOAKyGV-Wkfv0vhWS4DnHNddiM8nLmERNrkKWqrRaX3DHDDtxg0VGVxPPxxvKoWXwZaZpTC73BExF4Ka2VqpDJOEKodKpm9dqRdib9cR-_Hmlgg7Yi/s640/IMG_7041.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tyler lowering out one of the pitches approaching the Stovelegs</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLft7XdcIYMblt4M7WK-DmlDg1AYQ_9hWzFCKPofb_Dnng9DvGBWshNZd1zVHB2qpYliropodAZBIot0P3jY6CToVLRPRouNXMAkAuFQPUP5YTTtYaw2wB8yqsRUnBcbQCRKtvBdoVikga/s1600/IMG_0863.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLft7XdcIYMblt4M7WK-DmlDg1AYQ_9hWzFCKPofb_Dnng9DvGBWshNZd1zVHB2qpYliropodAZBIot0P3jY6CToVLRPRouNXMAkAuFQPUP5YTTtYaw2wB8yqsRUnBcbQCRKtvBdoVikga/s640/IMG_0863.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On top of Dolt Tower, after rappelling 40m to unstick the haulbags. All smiles!</td></tr>
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We had one excellent bivy at El Cap Tower, and a nice surprise rainstorm the first morning. <div>
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The next night was significantly less plush, with me "sleeping" sitting up with my feet stuffed into the docked haulbag, constantly sliding down the tiny sloping ledge. Cody and Tyler were equally as unlucky, with an equally sloping, but more exposed ledge a little higher up. Too miserable for photos. </div>
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The next day was set to be our last. We blasted up a few pitches to the Changing Corners, apparently hard aid. Luckily for the party my parents gifted me with a decent reach, and we sped up the C2 pitch. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The team waiting to hop on the final pitch</td></tr>
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After waiting out a traffic jam near the top, it finally happened. We topped out the Captain! Hugs, smiles, summit shots in the golden light, and a shot of whiskey greeted us before the long walk down. </div>
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An incredible experience. Hard work, and when living in that environment nothing is easy. </div>
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More photos to come from the gracious Tom Evans at elcapreport.com</div>
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Fadgen's Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16693548016894583724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308604707301670536.post-24745238521856227992018-09-10T19:52:00.000-06:002018-09-11T11:11:50.987-06:00Sky Pilot - Peak 11,280Dylan didn't have much going on this past weekend, so I suggested he drive over from Bend, we head to Wildhorse Creek and climb Sky Pilot. Sky Pilot is a 5.7 alpine route up the NE arete of Peak 11,280, aka Peak 11,300, aka Rearing Stallion Peak. I believe it was originally climbed by Marc Hanselman and Drew Daley of Sawtooth Mountain Guides back in 2010. Several other parties have since climbed it, and the photos from their trip reports were inspiring. It has been on my list for a few years now and I am not getting any younger.<br />
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Sky Pilot offers somewhere between 1200 and 1500 feet of exposed ridge climbing to the summit, and at a modest 5.7, was right in my wheelhouse.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6VaHHg4ZOGJjUL5DMM1etl0yHDJiEbabOwptNQN2w7YUi0A0MIXNqIp6Fu1ps6sqS-QvYV5ZMEOHFOppvw4UHqnddeJkys0_oLNoK0ORvWdAO7wNXrjSpDXd42Z-LuQ3ERHBTdtFYVhnE/s1600/IMG_4507.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6VaHHg4ZOGJjUL5DMM1etl0yHDJiEbabOwptNQN2w7YUi0A0MIXNqIp6Fu1ps6sqS-QvYV5ZMEOHFOppvw4UHqnddeJkys0_oLNoK0ORvWdAO7wNXrjSpDXd42Z-LuQ3ERHBTdtFYVhnE/s640/IMG_4507.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is that Bigfoot moving through the heavy downfall?</td></tr>
