Freedom Peak - 5.17.2012
rodman's GPS route of our bike and hike trip to Freedom Peak... a total of 5.4 miles of biking and a total of 7.6 miles of hiking... gaining 340 feet of elevation on the bike ride and 3487 feet on the hike.
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From 29 Pines Campground... we drove the N. Fork Teanaway River road for 1.2 miles to the turnoff for FS9703... then continued on the N. Fork road for another tenth of a mile to find a good place to park along the side of the road.
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FS9703 is closed to vehicles at the bridge crossing of Standup Creek, but you can walk or bike it.
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Ready, set, go...
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BarbE has biked 2.7 miles... now at the bridge crossing of Stafford Creek on FS9703... the parking area and trailhead are just on the other side of the bridge.
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The Stafford Creek parking area... looks like some serious logging just beyond the parking area.
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Stashing our bikes in the trees... the trailhead is on the opposite side of the road from the parking area.
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Stafford Creek is running high and wild.
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We didn't want to chance getting wet at the first creek crossing, so we went up stream a short distance to find an easier crossing.
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Taking a break to consult rodman's GPS.
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A clump of Trillium... other prominent flowers on the trip were Glacier Lilies, Spring Beauties and Yellow Bells.
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This tree has fallen within the last year and has wiped out the trail.
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At the second major stream crossing (~4000') we didn't like the stream crossing... so we left the trail and headed up stream looking for a better crossing that will get us over to friendlier terrain.
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BarbE found a reasonable spot to cross the stream.
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Snowdog at the stream crossing.
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Much easier terrain on the north side of the stream.
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There were still some obstacles to deal with on the north side of the stream.
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Izzy enjoyed resting on the snow patches.
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Continuing up... steeper than it looks.
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Up and up.
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Izzy doesn't require a very large snow patch in order to get comfortable.
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It has taken awhile, but we can finally see the SE ridge of Freedom Peak in the distance.
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rodman, BarbE and Snowdog rounding a rock outcropping on the rib leading to Freedom's SE ridge.
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The Freedom Peak summit is in view... Navaho Peak in the distance on the left.
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Continuing on the rib leading toward Freedom Peak's SE ridge.
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Looking across valley to Earl Peak.
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Still working our way to Freedom's SE ridge.
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BarbE on rock... still trying to get to Freedom's SE ridge.
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Earl Peak (left)... with Mt. Stuart and Sherpa Peak coming into view in the center of the photo.
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Almost on Freedom's SE ridge now.
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A well deserved lunch break on one of the bumps (~5900') on Freedom's SE ridge.
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From our lunch spot... looking at the ridge that will take us to Freedom's summit... Three Brothers on the far right.
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A closeup of Little Annapurna (left), Enchantment Peak and McClellan Peak.
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Freedom Peak (center)... flanked by Mt. Stuart (left) and Navaho Peak.
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A closeup of Three Brothers.
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A closeup of Miller Peak... with Mission Peak in the distance on the right.
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rodman, BarbE and Izzy leaving our lunch spot and continuing along Freedom's SE ridge.
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Izzy and Snowdog leaving our lunch spot.
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Almost down from our lunch spot.
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Looking back at our lunch spot.
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Impressive cornice along Freedom's SE ridge... Little Annapurna, Enchantment Peak and part of McClellan Peak in the distance.
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A closer look at that cornice... McClellan Peak in the distance.
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Catching our breath before continuing to the summit... Earl Peak in the distance on the left.
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Sometimes we chose to travel on rock.
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Looking back at the rib we used to reach Freedom's SE ridge.
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Snowdog and BarbE coming up Freedom's SE ridge... Miller Peak on the left.
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Izzy and rodman lead the way... Earl Peak in the distance.
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Not too much further to go.
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Izzy supervises while rodman nears the summit.
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Seriously close to the summit now.
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rodman on the Freedom Peak summit (6442')... with Snowdog and BarbE a few steps away.
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On the summit now... in the distance... Earl (left), Ingalls, Stuart, Sherpa and Argonaut... with Navaho in the right foreground.
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A closeup of Ingalls (far, far left), Stuart, Sherpa and Argonaut.
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A closup of Fortune Peak and the three summits of Ingalls Peak.
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Looking down at the saddle between Navaho Peak and Freedom Peak... glad we weren't underneath this cornice when it gave way.
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Group shot on the Freedom Peak summit.
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Breathtaking...
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A pano shot from the Freedom Peak summit... Earl Peak on the left to Three Brothers in the right foreground.
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A closeup of the west summit of Three Brothers.
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A closeup of Enchantment Peak, McClellan Peak and The Temple.
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A closeup of Earl Peak... with Fortune Peak in the distance on the far, far right.
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Heading down from the summit now.
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rodman got this photo of the 'puffy' club.
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Almost back to the lunch spot bump.
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Heading up to our lunch spot.
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Topping out on our lunch spot bump.
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Coming down the rib from Freedom's SE ridge.
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Last look at the Freedom Peak summit.
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Last look at Earl Peak as we descend down toward Stafford Creek.
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BarbE and Snowdog have found an easier stream crossing, as we are almost back on a real trail... a two mile trail hike and then a 2.7 mile bike ride will get us back to the car.
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