The trail started off through thick willows, it was not very well defined and headed upward quite heftily. It was in the balmy low 20s when we started.
Pretty soon, what few trees in this area thinned out and we headed up into a valley, following a very faint trail. Ahead, Tom and Dallas saw an albino pika!! Unfortunately, I did not. Bummer. Clouds obscured all the higher peaks, as you can see. That cloud ahead is hiding a centennial peak.
We decided on a lower peak after realizing that without some sort of traction on our hiking boots, getting up the large field of talus to the the taller peaks would be agonizingly slow. So, we started up and off trail, heading for a lower summit.
One of the boys crossing the ridge to the summit.
One of my favorite pictures below, Tom taking in the incredible view.
It was really beautiful up there and we were the only people around. The ridge to the left below is what we considered tackling, but as I said, we were a bit unprepared this time.
We headed back down with cold faces and fingers and decided to check out the old mine buildings.
Through the cabin window, the sun popped out for a few minutes on Jacque Peak, across the way.