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To get to the start of Sky Pilot, we did our best to follow the "trail" leading up past an old mine site. After a steep1000 feet or so, we popped out into a beautiful high alpine meadow. A short while later we were at Lake 9238 admiring the route in the early morning sunshine.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhghmyBdj81LUxxZBIoGMVY1WbShV947EP0mmbglRtcB0Bpt08dXgdvKr1GTPgIpZIP2kWNsorQoW2-HCvtPzKkNhi5Im5RjopgOIbF4T-Owkrw04E6G7YyhCHJQDB5JplFmLNQrRojrBgM/s1600/IMG_4510.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhghmyBdj81LUxxZBIoGMVY1WbShV947EP0mmbglRtcB0Bpt08dXgdvKr1GTPgIpZIP2kWNsorQoW2-HCvtPzKkNhi5Im5RjopgOIbF4T-Owkrw04E6G7YyhCHJQDB5JplFmLNQrRojrBgM/s640/IMG_4510.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peak 11,280 - Sky Pilot is the left leaning arete</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8a6a2OWnQGIoyrKONXY9TB169_72yYbvnhl0wgBw3ioDM6FozgxN3LwwSQR9f1vMDr7Ra4nESHiNZ-en3YsjAWhdaU3aKdxPcHpW0iNHHDHyEyhU2YjEOpuUAZVrb3KUVoEPoZgzcdYiR/s1600/IMG_4515.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8a6a2OWnQGIoyrKONXY9TB169_72yYbvnhl0wgBw3ioDM6FozgxN3LwwSQR9f1vMDr7Ra4nESHiNZ-en3YsjAWhdaU3aKdxPcHpW0iNHHDHyEyhU2YjEOpuUAZVrb3KUVoEPoZgzcdYiR/s640/IMG_4515.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lake 9280</td></tr>
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We wanted to make it exciting, so we left (forgot) our beta at home. I vaguely remembered a reference to a left facing couloir. Armed with this lack of information, we started up the 4th class slabs that led to the right, hoping to find the couloir. The 'biner on the ground told us we were on route and a short time later we found the couloir. We roped up and started climbing about halfway up the couloir. We obtained the arete on this first pitch and Dylan then led us to the summit.<br />
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Rather than trying to describe the 11 awesome pitches we did that day, I think I'll just let the pictures speak for me.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL-cZjBZlBmC7pqhB8QTKQdeHytfKzuNgmR0xQEActKE8BbMyPTm6H8LILizmrjWnIWcP5cOoYiEfUD05_udIkeTEpItnTxYXJyOmnJFs-BUM1FKBLCFrl-kVSIAZY4Uwf5UNndJIE1MpI/s1600/IMG_4518.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL-cZjBZlBmC7pqhB8QTKQdeHytfKzuNgmR0xQEActKE8BbMyPTm6H8LILizmrjWnIWcP5cOoYiEfUD05_udIkeTEpItnTxYXJyOmnJFs-BUM1FKBLCFrl-kVSIAZY4Uwf5UNndJIE1MpI/s640/IMG_4518.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We climbed the slabs to the right of the crack</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Ue5LXf6bOqyEnET7GqC8yFWN0c5_nqXB2bmckJynecXmMOeaq9FNE0laBKw0LhMixy0dh_O0zQiw0uBy9meHp3HWo-c2Lvy0vD5rrAGw-Xv7RlSywtEOUc8ZfZwzyFQoRz6AJt38G_xp/s1600/IMG_6903.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Ue5LXf6bOqyEnET7GqC8yFWN0c5_nqXB2bmckJynecXmMOeaq9FNE0laBKw0LhMixy0dh_O0zQiw0uBy9meHp3HWo-c2Lvy0vD5rrAGw-Xv7RlSywtEOUc8ZfZwzyFQoRz6AJt38G_xp/s640/IMG_6903.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yours truly climbing the slabs</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF4uOA61LzKxcNshmbFYAAMKSt1rFV4qEuS9aKaE-JujMYjE-ciNEwgvUffiMbSQ52RK-6tJk1Gpv-GWaKOnOpYzRkRUBMhgSa72uH0XLWrdNZrAvDO81XvX6Gf0sIuSr5D5YnDIl4EDxD/s1600/IMG_4522.