JP Memorial Backpack (Day 5) – Frank Church Wilderness, Idaho

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As usual, I was up early shooting some pre-sunrise shots over Stoddard Lake.

I was really missing my tripod at this point to capture these low light images. It would be extremely difficult to pack in my tripod along with a weeks worth of provisions.

After some breakfast, our crew headed out to bag more peaks. Up to the ridge we go.

Besides bagging the nearby Twin Peak, we were scouting some less spicy routes back out of Stoddard Lake in hopes for an easier full pack out tomorrow. After peaking around the corner on this particular ridge we decided it was a “no go”.

Further up the ridge to Twin Peak, we started getting some nice views down Stoddard Creek towards the Bighorn Craigs.

It was time to take the training wheels off Jenny’s peak bagging. We turned the route finding reins over to her and up we continued.

The nice thing about following the group is that I can get some action images as they continue up the mountain. Brian was hoping to snag a few peak trout….. notice the rod?

Near the top of Twin Peak, we started getting wonderful views of the Middle Fork Drainage. The river is nearly 6000 feet below us here.

It surprised me that at the top of most peaks deep out here in the Frank there was clear evidence of previous summits. In this case, a huge cairn.

Mariel and Jenny move around the summit for a better view.

Below are a pair of lakes in the Kitchen Creek Drainage.

After successfully leading her first climb, Jenny is starting to feel confident and busts out some “Name That Peak”. Just over Brian’s right shoulder is our next peak of the day and in the distance, the many peaks of the Bighorn Craigs.

Of course, Mariel is genetically programed with NTP and you can tell by the body english that she operates the pointer finger at a much higher level. Even Brian is stunned by her skills!

Once again, Jenny comes to appreciate the beauty of peak bagging.

After assessing the route over to the second of the Twin Peaks we decide to go visit a nearby lesser peak. The second Twin Peak located just to the Northeast of Twin Peak looked like a blocky beat down.

We will call this Peak 9150. No, not actually a peak as defined by JP but still a nice treat.

Brian has climbed more peaks than you can shake a stick at, many quite significant, but even he really appreciates the beauty of this random high point.

I can’t seem to get enough shots of Mariel pointing at the horizon.

Back off the peak we go.

Below, Twin Lake.

After backing off our two morning peaks, we dropped into Stoddard Lake for an afternoon of fishing and relaxing.

Later in the evening, it was dinner time on the Lake and we soak up the last few ray of sunshine on this glorious day.

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