Grouse Ridge 2004

Grouse Ridge to Glacier Lake trail map

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 17:03:19 -0800

Frank Farmer
Grouse Ridge to Glacier Lake trail map

Grouse Ridge to Glacier Lake profile

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 17:03:13 -0800

Frank Farmer
Grouse Ridge to Glacier Lake profile

Group photo at Grouse Ridge Trailhead. From left: Jerry, Kris, Rich, Sheila, Mike, Daniela, and Frank (AKA Tiocampo). This trailhead is reached via a moderately-bumpy 8-mile road.

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 17:20:14 -0800

Frank Farmer
Group photo at Grouse Ridge Trailhead. From left: Jerry, Kris, Rich, Sheila, Mike, Daniela, and Frank (AKA Tiocampo). This trailhead is reached via a moderately-bumpy 8-mile road.

Milk Lake. Sand Ridge (below the skyline) and Sierra Butte (on the skyline).

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 17:20:16 -0800

Frank Farmer
Milk Lake. Sand Ridge (below the skyline) and Sierra Butte (on the skyline).

Haystack Mountain (middle left) ... Snow-capped Mount Lassen is barely visible on the horizon.

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 17:20:17 -0800

Frank Farmer
Haystack Mountain (middle left) ... Snow-capped Mount Lassen is barely visible on the horizon.

Drought-tolerant flowers

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 17:20:18 -0800

Frank Farmer
Drought-tolerant flowers

Descending Grouse Ridge

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 17:20:20 -0800

Frank Farmer
Descending Grouse Ridge

Peak 7635, near Grouse Ridge

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 17:20:21 -0800

Frank Farmer
Peak 7635, near Grouse Ridge

Mike stalks his prey, in the corn lillies ... The hunter becomes the hunted!

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 17:20:23 -0800

Frank Farmer
Mike stalks his prey, in the corn lillies ... The hunter becomes the hunted!

Rich, our leader!

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 17:20:27 -0800

Frank Farmer
Rich, our leader!

Kris and Daniela

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 17:20:31 -0800

Frank Farmer
Kris and Daniela

Entering the forest ... It was a sunny day, and we were glad to be in the trees, at least for a while.

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 17:20:33 -0800

Frank Farmer
Entering the forest ... It was a sunny day, and we were glad to be in the trees, at least for a while.

Open granite slope. Getting closer to Black Buttes

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 17:20:34 -0800

Frank Farmer
Open granite slope. Getting closer to Black Buttes

Black Buttes, peeking over the top

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 17:20:39 -0800

Frank Farmer
Black Buttes, peeking over the top

Mixed open country made for an interesting hike

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 17:20:46 -0800

Frank Farmer
Mixed open country made for an interesting hike

Mike and Daniela

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 17:20:52 -0800

Frank Farmer
Mike and Daniela

Watching the clouds. Sub-tropical moisture was streaming in ... is it going to rain on us?

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 17:20:54 -0800

Frank Farmer
Watching the clouds. Sub-tropical moisture was streaming in ... is it going to rain on us?

Picture time

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 17:21:00 -0800

Frank Farmer
Picture time

Lupine was everywhere, in this area.

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 17:21:04 -0800

Frank Farmer
Lupine was everywhere, in this area.

Looking up at Hill 7547, approaching Glacier Lake

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 17:20:08 -0800

Frank Farmer
Looking up at Hill 7547, approaching Glacier Lake

The Black Buttes are a small, but rugged range.

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 18:35:17 -0800

Frank Farmer
The Black Buttes are a small, but rugged range.

Jerry, Sheila, and Kris are climbing toward Glacier Lake. Grouse Ridge, our starting point, is on the skyline

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 18:35:19 -0800

Frank Farmer
Jerry, Sheila, and Kris are climbing toward Glacier Lake. Grouse Ridge, our starting point, is on the skyline

A zoom-out view of the previous scene

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 18:35:21 -0800

Frank Farmer
A zoom-out view of the previous scene

Looking at the canyons and ridges to the south of our trail

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 18:35:23 -0800

Frank Farmer
Looking at the canyons and ridges to the south of our trail

Rocky, rugged slopes

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 18:35:25 -0800

Frank Farmer
Rocky, rugged slopes

The trees show evidence of deep snow pack and windy conditions

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 18:35:27 -0800

Frank Farmer
The trees show evidence of deep snow pack and windy conditions

Western flank of Black Buttes

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 18:35:30 -0800

Frank Farmer
Western flank of Black Buttes

Northern view of Black Buttes ... looks interesting. Would we have gas in the tank to climb up there today?