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF4uOA61LzKxcNshmbFYAAMKSt1rFV4qEuS9aKaE-JujMYjE-ciNEwgvUffiMbSQ52RK-6tJk1Gpv-GWaKOnOpYzRkRUBMhgSa72uH0XLWrdNZrAvDO81XvX6Gf0sIuSr5D5YnDIl4EDxD/s640/IMG_4522.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The couloir we were looking for!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi60QX_MRjltf8E09T8KJxtuBVQaz7dwDPq62evelJeEwWTeWDI8xo2oZCh-FXexk0UVuhNwWjqYVxPwLN4q_PbzU4L5mahhOcYAIwVynKWB_SCAl1DjLtjLtkTxrUQUcv0Cq4wZRjhduTN/s1600/IMG_4525.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi60QX_MRjltf8E09T8KJxtuBVQaz7dwDPq62evelJeEwWTeWDI8xo2oZCh-FXexk0UVuhNwWjqYVxPwLN4q_PbzU4L5mahhOcYAIwVynKWB_SCAl1DjLtjLtkTxrUQUcv0Cq4wZRjhduTN/s640/IMG_4525.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dylan ready to go</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkgBSt5BgqK9bp9V_FX_8JZFRAOXJ8g7_JHnzVRLPKXPHuwCD5SVph4WtXQdI_EbyFEA3635rKVJ3fOJnQMS7DPcitqQx2ulKHVSsDD3KLrjgR6dEsxFVPBEoP_5CsaKz0Ecfj6Jt5lCxJ/s1600/IMG_4527.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkgBSt5BgqK9bp9V_FX_8JZFRAOXJ8g7_JHnzVRLPKXPHuwCD5SVph4WtXQdI_EbyFEA3635rKVJ3fOJnQMS7DPcitqQx2ulKHVSsDD3KLrjgR6dEsxFVPBEoP_5CsaKz0Ecfj6Jt5lCxJ/s640/IMG_4527.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking down after our first pitch</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAIV7cH17x2AvB_Mg9dInqZ73-XVQQzwhcAB3zBJQvPKqmUBoAI0lW2z_f2OOgOpxXyjKgiFwF2YxkmG28-7dF2le5U4IJuZByF8Y-Mjnzu1jspllZXGo9V3CTK3L0exjcmDwIIi7ia5AP/s1600/IMG_4528.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAIV7cH17x2AvB_Mg9dInqZ73-XVQQzwhcAB3zBJQvPKqmUBoAI0lW2z_f2OOgOpxXyjKgiFwF2YxkmG28-7dF2le5U4IJuZByF8Y-Mjnzu1jspllZXGo9V3CTK3L0exjcmDwIIi7ia5AP/s640/IMG_4528.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dylan led all day</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ZvVB0GgW_PeOP52ZQQPhHgixS7AdIhcUHMGlAzCCI262PPXqT5nlyr2KWySAUwuRjkSEjyIwksFYl3nqyDDbnXtbLDuBuw-HyZCxnzohWt3OOXukBob-anw5h-X8Hz5sCsf_wKrNoY32/s1600/IMG_4532.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ZvVB0GgW_PeOP52ZQQPhHgixS7AdIhcUHMGlAzCCI262PPXqT5nlyr2KWySAUwuRjkSEjyIwksFYl3nqyDDbnXtbLDuBuw-HyZCxnzohWt3OOXukBob-anw5h-X8Hz5sCsf_wKrNoY32/s640/IMG_4532.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As we moved higher, the views continued to improve</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZngfDuGmPsX3M1gVqkdm4QQJz4ryFGWTtS2hkex1fY0EZ7NaObro9db8zOdgzjdQk0t-7wOfv1sEztGzDwGG-lYx0ZD6C9eRA5wr3RJGGILGsVARyDC4eCkSNaNDmY1nAOMbN0N5hAh4M/s1600/IMG_6924.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZngfDuGmPsX3M1gVqkdm4QQJz4ryFGWTtS2hkex1fY0EZ7NaObro9db8zOdgzjdQk0t-7wOfv1sEztGzDwGG-lYx0ZD6C9eRA5wr3RJGGILGsVARyDC4eCkSNaNDmY1nAOMbN0N5hAh4M/s640/IMG_6924.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me following (all day)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiJlBeYqEojeFRHTWax6XTm_8Na5PD08jcFYLLMlzUyUsB39iKdwLW8V7f-y4ngYqrM9OugZESfBVA_3K8gjWjecDnjSy7UvKSOLOwFdLY8bAojCZAFL7XXKvsnc4hczR2ygnZhKk3JD9Q/s1600/IMG_6927.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiJlBeYqEojeFRHTWax6XTm_8Na5PD08jcFYLLMlzUyUsB39iKdwLW8V7f-y4ngYqrM9OugZESfBVA_3K8gjWjecDnjSy7UvKSOLOwFdLY8bAojCZAFL7XXKvsnc4hczR2ygnZhKk3JD9Q/s640/IMG_6927.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On a nice belay ledge </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7owpPg-M8fM8bQUO3gmKBZWG8d8kCFisRtujfz_EeIPFjUabUwGYQQD8YVJmz4bliTgUMuiLa38Bw8XqIykJ8KnFfntFGeLzh6gU8-QCkStUWk9oRHIypPpBaMQKs3G-PKY4XK6E7b7-o/s1600/IMG_4540.