"Epic White Cloud Backpacking Loop" revisited (again!), August 19, 2024
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DSCF0899.JPG1 viewsBlackman Peak, 10,300', NE of the saddle to the NNW of Fourth of July Creek trail head. There is an obscure trail on the E side of the drainage which becomes more defined the higher one climbs. It took me an hour and fifteen minutes to get here.
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DSCF0900.JPG1 viewsLooking SSE toward the trail head.
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DSCF0901.JPG1 viewsLooking W, downslope into what's left of the forest.
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DSCF0903.JPG1 viewsHeading N toward the saddle overlooking Strawberry Basin. There always seem to be a few tents here. The view is nice, but there is no water. Not sure why anyone would camp here. Maybe hunters preparing for bow season.
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DSCF0904.JPG1 viewsThe view across the Sawtooth Valley to Mt. Cramer. The smoke is staying out of sight to the N, fortunately!
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DSCF0905.JPG1 viewsThe first view of the White Clouds; WCP-8 (10557'), below the cloud on the right. The ridge to the right leads to D. O. Lee Peak (11342') 0.9 mile east hidden from view. Limestone gives The White Cloud Peaks their stark white appearance. This same feature is visible from the west side of Toxaway Lake in the Sawtooth range across the valley to the W.
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DSCF0906.JPG1 viewsStrawberry Basin opens to the NW, then curves NE, descending to Warm Springs Creek.
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DSCF0909.JPG1 viewsThe trail continues on the E side through large scree for a quarter mile or so before reaching the valley floor. I found it advantageous to descend as soon as possible to the dry stream coarse. One can already see the entrance to Iron Basin SE of Watson Peak, the reddish colored peak on the skyline left of center.
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DSCF0910.JPG1 viewsThe descent steepens here. Sometimes it's easiest to follow the bottom of the drainage, other times it is better on the NW slope just above the stream coarse.
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DSCF0911.JPG1 viewsI don't think I've ever gone the same way twice. The descent seemed easier this trip, especially near Warm Springs Creek where I managed to avoid the worst of the fallen timber.
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DSCF0913.JPG1 viewsThere was an intermittent stream in the drainage.
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DSCF0914.JPG1 viewsWCP-8 (10557') on the right. The pyramid shaped peak below the higher large cumulus is WCP-6 (10777').
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