Most viewed - So-called "Epic White Cloud Backpacking Loop", August 24, 2020
|
DSCF0282.JPG13 viewsAt 5:50 pm, just a few minutes from Cirque Lake, I feel a sense of both relief and accomplishment safely crossing into the Big Boulder Lakes basin. The light is fabulous with the passing storm.
|
|
DSCF0321.JPG13 viewsHalf an hour later, I encounter the upper of the two tarns alternating my path between the ridge and the drainage. Once again, I move right (N) to re-gain the ridge, avoiding boulder-hopping. The saddle is above and left (E) of the highest snow in the couloir. The route crosses under the buttress (in shadow) in the upper right of the frame. The route unfolds as one progresses, working its way up through the broken rock buttress, well above the tarn, toward the higher snowfield.
|
|
DSCF0342.JPG13 viewsI awake to a clear morning, make coffee and oat bran, and set out to try my luck fly-fishing.
|
|
DSCF0352.JPG13 viewsScoop Lake looks promising, but once again, I catch only smaller rainbow trout that are all released. I plan to walk to the car today, deciding fish no later than 4 pm. I have viewed the Devil’s Staircase from the tarn west of Windy Devil, and am under the impression it does not involve much climbing, if any. Therefore, the late start seems perfectly reasonable. I am carrying extra batteries for my headlamp, and the trail beyond Born Lakes is well established.
|
|
DSCF0353.JPG13 viewsHeadwall, Scoop, and Hummock Lakes; Boulder Chain Lakes basin from the south.
|
|
DSCF0360.JPG13 viewsZ-packs tent city! I count no less than 5 of these tents in the meadow adjacent to the lake—the same tent I am carrying!
|
|
DSCF0236.JPG12 viewsFrom the saddle south of Strawberry Basin, the route appears to descend steeply to Warm Springs Creek from the mouth of the basin to the northeast. On the far left of the photo, the entrance to Iron Basin can be seen above Warm Springs Creek.
|
|
DSCF0283.JPG12 viewsSapphire Lake and below that, my destination; Cove Lake.
|
|
DSCF0345.JPG12 viewsThe saddle between the two Boulder Lake basins from the southeast end of Hummock Lake. It is not readily apparent where the exact route I took crosses. I believe it is the notch just under the cloud. Hidden Lake is doing as its name implies.
|
|
DSCF0350.JPG12 viewsI walk completely around the Hummock Lake, catching only smaller rainbow trout that are all released. A bit disappointing, but I have never had much success fishing this lake twice before. The trail climbs above the steep inlet at the south end of the lake, to Windy Devil, beyond the trees in the low point in the saddle left (east) of the peak. I break camp, and head up to Scoop Lake, fly rod in hand.
|
|
DSCF0372.JPG12 viewsI can hike for another 45 minutes by moonlight before resorting to the headlamp.
|
|
DSCF0373.JPG12 viewsAt 8:30 pm I reach the ridge top, but there is still a bit more uphill. I photograph D. O. Lee Peak in the hazy, fading light, have a snack, and continue. I see headlamps ascending the trail. I finally take out my headlamp. At 9:20 pm, I meet a woman headed for Born lakes, and advise her where to find the Z-packs tent city. Twenty minutes later, there is a group of five headed for Washington Lake, intending to take Splatski"s Cutoff the next morning and climb Castle Peak. I reach the car at 10:23 pm.
|
|
|
|
Home
Login
Back to Main Gallery
Album list
Last uploads
Last comments
Most viewed
Top rated
My Favorites
Search
