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bcrider
 Post subject: Crystal Range TR 6/20-21/08
PostPosted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 10:11 pm 
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Joined: Wed Oct 06, 2004 10:57 pm
Posts: 4985
Location: California
Date: June 20-21, 2008

Location: Desolation Wilderness, CA

Weather: sunny and warm

Participants: mmcpheet, bcrider

Gameplan: convincing ourselves the season is over

Beta: see pics or ask

Pics: bcrider, mmcpheet

Tech Specs: (cameras) Canon SD630, SD800IS, G9, (software) aperture

Intro: It's always hard to admit the season is over but after close inspection of the Crystal Range I sad to say that it definitely is, at least in Tahoe.

*******************************************************************************************************

The Approach

Mmcpheet catches first light on the drive over.
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At the trailhead we discovered the parking fee that used to cost $3 (and before that was free) now costs $5. Luckily we scrounged up enough cash.
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We decided to access Desolation Valley from the popular day-hiking spot, Horsetail Falls.
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The route quickly steepens.
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Hard to tell but this is actually the trail.
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The main crux of HTF.
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No problem.
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An hour and a half or so and we're on top of Horsetail Falls.
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Don't go that way.
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Heading north we aim for the west shore of Ropi Lake and beyond to the dam at Toem Lake.
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Pyramid Peak from Toem.
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There are no official trails to Lake Aloha from this section of Desolation Valley so you just aim NW cross country. The main crux is a cliff band beyond Teom Lake that blocks entrance to the next shelf near Pyramid and Waca lakes. This section looks worse than it was.
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This was as bad as it looks.
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But with some basic scrambling we are soon past it and back on the rolling granite.
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Flower.
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After 5 miles os so of hiking, snow and Lake Aloha finally come into view.
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And what a view it was.
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Now to find a camp spot.
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This looks good.
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Really good.
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jcocci
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 10:33 pm 
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Joined: Sun Mar 12, 2006 6:40 pm
Posts: 734
Location: Seattle
Great shots! Looks like a great place to go backpacking.
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Jogi
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 2:26 am 
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Joined: Mon Nov 15, 2004 4:02 am
Posts: 211
Location: somewhere in the middle of germany
what a wonderful landscape and nature it is!

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renoenvy
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 7:11 am 
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Joined: Mon Jan 22, 2007 7:24 am
Posts: 119
Rediculous camp spot.

Different view of aloha.

I know there's more.

Can't wait!
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kjkrow
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 9:14 am 
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Joined: Tue Apr 03, 2007 6:43 pm
Posts: 395
Location: Seattle
Wow, that's some amazing scenery. Sort of reminds me of the Enchantments here in Washington.

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"Oh man, that's like releasing a pack of wild baboons onto a keg of Icehouse next to a tied-up and gagged Lindsay Lohan." - Luca Brasi on TGR

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jcocci
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 9:24 am 
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Location: Seattle
kjkrow wrote:
Wow, that's some amazing scenery. Sort of reminds me of the Enchantments here in Washington.


My thoughts exactly.
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Tophervw
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 10:26 am 
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Joined: Tue Nov 15, 2005 2:13 pm
Posts: 214
Location: Shoreline, WA
jcocci wrote:
kjkrow wrote:
Wow, that's some amazing scenery. Sort of reminds me of the Enchantments here in Washington.


My thoughts exactly.


spot on, for the Alpine Lakes! Though I think their approach is a bit shorter!
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BGnight
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 10:52 am 
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Joined: Fri May 13, 2005 8:05 am
Posts: 1385
Location: 395
beatiful! Always wanted to hike up to that waterfall.

how's that sd800is treating ya? pretty sweet, huh?
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bigdood
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 12:12 pm 
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Joined: Wed May 14, 2008 2:39 pm
Posts: 477
Location: Where the kids go to retire
Looks like a nice trip, waiting to see the rest of the TR. Your lines were still up on Ralston this wknd.
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bcrider
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 2:41 pm 
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Location: California
Peak 9686 to Mt Price

After setting up camp and eating some lunch we set out to explore the section of the Crystal Range from Peak 9686 to Mt Price.

Some flowers greet us a few minutes into the start.
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As we gained elevation our options came better into view. We gained the ridge and dropped through the notch on the lookers left side of the peak.
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Hiking on rock.
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And in suncups.
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To our left is Pyramid Peak and it's late-season snowpatch looking tasty.
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We want to head north though not south so we ride through the notch a few hundred feet and traverse left to the next ridge. Mmcpheet and Lake Aloha.
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bcrider
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On the ridge.
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Cool line if we brought ice axes and crampons but we didn't so we turn to our right...
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and see this. If you're thinking what I was thinking the answer is YES, see next pics. :)
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It had to be done.
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Woohoo.
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After a ride at the waterpark its back to our business of heading north to Price. Matt leads the way.
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Hiking in runnels is fun.
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Looking up to the diving board on. Mt Agassiz.
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And to another notch in the ridge.
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Before we come to Mt Price.
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We hiked to the shadow line below the summit.
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The snow was very suncupped but we figured it was better than walking down. Mmcpheet goes first.
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bcr is next.
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Looking south over to Agassiz.
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North to Mosquito Pass.
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And up to mmcpheet on top of some serious suncups. :eek:
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After a few hundred feet of the uber-deep suncups we find some smoother snow and start to have some fun.
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bcr spies a nook.
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mmcpheet gets it on.
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At the bottom.
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Looking back up to Agassiz and Price.
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We were stoked on our full day and new exploration as we made our way back to camp along the west shore of Lake Aloha.
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Peak 9686 above our camp.
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More great views.
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Relaxing at camp.
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jimw
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 2:59 pm 
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Joined: Fri Nov 19, 2004 8:41 pm
Posts: 1605
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
This is awesome. :thatrocks:

(You totally shoulda split-skiied it though. :))

bcrider wrote:
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bigdood
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 3:07 pm 
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Joined: Wed May 14, 2008 2:39 pm
Posts: 477
Location: Where the kids go to retire
Suncups? More like sunsteins, those are huge.

Your water ride reminds me of the Funner Cup (http://snowboardmovie.blogspot.com/sear ... nner%20Cup) looks like a fun little water crossing you had!
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jcocci
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 3:15 pm 
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Joined: Sun Mar 12, 2006 6:40 pm
Posts: 734
Location: Seattle
No kidding. Those are the biggest suncups I have ever seen! Nice dedication.
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