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I wanted to stretch my legs on some easy peaks, since we were camping in Cunningham Gulch these seemed to fit the bill. We started hiking at 6:30 up Spencer Basin, with plenty of fog. To reach Spencer Basin turn right at an intersection instead of going towards the Highland Mary's Lake TH.
waterfall by camp more falls another foggy morning Cunningham Gulch
There is a good trail all the way into the basin where it peters out and heads south at 12400. All that was left was a steep grassy slope and a little talus to "Spencer Peak". I arrived at 8:40, it was unexciting so I made haste to 13434 where I arrived at 9:00. I waited for Ben on the summit before we took off to explore the summit block of Rhoda. This was one of the quickest traverses I have ever done, 17 minutes after leaving 13434 at 9:25.
Spencer Basin Side trip Looking down Spencer Basin from 13434 "What went wrong?" "Electricity on Electric, running out of holy water on the Trinities" Holy water of Highland Mary
We refueled and shot up Whitehead where we pondered our failures earlier in the week, on the descent we met a chatty bunch of Ptarmigan. At 10:20 I made the summit of 13109, where I promptly turned around due to building clouds. The easiest way around Whitehead was to do an ascending traverse on elk trails before crossing a small snowfield and some mud and descending towards Highland Mary's Lake.
How many can you find? Summit ridge on 13109
Ben and I are huge LOTR fans and when we entered the valley it felt like we were in Rohan. I searched for Isengard and thought "Could be" most closely resembled the tower. After a quick examination of the lakes we retreated to Fangorn forest. We agreed that this was the best waterfall hike we had ever been on. Unfortunately we couldn't stay longer because of the impending storm and darkness from Isengard. The Uruk Hai are coming.
Where are the Rohirim They're taking the hobbits to Isengard Ultimate Frisbee? Coolest waterfall
We quickly packed up camp and drove to Silverton to watch some of the finish of the Hardrock. Not much action at 2:00 so we headed to Schofield Pass for three days in the Elks.
Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):
Some pretty country, and the shots of the Grenadiers from there are amazing like they are from any angle. Did you find Pippin's brooch whilst seeking out the ptarmigans?
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