Idaho Exposure

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

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DSCF0649.JPG
 DSCF0649.JPG4 viewsThirty minutes into the climb, I find what appears to be a pretty decent trail!
DSCF0652.JPG
 DSCF0652.JPG4 viewsI find what I recall from the first time I did this loop; water. It is located in a fairly flat section immediately above the initial steep-walled gorge. I stop and pump enough water to mix a hydration drink. It's worth getting enough water here for the night, in the event you fail to find the creek near the 8700' level in the basin above.
DSCF0659.JPG
 DSCF0659.JPG4 viewsI took this photo of the ridge on the south side of Iron Basin as a reference to help locate that stream next trip. It descends west northwest from WCP-7 (10777'), which is not visible and further left (east southeast). I believe there is a small lake behind it to the south. The lake is perched well above the east side of the lower north/south section leading to Iron Basin proper. I have not yet seen it, but it is a possible water source.
DSCF0674.JPG
 DSCF0674.JPG4 viewsTwenty minutes further up Iron Basin, I spot two mountain goats grazing on the sparse grass on the steep talus slope that is the north wall of the canyon. They are aware of my presence, but apparently feel no threat at this distance.
DSCF0675c.JPG
 DSCF0675c.JPG4 viewsThe goats seem just as interested in watching me, as I am in observing them. This is the first time I have seen mountain goats in Iron Basin. This is the only cropped photo in the entire gallery. Original is 200 mm on an APS-C sensor equipped camera (300 mm focal length on a full-frame 35 mm sensor). Crop is roughly 50%.
DSCF0684.JPG
 DSCF0684.JPG4 viewsThis is the first glimpse of the high saddle between WCP-9 (left) and D. O. Lee Peak on the right (south) leading to Cirque Lake in the Big Boulder Lake basin.
DSCF0685.JPG
 DSCF0685.JPG4 viewsFurther southeast into the upper reaches of Bighorn Basin east of D. O. Lee Peak. The high pass I will cross is still visible in the upper left frame.
DSCF0686.JPG
 DSCF0686.JPG4 viewsThe view from the pass between Iron Basin and Bighorn Basin, looking down at Ocalkins Lake. I am almost out of water, having missed the stream at the 8700' elevation in Iron Basin. I don't want to descend to the lake. I appears I can find water in the drainage well above the lake, northeast of Bighorn Basin.
DSCF0688.JPG
 DSCF0688.JPG4 viewsThe stream that eventually flows into Ocalkins Lake is visible not far below. I will get 2 liters here for the climb out of Bighorn Basin.
DSCF0690.JPG
 DSCF0690.JPG4 viewsThis route will lead directly to the base of the climb to the saddle between WCP-9 and D. O. Lee Peak. It is a warm day, so any shade is welcome.
DSCF0696.JPG
 DSCF0696.JPG4 viewsTo the north, WCP-5 rises above the pass leading into Iron Basin where I descended from just over three hours ago. Tom Lopez, in "Idaho, a Climbing Guide", describes this peak as, "the most interesting of the White Cloud Peaks. Its split summit and rotten vertical slopes are challenging for scramblers."
DSCF0699.JPG
 DSCF0699.JPG4 viewsI plan to reach that outcrop, crossing below it on the left (north) side. The wider lens makes this look less steep than it is. The previous shot gives a better idea if how steep the route is.
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