photo sharing and upload picture albums photo forums search pictures popular photos photography help login
Deems Burton | profile | all galleries >> The Salmon Trinity Alps Wilderness >> The Trinity Alps High Route 2008 tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

The Trinity Alps High Route 2008

During the July 4 week, I rehiked my Trinity Alps High Route. This was the first time I've attempted the full loop since 1993. With the many fires in northern California at this time, I experienced a few smokey days, but no crowds. During this adventure with Kelly, I finally solved the missing 1993 piece that lies along the long arc out of Boulder Creek Lakes by discovering a small notch in the arete I named Forbidden Pass. Starting at Grizzly Lake, I hiked cross country across endless snowfields, walked along hanging granite ledges, climbed across jagged aretes and through hidden passes, and camped under the stars beside pristine lakes for 7 days. I relaxed during one layover day at Smith Lake, enjoying the meadows, flowers, and my memories at Morris Lake. I saw no one else on the route, until I returned to Grizzly lake. This gallery documents the complete route via photographs of my Trinity Alps High Route, a great trial of body and spirit within the finest wilderness that I call my own.

Trinity Alps High Route.kml is the route traced on Google Earth 6. Save the file, and click on icon to open and view the route in GE. added (12/2010)
previous pagepages 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 ALL next page
Trinity Alps High Route 2008 Map
Trinity Alps High Route 2008 Map		 ULA Circuit pack
ULA Circuit pack		 Grizzly Meadows
Grizzly Meadows		 Grizzly lake water fall
Grizzly lake water fall
Grizzly lake water fall
Grizzly lake water fall		 Grizzly Lake is still snow covered
Grizzly Lake is still snow covered		 Grizzly Lake is still snow covered in BW
Grizzly Lake is still snow covered in BW		 Grizzly lake waterfall outlet
Grizzly lake waterfall outlet
Grizzly lake waterfall outlet
Grizzly lake waterfall outlet		 Grizzly lake waterfall outlet and Kelly
Grizzly lake waterfall outlet and Kelly		 Iceberg on Grizzly Lake
Iceberg on Grizzly Lake		 Trees against a smokey sky
Trees against a smokey sky
Ice on Grizzly lake
Ice on Grizzly lake		 Grizzly lake campsite
Grizzly lake campsite		 Smokey sunset at Grizzly Lake
Smokey sunset at Grizzly Lake		 Thompson Peak
Thompson Peak
Thompson Peak near Bear pass
Thompson Peak near Bear pass		 View towards Mirror Pass from Bear Pass
View towards Mirror Pass from Bear Pass		 Bear Pass
Bear Pass		 Smokey skies and Mt Shasta
Smokey skies and Mt Shasta
Smokey skies and Mt Shasta in BW
Smokey skies and Mt Shasta in BW		 Glacier route to Mirror Pass
Glacier route to Mirror Pass		 Recent large rockfall
Recent large rockfall		 Mirror Pass
Mirror Pass
Mirror Pass route from Bear Pass
Mirror Pass route from Bear Pass		 Mirror Lake Panorama-2008
Mirror Lake Panorama-2008		 Mirror Lake area rocks and snow
Mirror Lake area rocks and snow		 Mirror Lake
Mirror Lake
Mirror Lake
Mirror Lake		 Mirror Lake ledge and Kalmia Pass
Mirror Lake ledge and Kalmia Pass		 Mirror Lake area
Mirror Lake area		 Mirror Lake
Mirror Lake
Mirror Lake campsite
Mirror Lake campsite		 Mirror Lake campsite sunset
Mirror Lake campsite sunset		 Mirror Lake sunrise reflections
Mirror Lake sunrise reflections		 Mirror Lake Ledge route today
Mirror Lake Ledge route today
ULA Circuit Pack and Helix ice axe
ULA Circuit Pack and Helix ice axe		 Mirror Lake and Mirror Pass route
Mirror Lake and Mirror Pass route		 Ledge route chute, it's real bad!