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7owpPg-M8fM8bQUO3gmKBZWG8d8kCFisRtujfz_EeIPFjUabUwGYQQD8YVJmz4bliTgUMuiLa38Bw8XqIykJ8KnFfntFGeLzh6gU8-QCkStUWk9oRHIypPpBaMQKs3G-PKY4XK6E7b7-o/s640/IMG_4540.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXrFmjiKJOLxwEMn2xCXT5Y2rOoKJiTSNLAMPWR_8sAI75WzIIX5ViLF1KRJ8Y-ZqH2THGhyphenhyphen_LQXy9R1MIKipwwxEh1A2l4rbNoS91NlyWPFOuiM7EmEXcohHR0a6JStgkmDBum_7QhSVF/s1600/IMG_4542.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXrFmjiKJOLxwEMn2xCXT5Y2rOoKJiTSNLAMPWR_8sAI75WzIIX5ViLF1KRJ8Y-ZqH2THGhyphenhyphen_LQXy9R1MIKipwwxEh1A2l4rbNoS91NlyWPFOuiM7EmEXcohHR0a6JStgkmDBum_7QhSVF/s640/IMG_4542.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back down the arete</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieCXpVaARdVTN6GkVVgkcrVdWEqMwhOAUEGQqqHa8T0YJWoDshlqKHpTE4FHTfJFjlapi00C2Jse28xSyLm9MVjsfHZbtqymph-Cf4KDP-GsdGC30RNmDpwWfc6AAX2F4BKr8o0pwQDRdk/s1600/IMG_4543.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieCXpVaARdVTN6GkVVgkcrVdWEqMwhOAUEGQqqHa8T0YJWoDshlqKHpTE4FHTfJFjlapi00C2Jse28xSyLm9MVjsfHZbtqymph-Cf4KDP-GsdGC30RNmDpwWfc6AAX2F4BKr8o0pwQDRdk/s640/IMG_4543.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dylan really enjoyed himself</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKJc9BpWmt4E_MJs8u7zKmlRJow76sOccha7QH4P3cSkkJRo5DTKL9-yWfs3-53vLgu2J_PURAVjjn4Bfq2qT4ipgZq2jLdxPC3gViyJMgPzDNnQbFnOD1_z5OAbjijCrBHjtR5ryAylXm/s1600/IMG_4548.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKJc9BpWmt4E_MJs8u7zKmlRJow76sOccha7QH4P3cSkkJRo5DTKL9-yWfs3-53vLgu2J_PURAVjjn4Bfq2qT4ipgZq2jLdxPC3gViyJMgPzDNnQbFnOD1_z5OAbjijCrBHjtR5ryAylXm/s640/IMG_4548.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another view down</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimn9qScfX-OiS2Rlt_WVCFRlSKJOhPexer-YVWEpAjVVpCvqU4K2vgY-Dzu6Dgt0NwetTFAB5FIE26eg-aqvX5Dd30VnYsgcQZ6yYXMJ6h_MI9jO5z-EY7MNGwyBsNORDJAuxcsMMVjoSW/s1600/IMG_4550.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1198" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimn9qScfX-OiS2Rlt_WVCFRlSKJOhPexer-YVWEpAjVVpCvqU4K2vgY-Dzu6Dgt0NwetTFAB5FIE26eg-aqvX5Dd30VnYsgcQZ6yYXMJ6h_MI9jO5z-EY7MNGwyBsNORDJAuxcsMMVjoSW/s640/IMG_4550.JPG" width="474" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A steep section on pitch 9?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj66_2pf4ca1N-NVNPTQSghVzeMi8DW8-yr8ol2mo5jzbKEvwbGTk3ujEmpqzgMejvlpQSIHiuvX_MtU9z82rvC1V-weLofWexvOGdD0WBy7X28qpW7RAtN_beZKnWkmR8QWmahIwVSPykb/s1600/IMG_4551.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj66_2pf4ca1N-NVNPTQSghVzeMi8DW8-yr8ol2mo5jzbKEvwbGTk3ujEmpqzgMejvlpQSIHiuvX_MtU9z82rvC1V-weLofWexvOGdD0WBy7X28qpW7RAtN_beZKnWkmR8QWmahIwVSPykb/s640/IMG_4551.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Followed by another steep section</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7aYuKWAQwupRB2HV7kAmXrtKCgtpXUXFaVuWLs8-4TF1ixNt-xUmO8vbTeG8I5DhGEZFMJYtPjHgn45MkKytOj3e8tHeihmInzWVYRY_-ouFjNVEDxd4FbUQrQUgcrRlB5rAqaZT_2ei3/s1600/IMG_4556.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1202" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7aYuKWAQwupRB2HV7kAmXrtKCgtpXUXFaVuWLs8-4TF1ixNt-xUmO8vbTeG8I5DhGEZFMJYtPjHgn45MkKytOj3e8tHeihmInzWVYRY_-ouFjNVEDxd4FbUQrQUgcrRlB5rAqaZT_2ei3/s640/IMG_4556.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The last couple of pitches had several up and down sections. Here Dylan belays me up one of them.