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OK, so maybe not any sort of major storm action as opposed to disconcerting rumbles and threatening clouds. Jim (sierragator), Tom (hightinerary), and myself set out from Horseshoe Meadows Saturday morning for an attempt at the Miter, choosing the longer and lower approach due to recent weather patterns and rabid chickens. What we ended up with was Army Pass Point and a tour of a spectacular basin while the light danced between building clouds and across the high lakes. I don't have much time or focus to do a lot of writing nowadays, so the photojournal will have to suffice. My brain is a little more tuned towards keeping my body injury-free for the next few weeks, putting on the miles and elevation gain and the final tune-ups. While we were denied any major peaks due to the shifting weather, this was a tremendous day to be high! Classic first view of Langley from the New Army Pass trail:  The last little bit of trivial snow at NAP:  For my mother:  Army Pass:  Traversing the shoulder of Langley:  View coming into the Upper Soldier Lakes:  First view of the Miter Basin:  Western flanks of the Cockscomb Ridge:  Miter Basin approach to Trail Crest. Head up and right towards the snow, Discovery Pinnacle crowns it:  Jim has his eyes on the prize:  The Miter: [img] http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4079/4807388608_63dd4f9c0c_z.jpg[/img] Traversing around the west face: [img] http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4139/4807394282_af6e63d204_z.jpg[/img] Sky Blue Lake and gathering clouds: [img] http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4075/4807396166_09ae717bc8_z.jpg[/img] Coming around the North Face, ewww...: [img] http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4138/4807399230_1e470ff6bc_z.jpg[/img] Tom below me as we scraped our way up the scree and loose rock: [img] http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4074/4807401208_f0897feeb7_z.jpg[/img] While we sat, snacked, and debated our next moves, the thunder rolled. So back down we went!: [img] http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4077/4806780619_890a680377_z.jpg[/img] Incoming! [img] http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4073/4807405346_b7d6c3d80e_z.jpg[/img] But I never forget to stop and smell the flowers! [img] http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4136/4806783565_d2b6001e30_z.jpg[/img] Starting the trudge up to Arc Pass: [img] http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4079/4806787789_14355747b3_z.jpg[/img] Mallory and The Miter from Arc Pass: [img] http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4096/4807418366_f705a42120_z.jpg[/img] Perfect Polemonium Perch: [img] http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4073/4807426526_361f581fe9_z.jpg[/img] The Crest reflected in Consultation Lake: [img] http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4082/4806807585_97ee662e0e_z.jpg[/img] Dark skies over Marsh and McAdie: [img] http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4134/4807431194_e32658075c_z.jpg[/img] Thor Peak: [img] http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4122/4806811353_43d4705bd8_z.jpg[/img] We finished the day with Burgers and Beer, and Gary (bulldog34) gave us a ride back to our cars at HM. We had meant to loop back, but the clouds forced out hands and we dashed over Arc Pass (as fast as one may dash on tedious boulders and sand) to get lower, faster. Many, many thanks to Tom and Jim for a fantastic day toodling around the high country. Great to run into Ryan as he descended Irvine ("Laura??"): hope your trip with Pop was a blast! Rest of the pics are here. From the luckiest girl in the world: Climb Hard, Be Safe. -L 
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Boy, you have outdone yourself, Laura! Incredible Pics!
I especially liked the Consultation Lake reflections.
Many thanks--I have this one on my Places I Must Go Someday list.
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Beautiful hike you three! you Miter doer' another day!
loved the pix Laura and like steelfrog, the consultation lake was my fav. astounding reflection!
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Great trip and pictures Laura. Thx for sharing again.
Been some great places people are going this past week or so. Russell, Wallace, Miter. It's endless out there.
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Thanks, guys. For a day that didn't include any peaks, it was so wonderful to be out there. Jim and I are already talking fishing trips...
I am making contingency plans for this weekend's adventure, and yes, James, the possibilities are truly endless. Break out the topos, Secor, and ice tea (usually wine but I'm cutting back for a few weeks...)!!
-L
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Sweet shots Laura - just beautiful! You, Jim and Tom must have had a blast. Now that I've seen your route, I'm doubly impressed at how fresh you appeared when you popped out at the Portal. You're gonna kill the Sierra Challenge!
You left out the TOF's flat tire at 10 pm coming down from HM, but I suppose that was a minor obstacle compared to most of the day . . .
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Yeah, Gary, and the $650 to get a new set since the gash was almost an inch long... ouch... 
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OMG, Laura, these pictures are so beautiful! They have such depth, they almost look 3-D!!
"What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal." Albert Pike
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Yeah, Gary, and the $650 to get a new set since the gash was almost an inch long... ouch... Damn! I knew I shouldn't have tossed that empty Moose Drool bottle out the window on the way down . . .
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no summit? that's below average.
When in doubt, go up.
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Yeah, but my a$$ is better than yours. 
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Yeah, Gary, and the $650 to get a new set since the gash was almost an inch long... ouch... that's why i purchase the replacement insurance/warranty. it's worth it. just bought me a new set too this month. i feel yer pain.
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Norma, the new kicks for the TOF will have just that. I think it's actually built into the cost this time. I've been thinking about this route for the past few days, and I might need to get back in there soon. I'm thinking some sort of joint fishing/peak bagging extravaganza... SOOOO much to DOOOOO...  
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Nice tour! 
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It was a fun adventure. Through the fog of beer I recall that you had recruited two partners for a climb of Candlelight via Lone Pine Lake on Sunday, but I suppose you were dealing with automotive issues instead. Yesterday I climbed Candlelight (via the Meysan Trail) and continued to the summit of Mt. Irvine via the long NE ridge. I did NOT encounter any hostile fowl...
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Laura...Those pictures are beautiful! I am very fond of Miter Basin..I have done two pack trips to the area. My last time in there we base camped and dayhiked up to Arc Pass..glad you got to experience that..Seeing that shape of the Arc hiking up from that direction is something..you then know how it got it's name!And the view looking out as you know is another amazing sight..it just about knocked me over the cliff Thanks for sharing!
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Thanks, all. I really enjoyed seeing the Crest from yet another angle. There's something to be said for exploring outside of The Zone. Yet we always come home to it, too.
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Wow, just who I need to talk to. Would like to know about the descent of Arc Pass to Consultation Lake. A few years ago I did the Miter Basin-Crabtree Pass-Discovery Pinnacle-Whitney hike. Loved it. At some point I would like to do the same hike except via Arc Pass. What is the best route down? I know it will be longer and more difficult than Crabtree Pass. Is the route down obvious from the top? Is it to the right or left? Will packs have to be lowered? How does the exposure compare to Crabtree Pass? I might be solo on this trip. Got any of those Bob R type photos with the route drawn in? Good luck with your training, I know you're gonna kill it. ----- Thanks John
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Hey, John. I actually wouldn't recommend Arc Pass at this time of year unless you really needed to be there, ie: climb McAdie or Irvine or jump from Miter Basin to Meysan Basin (thereby avoiding the need for a WZ permit). The walk down is really quite tedious with the loose rock and not-quite-sand, occasional boulder hopping. I did find a ducked use trail that followed one of the snow tongues back from the end of Consultation Lake, but it faded under the snow and it was back to the boulder and sand slog.
I've not been over Crabtree Pass, so I don't have any insight for comparison.
From the top of Arc Pass, we picked our way down and right across the sand and scree, then headed back left where it was a little sandier and not so blocky. Seemed like a pick your poison type of area. I'd like to get back up there to climb McAdie, but I think I may wait until next spring when there's snow, possibly even enough to ski.
Hope this helps! Have fun!
-L
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