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Our route
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Date: 03/10/2009
Views: 1
4 miles to south lake on day 1 (not shown), then up to the Treasure Lakes on day 2, and to the top of Hurd Peak on day 3.
03/10/2009
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End of the road
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The road was plowed to the town of South Fork, about 4 miles shy of South Lake.
03/07/2009
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On the way to South Lake
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The hike to South Lake is popular among snowshoers and skiers, and a well-used path had already been made. Snowshoes still made walking easier on the unstable surface.
03/07/2009
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Near-full moon
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Date: 03/07/2009
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The moon kept us company and provided an eerily bright light each night.
03/07/2009
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Terri at base camp
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We set up base camp at the head of South Lake.
03/10/2009
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Hiking to Hurd Peak
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Date: 03/08/2009
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Our original plan was to go to Long Lake, to the east of Hurd Peak, but because Neal didn't bother to use a compass we headed up the wrong ridge and ended up too far west. After discovering the error we were happy to continue to the Treasure Lakes and climb Hurd Peak from the west.
03/08/2009
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Terri and South Lake
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Date: 03/08/2009
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No running water up here- just frozen white stuff!!
03/08/2009
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Neal prepares to kill a racoon with his ice axe
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Date: 03/08/2009
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Ha ha, we didn't see any racoons! But we did see a majestic Bald Eagle soaring down the valley below South Lake.
03/08/2009
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Footsteps in the snow
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Date: 03/10/2009
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Even with snowshoes we sunk in 3-4 inches with each laborious step.
03/10/2009
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Hurd Peak
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Date: 03/08/2009
Views: 4
The north face of Hurd Peak.
03/08/2009
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Terri on the hike to the Treasure Lakes
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03/08/2009
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Starting the snow cave
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Date: 03/08/2009
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After reaching Hurd Peak the next 3 hours were spent building our shelter for the night.
03/08/2009
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Neal working on the cave
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Date: 03/08/2009
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Some poor luck put a buried tree and some rocks in the way of our cave, so we had to engineer a custom job including a new entrance from below.
03/08/2009
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The entrance to our completed cave
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After a lot of hard work we had a useable cave big enough for 2!
03/09/2009
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Inside the cave
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Date: 03/09/2009
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Outside was 10 degrees and windy, but inside was a balmy 32 degrees!!
03/09/2009
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Terri climbing Hurd Peak
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Date: 03/09/2009
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Pretty good snow conditions made for an enjoyable climb up the south-east side of Hurd Peak. Incredible gusts of wind made it rather uncomfortable though!
03/09/2009
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Neal in the glorious high Sierra
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Date: 03/10/2009
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Where else would you want to be?
03/10/2009
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From the top of Hurd Peak
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Date: 03/09/2009
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After reaching the top we could look down at Long Lake, our original destination, with Chocolate Peak immediately behind and Cloudripper Peak behind that.
03/09/2009
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The summit ridge of Hurd Peak and Mt. Goode in the distance
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Date: 03/09/2009
Views: 4
The wind on top was cold, strong, and unyielding. 5 minutes to take in the view and it was time to head down again!
03/09/2009
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Neal and Terri on top.
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Date: 03/09/2009
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It's cold up here!
03/09/2009
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Terri on the descent
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Date: 03/09/2009
Views: 4
We followed our steps back down to our snow cave, taking care not to fall at any of the short technical sections.
03/09/2009
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Upper Treasure Lake
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Looking down at our starting point.
03/09/2009
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Wind-blown snow formations
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Date: 03/09/2009
Views: 2
The powerful winds sculpted fascinating shapes in the snow.
03/09/2009
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Neal and Hurd Peak
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Date: 03/09/2009
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A last look at Hurd Peak on the way out.
03/09/2009
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Spindrift envelops the sierra crest
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Date: 03/09/2009
Views: 4
Testament to the power of the winds, the high peaks are lost in a cloud of spindrift. We opted to hike out the last 4 miles on day 3 rather than endure another day of wind- that's the second time we've been chased out a day early by wind!
03/09/2009
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Neal's Photo Gallery
