Idaho Exposure

Hiking, Climbing, Backpacking, Snowshoeing, Backcountry Skiing. Photos by Thomas Oetzell; idahoexposure.com


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IMG_6193.JPG1 viewsA frozen tarn buried in the snow on the north side of Sky Pilot Col.
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IMG_6194.JPG0 viewsThe first part of the descent involved a short section of steep talus before getting to the snow.
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IMG_6198.JPG0 viewsJust above Shepherd Lake, losing the light at 9:10 pm. The descent has been on steep snowfields for the most part, and the Professor is getting a crash course on negotiating this kind of terrain with a heavy pack.
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IMG_6199.JPG0 viewsJust above Shepherd Lake, losing the light at 9:10 pm. The descent has been on steep snowfields for the most part, and the Professor is getting a crash course on negotiating this kind of terrain with a heavy pack.
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IMG_6200.JPG0 viewsThe last of the alpenglow leaving the Shepherd Crest.
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IMG_6201.JPG0 viewsThe Professor reflects on a long day in the waning alpenglow. The difficult sections of the hike are behind us.
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IMG_6205.JPG2 viewsMorning at Shepherd Lake.
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IMG_6206.JPG1 viewsSunlight hits Shepherd Crest. It is already almost 9 am, and the warming sunlight has not reached our camp tucked under the north side of the Crest. We got to bed late, but are glad to be north of Sky Pilot Col.
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IMG_6209.JPG4 viewsLooking back at Shepherd Crest as we descend into Virginia Canyon to find the Summit Lake Trail. The low gap on the skyline is the north side of Sky Pilot Col.
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IMG_6210.JPG1 viewsArriving at Summit Lake, we notice how much it has opened up since last being here seven days ago. The old rusty iron signposts of Yosemite National Park remind me of my earliest days backpacking.
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