Ledge route chute, it's real bad!		 View down to Sapphire lake on route up to ledge
View down to Sapphire lake on route up to ledge
Mirror Lake Ledge route to Kalmia Pass
Mirror Lake Ledge route to Kalmia Pass		 Ledge access chute
Ledge access chute		 Finally up on Ledge!
Finally up on Ledge!		 Ledge route
Ledge route
Ledge route
Ledge route		 Mirror Lake from Ledge Edge
Mirror Lake from Ledge Edge		 Mirror Lake from Ledge
Mirror Lake from Ledge		 Kalmia pass, the route into Canyon Creek
Kalmia pass, the route into Canyon Creek
Heading towards next pass, Twin Pine pass
Heading towards next pass, Twin Pine pass		 Nice break spot for Kelly and me
Nice break spot for Kelly and me		 Safer walking after Ledge,
Safer walking after Ledge, 		Easy walking slopes
Easy walking slopes
Final views of Mirror Lake cirque
Final views of Mirror Lake cirque		 Final views of Mirror Lake cirque
Final views of Mirror Lake cirque		 Twin Pine pass, route over Devils Backbone
Twin Pine pass, route over Devils Backbone		 Twin Pine pass, route over Devils Backbone
Twin Pine pass, route over Devils Backbone
View from Twin Pine pass to Devils Canyon cirque
View from Twin Pine pass to Devils Canyon cirque		 View of north side of Twin Pine Pass
View of north side of Twin Pine Pass		 Twin pines frame Sawtooth and Kelly
Twin pines frame Sawtooth and Kelly		 Twin pines frame Sawtooth Peak
Twin pines frame Sawtooth Peak
Kelly on Twin Pine Pass, Let's go!
Kelly on Twin Pine Pass, Let's go!		 View of bear hole route down off of Devils Backbone
View of bear hole route down off of Devils Backbone		 Twin Pine pass from Devil's canyon
Twin Pine pass from Devil's canyon		 Twin Pine Pass Panorama
Twin Pine Pass Panorama
Easy walking again across slopes east of Sawtooth Peak
Easy walking again across slopes east of Sawtooth Peak		 Clean water everywhere!
Clean water everywhere!		 Flipper rock, next landmark on route
Flipper rock, next landmark on route		 Flipper rock, next landmark on route
Flipper rock, next landmark on route
View back at Flipper rock
View back at Flipper rock		 Smith lake is around this ridge
Smith lake is around this ridge		 Walk along rock face, view towards Smith Lake
Walk along rock face, view towards Smith Lake		 HIking route into Smith Lake from Alpine Lake
HIking route into Smith Lake from Alpine Lake
View back to Flipper rock from Smith Lake ridgeline
View back to Flipper rock from Smith Lake ridgeline		 Smith Lake and waterfall inlet. Camp is behind the falls
Smith Lake and waterfall inlet. Camp is behind the falls		 Heavy iron some idiot packed into Smith Lake
Heavy iron some idiot packed into Smith Lake		 Kelly resting in camp at Smith
Kelly resting in camp at Smith
My tired furry friend resting in camp
My tired furry friend resting in camp		 Area behind waterfalls burned in early 1990s
Area behind waterfalls burned in early 1990s		 Burned trees near my late 1980s campsite
Burned trees near my late 1980s campsite		 Burned trees around Smith Lake campsite
Burned trees around Smith Lake campsite
Burned tree composition
Burned tree composition		 Burned tree composition
Burned tree composition		 Sunrise over Smith lake
Sunrise over Smith lake		 Sun reflects off nameless peak
Sun reflects off nameless peak
Saddle out of Smith lake to Canyon Creek
Saddle out of Smith lake to Canyon Creek		 Jeffrey shooting star
Jeffrey shooting star		 Cassiope heather, John Muir's favorite flower
Cassiope heather, John Muir's favorite flower		 Cassiope heather around a hemlock
Cassiope heather around a hemlock
