10/21/2006
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While getting stuff out of the car and gathering together, Suzana shows us how she plans on getting to the top of Brown’s Peak – she is going to fly.
10/21/2006
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The troupe. Notice that I didn’t say the troops. Front row from left to right are Alejandra, Suzana, Sridhar, and Mom. Behind are Sudarshan, Gopi, and Devarajan.
10/21/2006
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Somewhere along Brown’s Trail.
10/21/2006
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There were several grassy areas along the trail.
10/21/2006
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Fall colors from a downed tree along Brown’s Trail.
10/21/2006
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A view of Roosevelt Lake from Brown’s Trail. The clear sky provides several views of the lake.
10/21/2006
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Fall colors were starting to show in several areas.
10/21/2006
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A natural root bowl, filled with some red plant. I don’t know what it is, but it caught my eye. It was also in the middle of the trail.
10/21/2006
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The gang lines up for a group shot. They are safe, but I was almost standing on an ant hill to get this picture.
10/21/2006
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Still on Brown’s Trail. Brown’s Trail is about 2 miles long and we are probably about half way at this point.
10/21/2006
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More fall colors along the trail.
10/21/2006
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In many areas the white oaks provided a canopy of yellows and some oranges over the narrow trail.
10/21/2006
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Along Brown’s Trail the gang waited for me to catch up. Probably 80% of the time I was the last in the line. My excuse is that I was stopping to take pictures along the way.
10/21/2006
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Another view of Roosevelt Lake from Brown’ Trail.
10/21/2006
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Green leaves waiting to change color.
10/21/2006
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Once again the gang stops to wait for me to catch up.
10/21/2006
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Group shot in front of Roosevelt Lake. We are still on Brown’s Trail but almost to the intersection with Amethyst Trail.
10/21/2006
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Looks like this tree is getting ready for Halloween.
10/21/2006
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Brown’s Peak. This is a little past the intersection with Amethyst Trail. From the intersection it is a short (couple minute) walk to Brown’s Saddle.
10/21/2006
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Ever wonder where licorice comes from? Well I think it comes from the licorice tree. Actually this tree shows the signs of having been in a fire.
10/21/2006
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We are now at Brown’s Saddle. This is looking south to Brown’s peak.
10/21/2006
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Looking west from Brown’s Saddle.
10/21/2006
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We stopped for lunch on the saddle. There was a fire smoking. We didn’t start it – someone left it burning. Major shame on them! We put it out before we left.
10/21/2006
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Roosevelt Lake as seen from Brown’s Saddle.
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.
10/21/2006
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Just a shot along the Four Peaks Trail.
10/21/2006
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Loop completed. We are back at the trailhead. It has become much more crowded since we started. This is a popular area. Covering the three trails, Brown's, Amethyst, and Four Peaks, along with a side step to Brown's saddle is about 4.3 miles.
