Vesper Lake – 6/29/2015

George's panorama
George’s panorama

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.

Tricky little crossing
Tricky little crossing

Part of the challenge was the four streams we crossed; the one in the picture above was one of the easier ones.

Going up
Going up

The trail was not easy; lots of rocks and tough footing.

Steep enough?
Steep enough?

This view looks down onto a section we have just hiked.

As for the environment around Vesper Peak, here are a few samples:

Whaddya think about this kind of stuff?
Whaddya think about this kind of stuff?
The Cascades from The Cascades
The Cascades from The Cascades
Just plain 'wow'
Just plain ‘wow’

Tough as it was, Derek kept on going.  We pushed past Headlee Pass to Vesper Lake and planted ourselves.  But Derek kept exploring:

Derek hiked to the bottom of this waterfall
Derek hiked to the bottom of this waterfall

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:

A little ice in Vesper Lake
A little ice in Vesper Lake

Speaking of Vesper Peak we almost made it:

Vesper Peak from Vesper Lake
Vesper Peak from Vesper Lake

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.

A cairn shows the trail
A cairn shows the trail

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!

6 thoughts on “Vesper Lake – 6/29/2015”

  1. Good grief! It looks much more difficult than anything I imagined back here in the prairie lands.

    1. 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.

  2. Beautiful day, great environment and terrific hiking companions. Looking forward to the next outing.

  3. 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.

  4. Great idea this blog. The hike looked a bit of a challenge. You guys did a great job on pictures and guide.
    Thanks

    1. 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.

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