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm5yidXEiA7ldngdQDp2iHUcGF_7KHgl8wnhDPq2GPiAMv3fEaRV00_nT1V9CMu6gkCDGwmAyN_ROjvvWi8oMYqEDwYpNwCbuTsfyAipYcpS7d0pUjU6Xbu2sMYgBkCiLV7wPUXSmk_R5N/s1600/IMG_4559.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm5yidXEiA7ldngdQDp2iHUcGF_7KHgl8wnhDPq2GPiAMv3fEaRV00_nT1V9CMu6gkCDGwmAyN_ROjvvWi8oMYqEDwYpNwCbuTsfyAipYcpS7d0pUjU6Xbu2sMYgBkCiLV7wPUXSmk_R5N/s640/IMG_4559.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One last super exposed move!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhULIHZEiL6l8A5-f1cCPlg9SzzySkVtLZHQ3zdUZv4HZrPIN6Gwd5ab-ZO3JNQit0nZav7qYV9qQ6VT3TlGqkWVmbqPbixRmPkmzQXfgSkWbKgOEKEYulKbvvodK-yxww9p7psg4_TWNsB/s1600/IMG_6942.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhULIHZEiL6l8A5-f1cCPlg9SzzySkVtLZHQ3zdUZv4HZrPIN6Gwd5ab-ZO3JNQit0nZav7qYV9qQ6VT3TlGqkWVmbqPbixRmPkmzQXfgSkWbKgOEKEYulKbvvodK-yxww9p7psg4_TWNsB/s640/IMG_6942.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And almost there...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd-ykJZqYAGNcWT_hFwamZU2c5h-0CoB6wLqAAM6dBXDs5TsN6o89ihUL5bwrk487h3skvtLBPcWiKHvJ_rYvF9IB22RWBpvnGQQincUVkJHyHRAMasOr81O4mZ30fNk7qmAaaVQigBMqJ/s1600/IMG_4561.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd-ykJZqYAGNcWT_hFwamZU2c5h-0CoB6wLqAAM6dBXDs5TsN6o89ihUL5bwrk487h3skvtLBPcWiKHvJ_rYvF9IB22RWBpvnGQQincUVkJHyHRAMasOr81O4mZ30fNk7qmAaaVQigBMqJ/s640/IMG_4561.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All smiles at the summit</td></tr>
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After six hours and 11 pitches, we reached the summit at 3:00PM. What a blast! Relatively exposed terrain and nothing over 5.7 made for an excellent, exciting day.<br />
<br />Fadgen's Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16693548016894583724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308604707301670536.post-58640873338001434472018-08-27T22:26:00.000-06:002018-08-27T22:26:43.773-06:00Father/Daughter - Standhope PeakFor this year's father/daughter backpacking trip I chose Baptie Lake in the Pioneer mountains. Other than spending time with Taylor, my goal would be to climb Standhope Peak at 11,878 feet, a peak that has been on my list since her brother and I did not climb it in 2007. <br />
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As we were in the midst of fire season, the smoke was thick as we entered Copper Basin. Taylor couldn't recall her only time in Copper Basin (2009) and the lack of views did not help jog her memory. <br />
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There was one vehicle at the Broad Canyon trail head when we arrived at 2:30. Hopefully, they wouldn't be camped at Baptie Lake.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL6OAVFVNz4imJS6s_Wo8cXbYmrQczli5A2CFIr8hUz1eKZN8Q0wgj-nx_p1KPA_9vQCTBgKXmwkh6afKKxH2SbQ4VRuCIqiBZt1N7tSd8rNunJNshIVpjQ1yb98kuSMrfglDahMYJQWGe/s1600/IMG_4455.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL6OAVFVNz4imJS6s_Wo8cXbYmrQczli5A2CFIr8hUz1eKZN8Q0wgj-nx_p1KPA_9vQCTBgKXmwkh6afKKxH2SbQ4VRuCIqiBZt1N7tSd8rNunJNshIVpjQ1yb98kuSMrfglDahMYJQWGe/s640/IMG_4455.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taking off</td></tr>