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 18:35:33 -0800

Frank Farmer
Northern view of Black Buttes ... looks interesting. Would we have gas in the tank to climb up there today?

Developing view of Glacier Lake's cirque

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 18:35:35 -0800

Frank Farmer
Developing view of Glacier Lake's cirque

Glacier Lake is ahead, beyond these trees

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 18:35:37 -0800

Frank Farmer
Glacier Lake is ahead, beyond these trees

Wind-blasted slopes

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 18:35:38 -0800

Frank Farmer
Wind-blasted slopes

Sierra Butte, wind-sculpted trees

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 18:35:39 -0800

Frank Farmer
Sierra Butte, wind-sculpted trees

Zoom-in view of Sierra Butte

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 18:35:41 -0800

Frank Farmer
Zoom-in view of Sierra Butte

Daniela relaxing at Glacier Lake She is an excellent and friendly hiking companion, but don't count on her sticking around, if you're not a fast hiker. As she later explained, "I can't go s ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 18:35:43 -0800

Frank Farmer
Daniela relaxing at Glacier Lake She is an excellent and friendly hiking companion, but don't count on her sticking around, if you're not a fast hiker. As she later explained, "I can't go s ...

Kris relaxing at Glacier Lake. She shared some dried cherries that were deliciously tart!

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 18:35:44 -0800

Frank Farmer
Kris relaxing at Glacier Lake. She shared some dried cherries that were deliciously tart!

Mike gave a clinic on how to skip rocks

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 18:35:47 -0800

Frank Farmer
Mike gave a clinic on how to skip rocks

Check out the new growth on this tree!

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 18:36:07 -0800

Frank Farmer
Check out the new growth on this tree!

Glacier Lake. We found a couple of dozen people here, day-hiking and camping! This is not the place to come for solitude!

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 18:35:49 -0800

Frank Farmer
Glacier Lake. We found a couple of dozen people here, day-hiking and camping! This is not the place to come for solitude!

Looking at the slope across Glacier Lake. Is the ridge beckoning to any climbers out there?

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 18:35:51 -0800

Frank Farmer
Looking at the slope across Glacier Lake. Is the ridge beckoning to any climbers out there?

We watched a group of hikers descending.

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 18:35:54 -0800

Frank Farmer
We watched a group of hikers descending.

A rare, seldom-seen Sierra Rainbow Snake

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 18:35:56 -0800

Frank Farmer
A rare, seldom-seen Sierra Rainbow Snake

We considered hiking around the lake. The opposite shore didn't look very inviting

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 18:35:59 -0800

Frank Farmer
We considered hiking around the lake. The opposite shore didn't look very inviting

This is the way to go, if you want to climb the ridge

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 18:36:03 -0800

Frank Farmer
This is the way to go, if you want to climb the ridge

Leaving the group to relax at the lake. Resistance is futile! Rich, Mike, and Frank are climbing the ridge!

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 18:36:14 -0800

Frank Farmer
Leaving the group to relax at the lake. Resistance is futile! Rich, Mike, and Frank are climbing the ridge!

How many tents can you count?

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 18:36:16 -0800

Frank Farmer
How many tents can you count?

This route had lots of options, many easy gullies

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 18:36:18 -0800

Frank Farmer
This route had lots of options, many easy gullies

Looking down on Glacier Lake, as we climb the ridge

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 18:36:21 -0800

Frank Farmer
Looking down on Glacier Lake, as we climb the ridge

Forested knoll above Glacier Lake

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 18:36:27 -0800

Frank Farmer
Forested knoll above Glacier Lake

Lonely, wind-blasted tree. How long will it survive?

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 18:36:29 -0800

Frank Farmer
Lonely, wind-blasted tree. How long will it survive?

