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Showing posts with the label hiking

Weekend Photo Feature: Fall Color on Granite Mountain

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Notice the name change? I think the "Photo Friday" feature is more realistically my weekend photo feature, and I shall call it that whichever day or hour it comes out. This weekend's feature is a stunning day hike I did last fall up Granite Mountain in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. The hike is just under 8 miles RT, with nearly 3700' of gain and--more to the point as far as my knees are concerned--loss. It's a popular hike, but not really for the faint of heart. In early October, it also offered some of the best fall color I saw this year.    We started from the trailhead at 8:15 in the morning, beating the crowds and warm temperatures. The climb begins almost at once, through thick conifer forests. Fog at the trailhead gave way gradually to sunshine above. Avalanche chutes are filled with vine maple and other plants turning color. Once we left the big trees, we climbed for a long way mostly among the vine maples. Halfmoon framed by vine maple leaves Eventually we

Photo Friday: White Cloud Mountains Backpack

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The last couple of weeks I've been writing about the dayhikes of September. Today, we're strapping on the big packs and heading into the Cecil D. Andrus/White Clouds Wilderness, just across the road (as it were) from the Sawtooth Mountains in Idaho. I did this hike with my brother-in-law  Tom, of Photoseek.com, where you can find far better photos than I take (and buy them)! (No, I don't get a commission, but yes, I am willing to shamelessly promote friends and relations). Day 1: A slow start We deliberately took our time on this day, double-checking our packing and enjoying a glorious breakfast at the camper (big thanks to Carol for doing most of the cooking!), then lunch, before we began the hour's drive to the TH. The turn-off was only a few minutes down the road, but the Fourth of July Creek road runs a long, gravel/dirt way into the mountains to give hikers a good start on the good stuff. Heading to Washington Lake, then on to Chamberlain Lakes Signs and maps offe

Photo Friday: Dayhiking the Wallowa Mountains

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Since some of you may be wondering where the Wallowas are: they are a small range in the far NE corner of Oregon, in part at least renowned for having a bit of a feel of California's Sierra Nevada Mountains--without so much altitude! Back in September I did a road trip with my brother- and sister-in-law, beginning with several days around the Wallowa Mountains and three scenic dayhikes, mostly within the Eagle Cap Wilderness. Hike #1 was a 7 1/2-mile round trip to Bonney Lake. The road to the trailhead was a little rough, but passable with my Prius. YMMV. After a short stretch of pleasant valley bottom and a stream crossing, a big chunk of the middle of the hike to the lake was through an area that had burned in a fire within the last year or two--very fresh still. Nothing like finding your trail signs well-blackened. We eventually climbed above the burn and into the sub-alpine meadows. This part felt more like the Rockies than the Sierra. Pretty sure that was volcanic, though, so

Photo Friday: Alpine Lakes Part 4--ending strong in the rain

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I started last month with t he first two days of this 8-day, 65-mile excursion. Two weeks ago we covered three more days , into the heart of the wilderness--and the thick of the smoke. And last week we saw the end of the smoke at last. Today, we'll finish strong with some great scenery and a last, rainy day to make me happy to be going home. Day 7 After three days of smoke, the promise of the previous afternoon's wind was fulfilled, and I awoke to largely clear skies (see last week's post). I enjoyed the early morning light, but didn't linger over the photography, aware that I had a long day ahead of me. Looking across an inlet to the camping peninsula and Chikamin Peak. It's perhaps only slightly discouraging that one has to start by climbing the 200' back up to the PCT before the day's climb really begins. Views from the trail encourage rest breaks. Spectacle Lake. The Four Brothers to the left, Chikamin Peak flirting with a cloud on the right. The climb