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I was rocking my sweet, new Biofire hat as we cruised up the initial 3 miles of relatively flat trail . The smoke definitely limited the views, but we had plenty to chat about, and the time went quickly.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhta4fiRt_yg3iV5fpWET4lmt_o4AYPYid_F944fm7YZHyVSqLcHZWkbgnifPfzAWZ6IpenhSJErrzpoNnERA-I83WTLhB_pA4zEJsiNUklNoKvj4Z3_Q8PXIN8epN05R93F66CLHfHDF_F/s1600/IMG_4457.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhta4fiRt_yg3iV5fpWET4lmt_o4AYPYid_F944fm7YZHyVSqLcHZWkbgnifPfzAWZ6IpenhSJErrzpoNnERA-I83WTLhB_pA4zEJsiNUklNoKvj4Z3_Q8PXIN8epN05R93F66CLHfHDF_F/s640/IMG_4457.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taylor on the crux of the hike</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpVzMOI9Y0RLmMumPw2-23W-zwWXrIt4egEaHZvLmOlAJMC4NW4n50diF11-RUTOpJVMwdKn0_VTn5e1UtLqIUcXiTEpWYSDwnQu8i_KdPeutYBO7Bft3YAiFupP3r36q9vziderJd-j3X/s1600/IMG_4458.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpVzMOI9Y0RLmMumPw2-23W-zwWXrIt4egEaHZvLmOlAJMC4NW4n50diF11-RUTOpJVMwdKn0_VTn5e1UtLqIUcXiTEpWYSDwnQu8i_KdPeutYBO7Bft3YAiFupP3r36q9vziderJd-j3X/s640/IMG_4458.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Standhope is the center peak</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ0jaUx9M_rCitNzRmHEuAI2523pc9vwYimmKzUNNKNqPqsf_oUUf8OZGFvuOPfYPooIFReWIVtN4A4-Syynhjr4o_Djfq4LzVou1CvrjdPFO7vVDLKvmXU08WV7Melm29yuz6Lts2Nf30/s1600/IMG_4466.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ0jaUx9M_rCitNzRmHEuAI2523pc9vwYimmKzUNNKNqPqsf_oUUf8OZGFvuOPfYPooIFReWIVtN4A4-Syynhjr4o_Djfq4LzVou1CvrjdPFO7vVDLKvmXU08WV7Melm29yuz6Lts2Nf30/s640/IMG_4466.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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The last couple of miles switch backed up some steep sections before ending at Baptie Lake, at a little over 10,000 feet. With no one else at the lake, we pitched our tent overlooking the valley below and set up our kitchen at the same campsite I used in 2007.<br />
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After cocktails and dinner, we hit the sack as it was just getting dark. Though there was a well used fire ring at the campsite, the fire restrictions put a kibosh on that idea.<br />
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The next morning was started with coffee, hot chocolate, bacon and eggs prior to starting our journey to Standhope. We took the well used trail to Goat Lake at 10,400 feet before climbing the saddle between Goat and Betty Lake.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Standhope Peak Saturday morning.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Recess Peak over Goat Lake</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Goat/Betty saddle</td></tr>
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This saddle was as far as her brother and I had gotten back in 2007. The excessive heat and the great fishing in Goat Lake back then convinced Dylan that we should abort our attempt at summitting Standhope.<br />
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With a cool wind blowing this morning, heat would not be an issue. We took it one bite at a time, stopping to rest at every change in rock band colors and in a short time I heard Taylor whoop with excitement as she reached the summit. A few seconds later I joined her on top.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiisVwJ0CxaSpfc9Lb0aUNVUVCjY7kwIkn5x8KJZBipR7Mu3nas03XhS6_ndiMraMJI3oEfXIbqTiIvIlJygQn87e93zjXyOO3JXlmwsF1Tu3ypROCo7eBv4cUOpX2tWNq0d_VpAFzH8MkK/s1600/IMG_4480.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiisVwJ0CxaSpfc9Lb0aUNVUVCjY7kwIkn5x8KJZBipR7Mu3nas03XhS6_ndiMraMJI3oEfXIbqTiIvIlJygQn87e93zjXyOO3JXlmwsF1Tu3ypROCo7eBv4cUOpX2tWNq0d_VpAFzH8MkK/s400/IMG_4480.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking down at Goat Lake and Broad Canyon</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Almost there</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Summit Splattski!</td></tr>