Looking back at Sand Ridge

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 18:36:32 -0800

Frank Farmer
Looking back at Sand Ridge

Wider view of Sand Ridge

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 18:36:34 -0800

Frank Farmer
Wider view of Sand Ridge

Rich checks out the view above Glacier Lake

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 18:36:37 -0800

Frank Farmer
Rich checks out the view above Glacier Lake

Five Lakes Basin and beyond

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 18:36:39 -0800

Frank Farmer
Five Lakes Basin and beyond

Looking south from the ridge top. There is an old abandoned mining town site out there, known as Baltimore Town

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 18:36:40 -0800

Frank Farmer
Looking south from the ridge top. There is an old abandoned mining town site out there, known as Baltimore Town

Rich, sitting atop Peak 8028, one of the high points on the Black Buttes

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 18:36:41 -0800

Frank Farmer
Rich, sitting atop Peak 8028, one of the high points on the Black Buttes

Looking down on Glacier Lake, from Peak 8028

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 18:36:44 -0800

Frank Farmer
Looking down on Glacier Lake, from Peak 8028

Zoom in view of our friends, relaxing at Glacier Lake

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 18:36:46 -0800

Frank Farmer
Zoom in view of our friends, relaxing at Glacier Lake

Looking over at another peak, from Peak 8028. Pretty easy climbing, but a worthwhile goal, nonetheless!

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 18:36:50 -0800

Frank Farmer
Looking over at another peak, from Peak 8028. Pretty easy climbing, but a worthwhile goal, nonetheless!

Glacier Lake Panorama

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 17:20:13 -0800

Frank Farmer
Glacier Lake Panorama

Black Buttes Panorama - North

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 17:20:09 -0800

Frank Farmer
Black Buttes Panorama - North

Black Buttes Panorama - South. This view (from left) includes Granite Chief, the Crystal Range, Interstate 80, Yuba Gap, and Lake Spaulding

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 17:20:11 -0800

Frank Farmer
Black Buttes Panorama - South. This view (from left) includes Granite Chief, the Crystal Range, Interstate 80, Yuba Gap, and Lake Spaulding

Another hiker joins us on the summit. This gentleman was kind enough to take our picture. Mike did not come up all the way, and stopped at the ridge top.

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Fri, 02 Dec 2005 17:11:08 -0800

Frank Farmer
Another hiker joins us on the summit. This gentleman was kind enough to take our picture. Mike did not come up all the way, and stopped at the ridge top.

Rich and Frank. An eastern view is in the background.

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Fri, 02 Dec 2005 17:11:07 -0800

Frank Farmer
Rich and Frank. An eastern view is in the background.

Rich and Frank

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Fri, 02 Dec 2005 17:15:39 -0800

Frank Farmer
Rich and Frank

Looking down on Baltimore Town

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 18:36:59 -0800

Frank Farmer
Looking down on Baltimore Town

Another wind-blasted tree, on the ridge top

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Fri, 02 Dec 2005 17:51:20 -0800

Frank Farmer
Another wind-blasted tree, on the ridge top

Other climbers joined us on the summit, so we decided to head back to the lake

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Fri, 02 Dec 2005 17:51:56 -0800

Frank Farmer
Other climbers joined us on the summit, so we decided to head back to the lake

The sun was really starting to break out. The clouds all blew away, and the temperature warmed a bit

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Fri, 02 Dec 2005 17:51:55 -0800

Frank Farmer
The sun was really starting to break out. The clouds all blew away, and the temperature warmed a bit

Enjoying the summit

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Fri, 02 Dec 2005 17:51:53 -0800

Frank Farmer
Enjoying the summit

Looking back to Grouse Ridge (left). Sand Ridge is across the middle of this view. Our route went back pretty much directly at Grouse Ridge, to the left of Sand Ridge.

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Fri, 02 Dec 2005 17:51:52 -0800

Frank Farmer
Looking back to Grouse Ridge (left). Sand Ridge is across the middle of this view. Our route went back pretty much directly at Grouse Ridge, to the left of Sand Ridge.

Another view of Glacier Lake, with Sierra Butte on the horizon

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Fri, 02 Dec 2005 17:51:51 -0800

Frank Farmer
Another view of Glacier Lake, with Sierra Butte on the horizon

We found an even easier way to go down

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Fri, 02 Dec 2005 17:51:50 -0800

Frank Farmer
We found an even easier way to go down

Red Heather

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Fri, 02 Dec 2005 17:51:49 -0800

Frank Farmer
Red Heather

Close-up of red heather

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Fri, 02 Dec 2005 17:51:47 -0800

Frank Farmer
Close-up of red heather

Rich picking his way back to Glacier Lake

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Fri, 02 Dec 2005 17:51:46 -0800

Frank Farmer
Rich picking his way back to Glacier Lake

Lupine

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Fri, 02 Dec 2005 17:51:45 -0800

Frank Farmer
Lupine

Looking back to the Black Buttes. This is the ridge and peak we climbed.

