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Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2007 9:25 am
by quentinc
Doyle, thanks so much for the comments. That tarn (Foerster Lake) was indeed quite beautiful. There's an easy route down to it from below Peak 11,200, trail or no trail.

I was very tempted to hike down into the Lyell fork canyon, but I was surprised by how ridiculously steep. loose and rocky the slope was from the base of 11,200 down into the canyon (I would have gone down that way and then looped back via the Isberg trail). Also, as I get older, I've had to admit to myself that my killer week trips are becoming more literally killers, so I begrudgingly conceded that day as a semi-rest day. I'd love to see your photos from down in the canyon!

If I do this trip again, instead of out and back I would head down the Isberg Trail over to Vogelsgang, and then return to Thousand Island Lakes via the Muir Trail. But the area was so incredible (and the navigation frustrating enough) that I wanted to do it twice this time.

And I think you made a good catch. Now that I look at that picture, I'm not sure that is Triple Divide, because I don't think there's a lake right in front of it. But it's not Long Peak -- that's further to the southwest, along the Foerster ridge. So maybe it's Post Peak?

Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2007 6:30 pm
by DoyleWDonehoo
quentinc wrote:Doyle, thanks so much for the comments. That tarn (Foerster Lake) was indeed quite beautiful. There's an easy route down to it from below Peak 11,200, trail or no trail.
No problem. ...and...its part of the Roper route I believe. The Blue Lake to "Foerster Lake" is something I have been interested in a long time. Glad you reported it.
quentinc wrote:I was very tempted to hike down into the Lyell fork canyon, but I was surprised by how ridiculously steep. loose and rocky the slope was...
Yeah, the trail would have been faster I bet. ;^)
quentinc wrote:I'd love to see your photos from down in the canyon!
I will see if I can show something in the next day or two...
quentinc wrote: And I think you made a good catch. ... But it's not Long Peak -- that's further to the southwest, along the Foerster ridge. So maybe it's Post Peak?
Bet ya a buck it is Long Mountain. I am betting you were on top of the cliff east of "Foerster Lake" (looking down on the lake), and you pointed your camera SSE at Harriet Lake. You would have been just above the level of the lake, just like the picture. I have examined the picture and the 7.5 map and everything matches up: lake, tarns, ridge line.... :cool:

Unidentified Peak

Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2007 10:18 pm
by egull
Thanks so much for the interesting trip report and pictures. I've not been to this area yet but based on the photos and discussion I think it will be my next destination.

Here's something that might help solve the debated peak in the "Triple Divide Peak" shot. It's the Google Earth view of Harriet Lake from the direction of peak 11210. The peak behind Harriet Lake is the unnamed peak just to the west of Long Mountain. Google Earth is amazing!


Image

Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2007 9:35 am
by DoyleWDonehoo
It's the Google Earth view of Harriet Lake....
Uncanny! :eek:

Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2007 9:54 am
by cgundersen
Hi Quentin,
For some strange reason my computer has problems pulling up webshot galleries so I’ve not checked out your photos, but otherwise it’s great to hear that you managed that loop into the Blue Lakes area and beyond in spite of the shoulder dislocation. I’ve continued to wrestle with the question whether the scenery/isolation around Blue Lake(s) puts it at the top of my list of favorites in the Sierras, and even though the competition is pretty stiff (and folks in other threads have given me ideas for places I still need to visit), I think it’s pretty hard to beat. I also thought you articulated very well the striking contrast one gets at the juncture of the dark and foreboding Minarets (with Ritter and Banner) and the classical gray granite of the Cathedral range as one transitions into Yosemite. I’m already planning a route into that area from the west (as Maverick did earlier this year), but it may take a couple years to get back since a couple other long trips are already on the top of the charts.
Incidentally, which brand of boots were you breaking in (so, I can avoid them)?
cgundersen

Lyell Fork

Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2007 10:20 am
by DoyleWDonehoo
quentinc said:
quentinc: I'd love to see your photos from down in the canyon!
If you look at this picture from quentinc's pictures:
http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/25 ... 3830GOQYhD
...you see two meadows. The picture below is looking over the eastern (right) meadow, at the west end of the meadow, looking over the obvious granite island towards Mt. Ansel Adams:

Image

This picture is from my almost completed Lyell Fork story. quentinc: If I can include that birds eye view and photo credit in my story, let me know! :thumbsup:

Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2007 10:46 am
by quentinc
That Google Earth photo is uncanny -- it almost feels like "cheating" to use it. Of course, I'm probably the only one on this board who doesn't even have a GPS, so I'm obviously a fossil. :) In any event, I'm glad that it turns out not to be Long Mountain!

Doyle, by all means feel free to use the photo. I also have a zoom just on the east meadow if you'd like it (not posted on Webshots). Your picture from down in the meadow is quite beautiful. Thanks for posting it.

CG: I was wearing a pair of lightweight Salomon mid-level tops, so it's very unlikely you or any other sane individual would be trying them out on a hike like this. Ironically, Salamon brags about its "contagrip," which I think should be renamed "contragrip" -- as in anti-grip. I have at least some excuse for my insanity -- I've been having a nightmare of a time finding a pair of "real" boots to replace my falling apart (and discontinued) Montrail Moraines. I was so desperate that the previous backpack I did was in low-tops (although all the hiking was on trail). The only good news is that my ankles were just fine both times.

Lyell Fork East Meadow

Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2007 11:20 am
by DoyleWDonehoo
quentinc wrote: Doyle, by all means feel free to use the photo. I also have a zoom just on the east meadow if you'd like it (not posted on Webshots).
Great! My site is journalistic in nature, so more and better information is good. Email both pictures to me with how you want your photo credit to read. My email can be found on my website, link below.

I have got to get more into Google Earth!

Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2007 11:30 am
by maverick
Ive also had problems with the pic's, it was okay when you first had them
posted, but now I cannot get past the second page.

Q:Im going back to my Montrail Hardrocks for summer useage I just
cannot get used to mid or high-top boots, Ill use these boots I have now
for spring and winter-fall trips only.
I just like the way my feet feel at the end of a long day in my trail runners.
The only problem is that I have to buy a new pair for each trip and that
gets rather expensive. Last year I went thru 2 Hardrocks and a Comp
(which are mids)costing over $300 in shoes alone!
Oh by the way, you would never find me with a gps either, Ive never used my compass either, its never been out of my pack.
All I need is my map, I've been told that I have a uncanny sense of
direction and route finding, whatever, all I know is I try to become one
with the land and use these so called ablities to travel.
So far its worked.

Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2007 8:04 pm
by quentinc
That's funny about the website, but Webshots definitely has its frustrating aspects. Try accessing my home page: http://community.webshots.com/user/quentincompsen and see if it works that way (the Ritter Range album is the top one on the left).

I too love my Montrail Hardrocks. I used them on a trip to Mallory, but the backpacking was all on a fairly easy trail (Mesyan Lake). I'd be a little nervous about my ankles on rough off-trail terrain with a heavy pack. $300 a summer on boots is a lot to shell out!

I've also never used a compass. Unfortunately, though, the only thing uncanny about my route finding is that I tend to pick the hardest route possible.