Shake Down Cruise 2018

[Vaca Russ]

Sometimes one needs to grab the low hanging fruit to warm up for the peak bagging season. Stevens Peak in Alpine county fit the bill for an “easy, warm up” climb.

There is a dirt road just south of where the outlet stream for Crater Lake crosses highway 88. I drove up to the intersection at 8120 feet and parked the Tacoma. I figure I came to climb the mountain on foot not drive to the summit.

The road up to the lake started out snow free until about 8300 feet where I met a gentleman who was conducting a shakedown cruise of his own. He hit a patch of snow and drifted onto a stump. The slight damage to his brand new Rubicon concerned him and he was a bit flustered.

1 Jeep.jpg

For a more detailed report on this see:

http://www.highsierratopix.com/communit ... =9&t=18240

It didn’t take long to reach the 90% iced over Crater Lake.

2 Lake1.jpg

From there I saw the ridge leading to the summit.

3 Summit.jpg

The path was snow free the entire way.

4 Ridge.jpg

The wind really picked up once I got the ridge just before the summit.

5 Summit From Ridge.jpg

Here is a view of Crater from above.

6 Crater Lake.jpg

The register is located in a little nook. I was a bit surprised to find a register on this relatively “easy” peak.

7 Register.jpg

I don’t think Brian Voyles is an HST member. He has completed his Ogul list and now appears to be getting Craig Voyles through that list.

8 Brian Voyles.jpg

Scotts Lake is open for fishing!

9 Scotts Lake.jpg

Deso still has some snow at altitude.

10 Dicks and Jack.jpg

Thanks for reading my post!

-Russ