Idaho: Sawtooth NRA and City of Rocks area, Aug 9-16, 2015

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TheOtherBob
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Idaho: Sawtooth NRA and City of Rocks area, Aug 9-16, 2015

Post by TheOtherBob » August 27th, 2015, 8:00 pm

Idaho: Sawtooth NRA and City of Rocks area, August 9-16, 2015
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Ebishop, Bosterson, and I were going to go on a trip up to the Cascades, but the weather looked bad, so we made an alternate trip to the Sawtooth National Recreation Area (NRA) for several days of hiking/climbing, then headed down to the City of Rocks/Castle Rock area for some rock climbing for several more days.

Be warned, the drive is about 10 h from Portland.
First up, we hiked/climbed Thompson Peak, just to make sure we hit the highest point in the range while we were out there. No Idaho-specific pass was needed at the Redfish TH.
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The views started very soon after we left the TH and gained the ridge.
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I went up and took a look at the lake at 9000' before sunset.
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The following morning came with a pleasant sunrise.
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The sun quickly rose above the clouds, but encouraged us on with this little ray of optimism.
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By the time we were back up at "9000' lake," the weather was starting to turn for the better.
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Up around the lake...
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... there are more tarns.
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Eventually, we reached a wall that temporarily prevented us from going any further.
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TheOtherBob
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Re: Idaho: Sawtooth NRA and City of Rocks area, Aug 9-16, 20

Post by TheOtherBob » August 27th, 2015, 8:04 pm

Bosterson used the opportunity to make lemonade.
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At the top of the wall, things flatten out.
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Then it's a talus slog up to the saddle in the background of this image.
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View from the saddle.
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A quick climb up the saddle ridge to the summit...
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... brought us to the summit trophy! ... the peak was originally titled "Goat" peak.
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We relaxed and took in the views while laughing at the crazy entries in the summit registry.
Looking down at Lake 9000'.
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Bosterson posing in a panoram to the NE.
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Panoram to the SE.
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Panoram to the NW-ish.
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The ridge we came in on from Redfish Lake.
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Out toward Goat Lake.
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Ebishop approving of the view.
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Strangely enough for a peak in IDAHO... the summit registries and other memorabilia were housed in a metal MAZAMAS box--that was numbered. Go figure. Anyone know the story behind these?
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After lounging around and enjoying ourselves, we headed back down by Lake 9000'...
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TheOtherBob
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Re: Idaho: Sawtooth NRA and City of Rocks area, Aug 9-16, 20

Post by TheOtherBob » August 27th, 2015, 8:08 pm

... and packed up camp while under threat from a thunderstorm.
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After hiking back out, we drove about 30 min down the 75 to Petit Lake and the Tin Cup TH. Again, no special Idaho-specific parking permit needed.
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We hiked in...
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... to Alice Lake (which is beautiful)...
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... and looked at "El Capitan", which we planned to climb the next day.
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Note that this is not THAT "El Capitan."
Since it was still mid afternoon, we headed out to see if we could hit Snowyside Peak before sunset.
The trail goes up to a pass. Snowyside is on the left in this image.
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The view from the pass toward the SE is stunning.
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Ebishop registered her amusement at my camera-gawking.
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The view toward the NW tempted us to continue, but we turned left and continued out toward Snowyside.
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We climbed up to ~10,200',
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but then the terrain got either a) loose or b) a little steeper than we wanted for the day.
So we took some pictures and descended.
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Rain menaced in the distance, but never made it to us.
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This curious tree waved to us on our way down.
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The next morning, Bosterson took the lead toward El Capitan.
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We circled around the back/east side to a mild valley... of talus.
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TheOtherBob
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Re: Idaho: Sawtooth NRA and City of Rocks area, Aug 9-16, 20

Post by TheOtherBob » August 27th, 2015, 8:12 pm

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Looking down the way we came up.
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The ascent eventually winds south and then back to the west as it corkscrews to the summit.
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Eventually, things get steep and hands are required.
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After some final scrambling near the summit... panorams!
Looking toward Alice Lake.
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Looking out toward the trailhead.
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Great colors down there.
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Leaving the summit.
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We washed off in the lake back at camp before hiking out.
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On the way out of the Sawtooth area, we pondered this two-toned, unnamed range on the east side of 75.
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We camped in a secret location in The Middle of Nowhere (tr) to use the clear, moonless sky for viewing the Perseids.
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We spent the next several days visiting the City of Rocks/Castle Rock area for some... rock climbing. I won't post much about it here other than to say...
there were great sunrises...
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... and comedy...
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TheOtherBob
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Re: Idaho: Sawtooth NRA and City of Rocks area, Aug 9-16, 20