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I'd like to say the views were outstanding, but the smoke muted the scenery. Oh well, what are you going to do? After all, it is fire season.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAzTkVEQY3K2JnW42qeIeVU3plg0PMT0sWQJ0tdVpaJG3YshcCQPz2GoGu3Kg_n8eoimCCNcNbcw0apn-XEJ1_7my_uHwj1LpOUFpOzg9ZZW_xqD-nZMPilimztn4BBvaslgGxi17iaams/s1600/IMG_4492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAzTkVEQY3K2JnW42qeIeVU3plg0PMT0sWQJ0tdVpaJG3YshcCQPz2GoGu3Kg_n8eoimCCNcNbcw0apn-XEJ1_7my_uHwj1LpOUFpOzg9ZZW_xqD-nZMPilimztn4BBvaslgGxi17iaams/s640/IMG_4492.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Angel Lake</td></tr>
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After a leisurely lunch, we started back down. We skirted the couple of loose, sketchy sections up top and made it quickly back to the saddle without incident.<br />
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During the course of the afternoon, we heard constant rockfall coming from the slump on Altair Peak across the Betty Lake valley. I was waiting (hoping?) for a complete collapse, but it did not occur. We were glad we were not camping at Betty Lake, as the constant rockfall would have been a bit too eerie.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crater like slump on Altair Peak</td></tr>
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With the now cold wind blowing that evening, we didn't dawdle too long after dinner before retiring to the tent. That night we were treated to a little wind, a little rain, and then a lot of wind! At some point, we heard a loud snap and then the tent was flapping crazily only 6" above our faces. I thought the sound was due to the cross-member pole snapping out of place. It wasn't until the morning that Taylor pointed out we had a small sunroof in the rain fly. A major pole had snapped, but the tent remained standing.<br />
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Though the wind had damaged the tent, the bonus was that we now had outstanding views - no smoke! After a quick breakfast in the still blowing wind, we packed up and headed out dreaming of hamburgers.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYfvugzyqK1-V1LVSClSOH0fQfZ5AmU_NxmxHViZk2UUxNU1fyRwNi5fHP0ttn687a9dht436kxdEa7S8f2zcQBvyVm8By1dXeFfgz4FVPoB7LEh8CfHna8bg752wq6YnNE5gPT3WTYUxk/s1600/IMG_4505.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYfvugzyqK1-V1LVSClSOH0fQfZ5AmU_NxmxHViZk2UUxNU1fyRwNi5fHP0ttn687a9dht436kxdEa7S8f2zcQBvyVm8By1dXeFfgz4FVPoB7LEh8CfHna8bg752wq6YnNE5gPT3WTYUxk/s640/IMG_4505.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A look back at Standhope</td></tr>
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Four hours later we were at the Sawtooth Brewery in Ketchum enjoying some fabulous cheeseburgers! <br />
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Another excellent time with my lovely daughter, Taylor. I wonder where we'll go next year...<br />
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Stats:<br />
Distance: 13 miles<br />
Elevation Gain: 4200 feetFadgen's Adventureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16693548016894583724noreply@blogger.com0