It has been several months, but here are some pictures from our Super Activity for this year. We went as a Scout Troop, but just the Priest’s Quorum of the Paul 1st Ward. We went to the White Clouds here in Idaho. We left around 6:00 AM and drove to the 4th of July trail head.
Looking back with 4th of July Lake behind us.
Our first day we hiked over Ants Basin and in to the Born Lakes.
Saddle near Blackman Peak looking toward the White Clouds down the Warm Creek watershed.
Looking toward the Born Lakes. Devil’s Staircase is the rock slide down from the deepest notch in the horizon.
We camped at the last lake that still had somewhere to camp around it on the far northwest bank of the lake, just near where the water enters the lake. From our camp at the Born Lake, some call it the third lake, some call it the fourth lake, looking back the way we came earlier in the day.
Looking back across our Born Lake. Martin Barclay stands in the picture.
From our Camp at this Born Lake, the ridge to the south east of us is quite imposing. You can see the jagged rocks standing as sentinels.
The ridge to the east of our Born Lake.
We could also look up at the climb that awaited us the next morning. The aptly named, Devil’s Staircase.
You can see the “tooth” in the saddle at the top of Devil’s Staircase.
We set up camp and enjoyed our evening.
Kerry Sandford stands behind his tent, Ryan Lindsay stands behind the fire, Dallin Fisher sits preparing dinner, Austin Silver warms, and Paul Ross sets up his tent.
The next morning arrived and we all arose for the feat before us. We ate breakfast and mulled around. Nobody overly anxious to start the climb.
Sitting after morning breakfast, Austin Silva, Greg Ellinger, Michael Fisher, Paul Ross.
The time to depart finally arrived. We tanked up on water and left.
Austin Silva, Paul Ross, Greg Ellinger, Martin Barclay.
This is from the lake at the base of Devil’s Staircase. Obviously at a 45 angle to get the entire climb into the photo.
Devil’s Staircase
Another shot of us starting to ascend.
The team moving upward, Greg Ellinger, Paul Ross, Ryan Lindsay, and Dallin Fisher with more farther up the climb.
A view from the top of Devil’s Staircase looking back over the Born Lakes.
Looking back over Born Lakes and the Warm Springs Creek Basin.
Top of Devil’s Staircase looking east over the Slickenside Basin.
Looking up at Devil’s Staircase from Shallow Lake.
We took a much needed breather and rest at Shallow Lake after coming off Devil’s Staircase.
Paul Ross, Kerry Sanford, Martin Barclay, Josh Barclay, Ryan Lindsay at Shallow Lake.
Austin Silva and Greg Ellinger soothing their feet in Shallow Lake.
We passed Shallow Lake and Scree Lake before we descended the steep decline along Slickenside Creek. Here is a shot just past Scree Lake with Castle Peak starting to emerge. Can you see why the ridge from Merriam Peak to the left to Castle Peak is called Serrated Ridge?
Merriam Peak, Serrated Ridge, and Castle Peak.
Looking across Quiet Lake at Serrated Ridge and Castle Peak.
Serrated Ridge with a number of rocks that look like men standing guard.
Our campsite on the west side of provided a much needed collapsing station.
Quiet Lake Camp
Oh, and swim.
Austin Silva diving into Quiet Lake.
I did not add more of the swimming pictures in case somebody might get upset. But the water was deep enough to dive in and swim around, cold enough to keep it short.
Another view of the Serrated Ridge from our camp.
We crashed pretty hard that night. The dreams were not necessarily pleasant knowing we had to do it again the next day.
The next morning we arose, ate breakfast, and started preparing for our final ascent. We were exhausted by this point so nobody thought much of taking pictures. This is part of our climb out of camp toward the Four Lakes Basin.
Climbing toward Four Lakes Basin.
We eventually found Cornice Lake, Emerald Lake, Rock Lake, and Glacier Lake. Here is a picture of Castle Peak with Rock Lake in the foreground.
Rock Lake and Castle Peak.
It was a long haul climbing Patterson Peak.
Greg Ellinger (in black), Kerry Sanford, Martin Barclay, Austin Silva, and Ryan Lindsay.
Four Lakes Basin and Castle Peak from the saddle nearing the top of Patterson Peak.
I hope the above picture gives some idea of the climb we just came up. Plus the drop-off is enough that you cannot see any of Quiet Lake beyond the basin. It was a hard climb. Cornice Lake is the furthest with Emerald Lake just closer from it. Rock Lake is to the right of Emerald Lake, and Glacier Lake is closest. Then it was time to descend the other side. It looked so unsafe we were consulting the map just to find out how to get down. It was steep enough we could not see the whole trail down.
Paul Ross and Kerry Sanford trying how to get off this ridge to Fourth of July Lake below.
Closest is Greg Ellinger, then Ryan Lindsay, and Austin Silva with Patterson Peak in the background.
The steep descent, Austin Silva, Ryan Lindsay, Greg Ellinger.
As you can see from this picture, we came down the rock slides of Patterson Peak (on the right). Half our group took the one right in the middle, the rest trying coming down the left slides (which turned out to be less safe and more steep).
Between Patterson Peak and 4th of July Lake.
Here is what remained of our party at the end of the third day. We were all so anxious to get out nobody took any more pictures. Plus, all our cameras had died or were out of film.
Patterson Peak with (l-r) Paul Ross, Austin Silva, Dallin Fisher, Michael Fisher, Greg Ellinger, Ryan Lindsay, Kerry Sanford, Martin Barclay, and Josh Barclay. Art Silva took the picture.