Post by TheOtherBob » August 27th, 2015, 8:15 pm

... and climbing...
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... and great views...
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... and part of that wicked thunderstorm that left all the fires behind...
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... and rainbows.
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The areas are far from here, but if you have the opportunity, they are lovely and highly recommended.
I hope everyone is getting out and enjoying the outdoors.
Happy Hiking!
-Bob

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Bosterson
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Re: Idaho: Sawtooth NRA and City of Rocks area, Aug 9-16, 20

Post by Bosterson » August 27th, 2015, 10:12 pm

Some extra pics of all this action:

Thompson

Looking back from after we reached the lovely high desert ridge for the approach.

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Coming up to where we made camp below the 9000 ft lake.

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The Artist at work in the morning.

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On the climb now. At a tarn above the 9000 ft lake, right below the saddle.

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At the shoulder of Thompson, about to head up to the summit.

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Descending off the summit (not as vertical as it looks!).

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Alice Lake

At the saddle above Twin Lakes, en route to Snowyside. Cairn, or that rock monster from Galaxy Quest?? :?

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I went on ahead of E and B up this yucky sand ledge (self belay via the rocks on the side wall).

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Then up some semi solid/semi loose blocks to reach the ridge proper. View back down to Twin Lakes.

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Approaching the false summit. I couldn't make contact via yelling to E and B below, and it was loose and approaching dinnertime. I decided to turn around on top of the false summit rather than continue into the notch without being able to contact the others. The ridge continued for another 1/2 mile at least, though not as steep after dropping into the notch past the false summit. An objective for another day when we have more time to work with.

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Twin Lakes (front) with Alice Lake behind them.

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Descending. Bob stopped to take pics above.

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We found a lost package of Pro Bar super fruit sugar power endurance chews™! Amazingly, Elisabeth decided to eat them... :?

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Alice Lake, next morning.

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The talus fields on the way to El Cap were FULL of pikas.

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Too cute to exist.

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The talus field hooks around to a plateau below the summit scramble, but there are a multitude of fun 3rd class options for a more direct approach. I did this going both up and down, because granite.

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On top - looking back down the valley we came in, towards Pettit Lake.

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Bob coming up.

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The summit was small and slabbed off to death on most sides. :D Great views! (Snowyside in the background.)

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E coming up.

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Some more wildlife on the hike out to the car.

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City

I didn't take any pictures except for the double rainbowWHATDOESITMEAN??? I'd been sitting in the car, perusing the guidebook, when I looked up and just about jumped out of my seat scrambling for my camera.

The right side was unbelievably bright.

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A really great week out. I will start contacting my elected representatives to make them move Idaho closer to us! Maybe we can remove the portion between Hood River and Pendleton (sorry The Dalles ;) ).
#pnw #bestlife #bitingflies #favoriteyellowcap #neverdispleased

olderthanIusedtobe
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Re: Idaho: Sawtooth NRA and City of Rocks area, Aug 9-16, 20

Post by olderthanIusedtobe » August 28th, 2015, 9:20 am

I love the Sawtooths! Great pictures. Thanks for sharing your adventures.

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BurnsideBob
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Re: Idaho: Sawtooth NRA and City of Rocks area, Aug 9-16, 20

Post by BurnsideBob » August 28th, 2015, 8:40 pm

What an exciting adventure!! The Sawtooths are great! Well worth the drive.

Alice Lake at dawn, 18 July 2015

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I keep making protein shakes but they always turn out like margaritas.

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rainrunner
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Re: Idaho: Sawtooth NRA and City of Rocks area, Aug 9-16, 20

Post by rainrunner » August 29th, 2015, 12:49 pm

Great pictures and trip report.
We just returned from there, I will be posting a report after I sort through the 1,000 pictures we took.
The mountains are calling and I must go.
John Muir

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woodswalker
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Re: Idaho: Sawtooth NRA and City of Rocks area, Aug 9-16, 20

Post by woodswalker » September 2nd, 2015, 7:31 am

Such a very beautiful area! Inspiring trip report.
Woodswalker.

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