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| Hiking | 11.25 Miles |
3,500 AEG |
| | Hiking | 11.25 Miles | 8 Hrs 51 Mns | | 2.00 mph |
| 3,500 ft AEG | 3 Hrs 14 Mns Break | 20 LBS Pack | | |
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| partners | | We did an awesome day hike from Black Joe Lake to Cirque Lake.
We awoke to a clear day. We started hiking after breakfast and returned to Big Sandy Lake. From there we hit the Jackass Pass trail that leads to the Cirque of the Towers. I stopped at a good spot that over looked Big Sandy Lake and many of the surrounding peaks. The sun was up in the east so I used my umbrella to block the harse rays and get a good picture. We continued climbing up. We stopped for a break and had a good view spot of Warbonnet peak and Pingora was poking out from past Jackass Pass.
We passed North Lake on its east and north sides and then we branched off the main trail and used a climber's route that climbed up to the point of Arrowhead Lake. Arrowhead is an aptly named lake as it looked just like a perfect arrowhead. We took to the rock slide to the west of the lake and climbed up high to a gap. From there we hit the Continental Divide.
The view from Divide was amazing no matter which way you looked. We even got to spy on a Marmot!
We descended into the Cirque and took a break at a waterfall. We could see a few rockclimbers' camps in the area. There aren't tall enough trees in the Cirque so they would stick a long branch off a rock and pile rocks on it to hold it. Then they'd hang their food bags from the branch.
From the waterfall we watched a group of rock climbers on Pingora. It looked pretty scary even though there are supposed to be some easy multipitch routes going up to the top.
After our break several of us went up to Cirque Lake which is probably the highest lake in the Cirque at 11100 feet. The lake and it's peaks were stunning. There was still some snow pack in the areas where little sun reaches. We ate our lunch soaking in the views. From up there, we could see back over to the peaks near our camp. We even could make out Deep Lake which is right below East Temple. The view of Mitchell Peak was also very nice.
We headed back the way we came. As usual you see things on the return route that you missed previously. I was happy that the light was hitting the peaks at different angles so hopefully I'll have a few good shots.
By the time we reached camp, many of our party were pooped. I was kinda tired but not too bad. I took advantage of Black Joe Lake and rinsed out my clothes and sort of took a bath. I didn't want to fully jump in as it was pretty late in the day.
We sat around the camp rehashing a few things about the day during dinner. Then in true backpackers spirit we were all off to bed by around 9 pm.
Close to lights out a few sprinkles fell on our tents. Not even enough to reduce the dust on the trails.
I'm hoping that today's adventure allows me to sleep through the night! Not! |
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