We leave an almost balmy Easton |
we camp near the trailhead in dark |
and begin our climb with first light |
inspecting a tree that has made woodpeckers happy |
we reach the first lookout |
bird tracks in the snow |
view aboundon the climb |
but we have quite a ways to go to RPR |
tough climbing toward Bald Peak |
but glorious views |
sculpted snow |
Zach coming and going from the top |
we pose |
a good snack out of the wind |
the monster boulder |
views ascending RPR |
nice ice |
and snow |
but tough climbing in the snow |
finally lunch on the first bump of RPR |
with grand views |
heading onward |
the glare in the ice |
but a bit of artic melt |
its only up there |
we reach the lake on the ridge |
with a steep but |
pretty climb |
through sculted snow and ice |
we reach the summit |
with wonderful 360 views |
and Zach takes in the grand east slide on Giant |
more lovely snow |
and ice, |
we descend steeply |
down the tracks we broke coming up |
a view from the lake |
more snow |
the grand view from our lunch spot |
the water a delight |
coyote(?) tracks across our path |
Bald Peak view |
cairn on Bald |
what we came up, we must go down |
and down we went, finishing the ascent in 7.5 hours, the descent in 4 |