High Sierra Topix

Friday, 9 January 2009 (day 1 of 3)
Scattered Bone Peak and Cactus Flat Peak in the Cosos

PHOTOS: http://snownymph.smugmug.com/gallery/70 ... 5348_dNBxD

TomG, Rach and JimB joined me for an easy hike to warm up the legs for tomorrow's big hike. After the hike, TomG and I stopped by Jack Henry Mine and McCloud Mine before going to Ayers Rock Pictographs.

Stopped to see Petroglyphs on the drive in


Cactus Flat Peak



Scattered Bone Peak


Tree of the day


McCloud Mine


Pictographs

Saturday, 10 Jan 2009 (day 2 of 3)
Mt Inyo from Union Wash

PHOTOS: http://snownymph.smugmug.com/gallery/70 ... 7522_qRw5v

A little more than one week before surgery, and I wanted to get some good hikes in. Who wants to do Mt Inyo? Got a few replies! I might as well get as much as I can while I can. This weekend is 156 consecutive weekends out in the mountains/desert. Almost 10,000' el gain in 3 days. A great way to celebrate 3 years! (wk 156, day 2)


Morning view from Union Wash


From the start, gain the ridge


Tree of the day


Saline Valley to the east


Some snow


Happy to be on Mt Inyo


Great moonrise (the spots are on the lens, dropped camera a few wks ago, broke it after this hike)


2000' of scree skiing in the dark (photo ctsy of TomG)


A toast to 156 consecutive weekends in the mountains/desert!


this is where I'll be for a few weeks or months:

Great images as always.

Best wishes for a safe surgery and a speedy return to the mountains.

Thanks Shawn! The only thing I'll be climbing is the walls! I'll be looking for everyone's trip reports to get me thru this! I've got one more weekend left to get out!

here's day 3:


Sunday, 11 January 2009 (day 3 of 3)
Boulder Peak in the Southern Sierra

PHOTOS: http://snownymph.smugmug.com/gallery/70 ... 3478_VXbJ5

Sierra Sparkles drove to InyoKern for breakfast with me and Rach. We got a really late start after visiting, but didn't worry cuz it was a short hike (at least that's what we thought). I knew my legs would be tired, but 2750' in 2 miles was a bit much after doing Mt Inyo the day before! We stayed in the wash, but probably would have been better off on the ridge. But it was steep and slippery (marbles on slick hard slope), so we stayed low. It took longer than expected to summit, but we were so sure the next (false) summit was it. We figured we were hiking back in the dark anyway so we continued. We had a beautiful sunset, and a full moon for the last part of the hike. So glad Sparks made it out to hike with me, cuz my legs were ready to turn back early in the trip. Thanks for another peak! These pix were taken with Sierra Sparkles camera with my flashcard (hers was full). I dropped my camera from the front seat of the FJ after Inyo, and it broke. I bought the extra insurance from Circuit City that said "if you drop it we'll replace it" We'll see if they do it.

Climbing up is easier than going down. We found an easier way down in the dark


We came UP this????


Wheeee!

Cool stuff Cori

Good luck and hope all goes well with the surgery.

It'll just be a steady slog to the summit, SnowNymph. Cya when ya get back

All the best, Cori. We'll all miss the terrific posts from you, but the break will be short, I'm sure!

-B2