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Fri, 02 Dec 2005 17:51:44 -0800

Frank Farmer
Looking back to the Black Buttes. This is the ridge and peak we climbed.

Rich setting a brisk pace

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Fri, 02 Dec 2005 17:51:42 -0800

Frank Farmer
Rich setting a brisk pace

Interesting rocks and boulders caught in the roots of a fallen tree. The trees in this area really take a beating. The red firs did not seem to be doing well at all. Lodgepole pines seemed t ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Fri, 02 Dec 2005 17:51:41 -0800

Frank Farmer
Interesting rocks and boulders caught in the roots of a fallen tree. The trees in this area really take a beating. The red firs did not seem to be doing well at all. Lodgepole pines seemed t ...

The Black Buttes peeking through the trees

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Fri, 02 Dec 2005 17:51:40 -0800

Frank Farmer
The Black Buttes peeking through the trees

Our peak was the gently-rounded one at the left. It would be fun to climb that tower!

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Fri, 02 Dec 2005 17:51:39 -0800

Frank Farmer
Our peak was the gently-rounded one at the left. It would be fun to climb that tower!

There are still people up there! Not from our group, however.

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Fri, 02 Dec 2005 17:51:37 -0800

Frank Farmer
There are still people up there! Not from our group, however.

Sand Ridge. There is a slightly longer, alternate route along Sand Ridge. We decided to skip it today, however.

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Fri, 02 Dec 2005 17:51:36 -0800

Frank Farmer
Sand Ridge. There is a slightly longer, alternate route along Sand Ridge. We decided to skip it today, however.

Grouse Ridge is a few miles ahead.

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Fri, 02 Dec 2005 17:51:34 -0800

Frank Farmer
Grouse Ridge is a few miles ahead.

Pretty flowers were everywhere!

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Fri, 02 Dec 2005 17:51:33 -0800

Frank Farmer
Pretty flowers were everywhere!

A lake on the way to becoming a meadow

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Fri, 02 Dec 2005 17:51:32 -0800

Frank Farmer
A lake on the way to becoming a meadow

Colorful flowers in the meadow

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Fri, 02 Dec 2005 17:51:30 -0800

Frank Farmer
Colorful flowers in the meadow

Glacier Lake Trail sign

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Fri, 02 Dec 2005 17:51:29 -0800

Frank Farmer
Glacier Lake Trail sign

Grouse Ridge Trail sign

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Fri, 02 Dec 2005 17:51:27 -0800

Frank Farmer
Grouse Ridge Trail sign

Sanford Lake, below the Grouse Ridge Trailhead

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Fri, 02 Dec 2005 17:51:26 -0800

Frank Farmer
Sanford Lake, below the Grouse Ridge Trailhead

The sign says 5 miles to Glacier Lake. I think it's more like 4 miles. Maybe it's 5 miles if you go via Sand Ridge.

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Fri, 02 Dec 2005 17:51:25 -0800

Frank Farmer
The sign says 5 miles to Glacier Lake. I think it's more like 4 miles. Maybe it's 5 miles if you go via Sand Ridge.

Interesting old Forest Service sign. They haven't made 'em like this in a while!

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Fri, 02 Dec 2005 17:51:24 -0800

Frank Farmer
Interesting old Forest Service sign. They haven't made 'em like this in a while!

Looking back at the Black Buttes. We were standing on top over there, just a couple of hours previously!

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Fri, 02 Dec 2005 17:51:23 -0800

Frank Farmer
Looking back at the Black Buttes. We were standing on top over there, just a couple of hours previously!

Last view of the Black Buttes. The group said, "No mas papparazzi!" and turned down the offer for a post-trip group photo. We retraced our route down the bumpy 8 mile rocky road, and reconve ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Frank Farmer) — Fri, 02 Dec 2005 17:51:21 -0800

Frank Farmer
Last view of the Black Buttes. The group said, "No mas papparazzi!" and turned down the offer for a post-trip group photo. We retraced our route down the bumpy 8 mile rocky road, and reconve ...