Alpine Adventures

A gloomy day looms all around us as we leave the deeper sections of the forest and enter a valley surrounded by rocky cliffs.

Linda and Carl rest a bit before picking their way along the overgrown path.

Even among the rocks, delicate flowers still manage to find a way to survive.

Marked here and there by carins, Carl and Linda manage to stay on the trail (more or less).

The steep path to Hedlee Pass, and the beginning of some 20 switchbacks leading to the top of the Pass.

Ahhh - time for a rest. Carl and Linda pause at Hedlee Pass.

Me, at the Pass. Behind me, the clouds are rolling in over the tops of the surrounding peaks.

During a brief clearing period, we can see Glacier Peak behind the different levels of ranges.

Another boulder field leads to the junction of the Sperry / Vesper trail. Linda is crossing a stream fed by the peaks' melt-off.

What we thought was Vesper Peak turned out to be much lower. Vesper would be to the right of this. Linda relaxes while we wait for Carl to finish his version of the mud / brush hike.

While we rest, the clouds part to give us a glimpse of Sperry Peak -- it was much bigger than I expected!

More peaks come into and out of view as the clouds roll over ther ridges.

Carl's turn for a rest as he views Sperry Peak. The route would be from the left ridge, through the brush just above the cloud line and rightward along the narrow snow patches to the peak's right edge.

On the was to Vesper, the granite boulders are framed with colorful flowering heather.

More flowers on the way to the sumit. Here is the peak we thought was Vesper (previously, we were looking upward at the cliffs on the left).

Carl, Me and Linda, with the Vesper Peak Summit Register.

The clouds are still moving in and out, but the air is changing with a hint of rain in the air.

Linda on Vesper, and Carl looking at Sperry Peak.

Another view of Sperry with the the lake at the bottom, which feeds the stream we crossed.

Most of Vesper is comprised of this clean white granite. Carl and Linda scramble and follow the ridge toward Sperry.

Just about the time we descend Vesper, the rains hit and we chose not to climb Sperry. In this last shot before the rains hit, we see Three Fingers rising above the clouds.