"Epic White Cloud Backpacking Loop" revisited (again!), August 19, 2024
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DSCF0989.JPG1 viewsAlpenglow; the saddle between D. O. Lee Peak and WCP-9. Just before 7 am, the alpenglow is much more intense this morning due to clear skies.
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DSCF0990.JPG1 viewsAlpenglow; due S from the inlet at Cove Lake.
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DSCF0993.JPG1 viewsAlpenglow; D. O. Lee Peak, from the inlet at Cove Lake.
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DSCF0994.JPG1 viewsLooking SW from the NE end of Cove Lake. I took this photo to remind myself that I have to walk N around the entire lake. I made the right choice, as there is no way across the mouth of this cove other than swimming. Today I plan to cross from Big Boulder Lakes SE to the Boulder Chain Lakes. Not the earliest start, but I will still have plenty of time to reach my objective, Scoop Lake.
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DSCF0995.JPG1 viewsSmall tarn E of Cove Lake. A trail appears whenever the passage becomes constricted by the topography.
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DSCF0997.JPG1 viewsThe pass between the two lake basins lies on the skyline, close to where the skyline appears to intersect the ridge in the right foreground. There are a few ways to get there. One can contour to the right (SW) and diagonal (SSE) up all that loose scree. I prefer to drop down almost to Island Lake and climb the obvious ramp that begins on the left side of the frame, roughly mid frame (vertical axis) and climbs to the point mid frame (horizontal axis) just above center of frame (vertical axis), where it joins the first option. This may be slower, but it is a much more enjoyable ascent on firm terrain that follows a pleasant stream coarse.
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DSCF0998.JPG1 viewsThe descent almost to Island Lake, just coming into view on the right (N) side of the drainage. All the boulder-hopping is easily avoided. I cross the drainage at the foot of the rockfall in the foreground, and ascend to the ramp toward the higher group of trees on the right (S).
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DSCF0999.JPG1 viewsD. O. Lee Peak and WCP-9 are once again visible on the skyline to the ENE. The descent from Cove Lake is on the north side of the drainage, tucked in close to the cliff above all those boulders.
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DSCF1001.JPG1 viewsClimbing to this point, well above Island Lake, the only boulder-hopping was that short section (30'?) in the foreground. It's almost all grassy slope.
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DSCF1002.JPG1 viewsDidn't see anyone at Island Lake.
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DSCF1003.JPG1 viewsAnother look at the descent route from Cove Lake. D. O. Lee Peak and WCP-9 are visible on the skyline to the ENE. Can't quite see the saddle between them...yet.
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DSCF1004.JPG1 viewsI've entered the Big Boulder Lakes basin only once from Island Lake, camping at the inlet end. As I recall, there was some boulder-hopping to get to the SW end of the lake. I think most people access the upper lake basin via Walter Lake, which I have never visited.
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