We planned on hiking to the summit of Vesper Peak but only made it as far as Vesper Lake. Hot day, extremely challenging hike. We were eight hours on the trail as it was, so this summit will have to wait for the next time.
This hike was the idea of Darrell Hull, introduced to us by George del Campo and to Darrell I say: good on ya, mate! This was the toughest and greatest hike of my short hiking career. The challenge and the views were outstanding.
Part of the challenge was the four streams we crossed; the one in the picture above was one of the easier ones.
The trail was not easy; lots of rocks and tough footing.
This view looks down onto a section we have just hiked.
As for the environment around Vesper Peak, here are a few samples:
Tough as it was, Derek kept on going. We pushed past Headlee Pass to Vesper Lake and planted ourselves. But Derek kept exploring:
He came back and took me and George to the upper section of Vesper Lake; note that at this altitude, even on a hot day at the end of June, there is still a little snow and ice:
Speaking of Vesper Peak we almost made it:
So, all in all, a memorable and totally outstanding day. We will be back to finish the job and make it to the summit of Vesper Peak. I predict it will be on a cooler and cloudier day.
Update 7/2:
http://www.kurzweilai.net/walking-in-nature-lowers-risk-of-depression-scientists-find-in-mri-study
Evidence that walking in nature reduces depression – I agree!
Good grief! It looks much more difficult than anything I imagined back here in the prairie lands.
I sweated so much I lost a lot of potassium, which led to muscle spasms. I was cramping up on the way down and got little sleep Monday night; I had to keep getting up to stretch my legs and out-power the muscle spasms. Derek and George and Darrell did better than I did; I was at my limit of endurance. Thanks to Derek for propping me up a few times when I could have easily fallen over.
So, yes, difficult but my legs are all but recovered from the effects of the muscle spasms and I am thinking of a recovery hike on Friday. Paradoxically, it is because of the difficulty, not in spite of the difficulty, that this was such a wonderful experience. We will be back to meet the Vesper challenge.
Beautiful day, great environment and terrific hiking companions. Looking forward to the next outing.
Hey George, back at ya. Darrell knows how to pick them. And I had a great time at Jeff Coston and Mike Bender’s golf academy on Tuesday and Wednesday. A vacation week sure hits the spot for us working stiffs.
Great idea this blog. The hike looked a bit of a challenge. You guys did a great job on pictures and guide.
Thanks
Thanks – yes, it was a challenge but that’s why we loved it. That part of the world is so beautiful it seems a waste not to dive into it.