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<photos name="Park" title="Park County Highpoint Photographs">

   <page_header name="Park County Highpoint Photographs"/>

   <trip>

     <preamble>
       <P>Photos from a Granite Peak climb on September 6-8, 1998 as provided by John Mitchler.
          The summit team consisted of John Mitchler, Kurt Mitchler, Mark Sikorski, and Bob Greenawalt.</P>
    </preamble>

     <trip_photo_list name=""> 

       <photo caption="Approaching Mystic Lake and dam. There's quite a descent down to the lakeshore. 
                       Follow the lake a bit and have lunch where the trail cuts south to ascend Froze 
                       To Death Plateau (FTD). Fill bottles with lakewater there." 
                  url="Park_1.jpg"/>

       <photo caption="The trail is wide and not too steep as it switchbacks above the lake. 
                       The trail flattens out considerably as it approaches
                       the point where it goes up and over FTD. Mystic Lake is far below at this point 
                      (approximately 9,600 feet)." 
                  url="Park_2.jpg"/>

       <photo caption="On FTD, water pockets were found in early September, 
                       especially at the grassy lower elevations on the east end of FTD.
                       John and Kurt pump and 76 year old Bob Greenawalt surveys the scene." 
                  url="Park_3.jpg"/>

       <photo caption="Typical grassy cross-country hike on the (north)eastern end of FTD. 
                       Easy going but no trail. Flagging is not as good as compass readings. 
                       If there is fog or dark, you need the bearings!" 
                  url="Park_4.jpg"/>

       <photo caption="Campsites on FTD are exposed to weather. We camped a mile after gaining FTD 
                      (rather than hoofing all the way to Tempest). Our campsite looked north across 
                       Mystic Lake's valley to the rugged peaks beyond. 
                       Behind the camera is FTD rising to the south." 
                  url="Park_5.jpg"/>

       <photo caption="Day 2. The 6 AM start was not early enough. The cross-country hike gets rockier 
                       and drier as you head (south)west on FTD, without much trail. Take bearings!" 
                  url="Park_6.jpg"/>

       <photo caption="Some stretches of FTD are very rocky, especially as the landscape rises. 
                       Avoid this tedious canvass by skirting the rises and hills. 
                       This restbreak was about 9 am with Tempest in background." 
                  url="Park_7.jpg"/>

       <photo caption="Windbreak tentsites are found where the trail descends off FTD to the G-T saddle. 
                       Your route will not take you to Tempest. You'll descend well north of Tempest." 
                  url="Park_8.jpg"/>

       <photo caption="Kurt and John Mitchler stand on the edge of FTD with Granite behind (west) 
                       and Tempest to the left (south). Note the platform." 
                  url="Park_9.jpg"/>

       <photo caption="The ridge above the G-T saddle is rocky and time-consuming. 
                       There is water trickling here under the rock and we filled our water bottles." 
                  url="Park_10.jpg"/>

       <photo caption="Descend off FTD down to the G-T saddle utilizing an obvious but rocky 
                       &quot;use&quot; trail. The trail descends the connecting ridge down to the saddle 
                      (small bivouc area) and from there begins the ascent of Granite. 
                       Looking back (east) you see Tempest and FTD." 
                  url="Park_11.jpg"/>

       <photo caption="A prominent platform provides an opportunity to 1) drop pack and study Granite, 
                       2) contemplate turning around, 3) have a stiff drink of whiskey. 
                       Seriously, this is a good place to stop and wait if you don't want to go farther. 
                       It's a good vantage point and relatively protected. The &quot;X&quot; drawn 
                      (just beyond the snowbridge) is a challenging and potentially frightening 
                       mini-traverse. The V is the notch from which you get your first glimpse 
                       of the upper peak." 
                  url="Park_12.jpg"/>

       <photo caption="John Mitchler stands on the opposite side of the snowbridge (west) 
                       with FTD in background. No ax. No crampons. No rope. Climbers have fallen off 
                       this feature so be careful, especially if icy. 
                       A rope will be more efficient for large groups." 
                  url="Park_13.jpg"/>

       <photo caption="Bob Greenawalt crosses snowbridge. The use-trail is on the left (south) side 
                       of the snowbridge." 
                  url="Park_14.jpg"/>

       <photo caption="One of several chutes/chimneys after the snowbridge (this is an easier one)." 
                  url="Park_15.jpg"/>

       <photo caption="The upper peak is hidden from view until you reach the V notch - 
                       a place to contemplate your route and loved ones." 
                  url="Park_16.jpg"/>

       <photo caption="One of the four or five &quot;tough spots&quot; on Granite is this horizontal ledge 
                      (some may call it a crack). On the descent, we belayed past this, off to the right. 
                       We belayed five times (fatigue and weather demand protection)." 
                  url="Park_17.jpg"/>

       <photo caption="A closeup photo of the struggle on the smooth granite of the ledge. 
                       Each of used a different technique to get across this. 
                       Crawling was done but is not recommended." 
                  url="Park_18.jpg"/>

       <photo caption="The horizontal ledge has exposure which this vertical photo captures." 
                  url="Park_19.jpg"/>

       <photo caption="The roomy summit allows a variety of photos, 
                       including that of approaching storms. Note the Pepsi can in Mark's hand 
                       which he traditionally drinks on HP's. 
                       The Granite benchmark, photographed by Mark, 
                       graces the cover of HP Club magazine #50." 
                  url="Park_20.jpg"/>

       <photo caption="Once back at the trailhead, medical repairs may be necessary." 
                  url="Park_21.jpg"/>

    </trip_photo_list>

  </trip>
    
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</photos>

