Idaho Exposure

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

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IMG_3315.JPG20 views
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IMG_3316.JPG20 viewsWith threatening storm clouds closing in, we make the conservative decision to camp here. If the weather does not worsen, we will make up any distance we could have covered tonight by getting an earlier start in the morning, but end up setting up camp twice.
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IMG_3324.JPG20 viewsReflections near outlet; Goat Lake.
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IMG_3323.JPG20 viewsThere is still a lot of moisture hanging around in the morning.
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IMG_3382.JPG20 viewsBeyond the snow at top of the couloir above Goat Lake. No sign of the party of four we saw ahead of us along the Goat Lake shoreline, presumably climbing Thompson Peak, who arrived in the dark and rain while we were in our tent.
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IMG_3405.JPG20 viewsClimbing south toward the Thompson/Williams Saddle at the head of the hanging valley in which we are camped.
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IMG_3408.JPG20 viewsLooking northwest from the Thompson/Mickeys Spire Saddle, a tarn on the west side of the basin.
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IMG_3410.JPG20 viewsJust before 10 am, the professor checks the route description on the Thompson/Mickeys Spire Saddle. Castle Peak, 11,815', the highest peak in the White Cloud Mountains can be seen on the skyline about 1/3 from the left edge of photo.
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IMG_3429.JPG20 viewsThe "unnamed lake", and the use trail to it intersects Alpine Way trail about where the ridge leading down from the left frame of photo meets the trees. 5 mile long Redfish Lake lies southwest of Little Redfish Lake.
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IMG_7843.JPGThe route to the meadows, our destination for the evening, follows the snow south of Goat Lake around to the right, climbs the buttress, which leads to the snow couloir.20 views
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IMG_7851.JPG20 viewsOur camp in pristine meadows at the 8900' level.
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IMG_7920.JPG20 viewsThe same backlit moss, with polarizing filter rotated to allow the reflections. I like the sparkling quality.
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