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July 5 – wildlife encounters, fantasia, and shower 1
We are among the creatures who emerge to play today before we drive down the hill for a quick freshener.
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Island lake pass
Having completed our backpack trip we join Ann’s parents at the Thomas canyon campground. We rest during a day of rain storms that leave the peaks dusted with snow and temperatures noticeably cooler, then make a day of joining two rugged canyons over a fantastically rocky pass. It's cold in the kitchen Snow above Starting…
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Ruby Crest Trail Day 4: south fork Smith creek to Harrison pass
Our last segment is less grandiose than prior days, but intimate and full of small surprises. On our first ridge we meet a party of northbound hikers from Reno who agree to let us take the vehicle they left at Harrison pass back to Lamoille canyon for them. Return trip problem solved! Here and there…
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Ruby Crest Trail Day 3: peak 10,207 to south forth Smith creek
Most of the day is spent traversing the magnificent, rocky Overland creek basin. Water sources appear, as well as bright autumn aspen. Ann on peak 10,207 Starting into Overland basin Rock swirls Ann and King peak Overland basin Limber pine portal Rocks above Ridge trail Overland basin and playa Below King peak Small milkweed bug…
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Ruby Crest Trail Day 2: Liberty lake to peak 10,207
We soon encounter the 12-mile waterless segment of the trail along the crest. Ann gets footsore before it ends, but we have enough water to stop for the night. Mountain goats, soaring hawks, and the smell of sweet anise all grace the day. Favre lake at dawn Morning coffee Ann climbing to Lake pass Treating…
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Ruby Crest Trail Day 1: Lamoille Canyon to Liberty Lake
At last! Ann and I head out for our first full week off in two years. Our destination has been tempting us for years: the Ruby mountains. We get on the road early so we can get a few miles of hiking in before nightfall. Most people hike this trail northbound, but we’re bucking the…
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Job’s and neighboring peaks loop
For labor day weekend Ann and I revisit a forest road we’d given up on once before with our camper. It seems much better now, and leads us to a great base camp for looping Job’s peak, Job’s sister, and Freel peak. Smoke rolls in pretty thick by the afternoon, but clears again at night.…
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Pettingell Peak
I’m posting this a month late, but wanted to make note of this day trip with my friends Pete and Aaron, and Aaron’s friend Jess who joined us for her first mountain hike. Smoke from California had followed me all the way to the Rockies, but didn’t spoil our enjoyment of this peak I’ve admired…
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Matterhorn Peak North Arête
I’m posting this two months after the trip. Gabe and I return to the north face of Matterhorn peak after an aborted attempt two weeks earlier. This time we hike in and bivouac at the little tarn on the approach, one of my favorite spots. The next day we rise early, climb the North Arete…
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Vermont’s Camel’s Hump
I’ve been on a bit of a blogging hiatus while working hard on Postmatic, but there have still been good outings, and this is one I’ve wanted to do for a long time. I go to Vermont occasionally to work with my partner Jason and visit family in Burlington. The region is dominated by two…