10/21/2006
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After lunch several in our group decided to see how far up Brown’s Peak they could get. You can see four guys about a third of the way up the picture. Mom got a late start but is making good time catching up with them.
10/21/2006
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Another shot of the licorice tree as we pass by heading down Brown’s Trail from the saddle toward the Amethyst Trail.
10/21/2006
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We are now on the Amethyst Trail. The terrain changes a lot. The Amethyst Trail is much steeper than Brown’s Trail and in many areas it consists of broken rock. A check of the GPS showed that our climb up Brown’s Trail was at an average grade of 6 degrees, but we hiked down the Amethyst Trail at an average grade of 11.5 degrees. The Amethyst Trail is only about one mile long, but I am glad we hiked down it rather than up.
10/21/2006
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Hiking down the Amethyst Trail away from Brown’s Peak.
10/21/2006
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I hid off trail behind some bushes to catch a couple stragglers. See, I was not always last.
10/21/2006
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Suzana and Alejandra hiking down the Amethyst Trail with Roosevelt Lake in the background. Hey, wait a minute... I am now last again.
10/21/2006
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A back-lit view looking up the Amethyst Trail.
10/21/2006
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Many areas along the Amethyst Trail showed signs of fire damage with many downed trees.
10/21/2006
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Sridhar hops over something along the trail. I am not sure what it is, since I just passed through there and I don’t recall anything on the trail.
10/21/2006
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Sudarshan demonstrates a dance routine along the Amethyst Trail.
10/21/2006
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We are now on the Four Peaks Trail. This trail completes the loop and will bring us back to the trailhead. This trail is also the flattest of the three trails making the loop. I am once again the rear guard.
10/21/2006
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Still on the Four Peaks Trail. We still see significant tree damage along this trail like we saw along the Amethyst Trail.