Morris Lake dayhike, and Morris pass
Morris Lake dayhike, and Morris pass		 Morris Lake
Morris Lake		 Sawtooth peak
Sawtooth peak		 Sawtooth peak
Sawtooth peak
Morris Lake meadow and heather
Morris Lake meadow and heather		 Morris Lake meadow and heather
Morris Lake meadow and heather		 Heather
Heather		 Heather
Heather
Cassiope heather
Cassiope heather		 Smith Lake
Smith Lake		 Sawtooth Peak from Morris lake ridgeline
Sawtooth Peak from Morris lake ridgeline		 Boulder Creek Lakes Cirque
Boulder Creek Lakes Cirque
Forbidden Pass above Boulder Creek Lakes
Forbidden Pass above Boulder Creek Lakes		 Trinity Alps High Route from Boulder Lakes to Man on Rock Pass
Trinity Alps High Route from Boulder Lakes to Man on Rock Pass		 Morris Lake meadow
Morris Lake meadow		 Morris Lake meadow
Morris Lake meadow
Sawtooth Peak
Sawtooth Peak		 Sawtooth Peak
Sawtooth Peak		 Junco nest of blue speckled eggs
Junco nest of blue speckled eggs		 Smith Lake sunrise
Smith Lake sunrise
Sunrise on Smith lake ridgelines. Route out is along the top of ridge.
Sunrise on Smith lake ridgelines. Route out is along the top of ridge.		 View back into Morris lake on hike out to Canyon Creek
View back into Morris lake on hike out to Canyon Creek		 Smokey ridges in the Alps BW
Smokey ridges in the Alps BW		 Smokey ridges in the Alps
Smokey ridges in the Alps
Smith Lake saddle
Smith Lake saddle		 Brewer Spruce giants along the High Route
Brewer Spruce giants along the High Route		 Illegal habitation within the wilderness
Illegal habitation within the wilderness		 Illegal refuge in the wilderness
Illegal refuge in the wilderness
An illegal habitation along the High Route
An illegal habitation along the High Route		 Not just a bear bag, but an illegal stash..
Not just a bear bag, but an illegal stash..		 Boulder Creek Lakes campstie
Boulder Creek Lakes campstie		 Boulder Creek Lakes campstie
Boulder Creek Lakes campstie
Climbing up the Boulder Creek Lakes cirque
Climbing up the Boulder Creek Lakes cirque		 Hanging Forest, Mt Hilton, and no sign of pass
Hanging Forest, Mt Hilton, and no sign of pass		 Pass above Forbidden Lake
Pass above Forbidden Lake		 Pass above Forbidden Lake
Pass above Forbidden Lake
Hanging forest route
Hanging forest route		 Forbidden Lakes and cirque, Sawtooth Peak
Forbidden Lakes and cirque, Sawtooth Peak		 First view of Forbidden Pass from hanging forest
First view of Forbidden Pass from hanging forest		 Good view of Forbidden Pass from hanging forest
Good view of Forbidden Pass from hanging forest
Forbidden Pass chute is well hidden, right one
Forbidden Pass chute is well hidden, right one		 View into next cirque from Forbidden Pass
View into next cirque from Forbidden Pass		 Forbidden Pass chute and hanging forest
Forbidden Pass chute and hanging forest		 Forbidden Pass Panorama
Forbidden Pass Panorama
View of Boulder Creek Cirque route from Forbidden Pass
View of Boulder Creek Cirque route from Forbidden Pass		 Kelly and me on Forbidden Pass
Kelly and me on Forbidden Pass		 View back at Forbidden Pass
View back at Forbidden Pass		 View back/south at Forbidden Pass
View back/south at Forbidden Pass
Mt Hilton boulder field, each is big as cars
Mt Hilton boulder field, each is big as cars		 View south of route to Mt Hilton arete
View south of route to Mt Hilton arete		 Mt Hilton Arete
Mt Hilton Arete		 Mt Hilton Arete view towards Thompson Peak
Mt Hilton Arete view towards Thompson Peak
Mt Hilton arete descent aided by my ULA Helix!
Mt Hilton arete descent aided by my ULA Helix!		 5 ounces of security I'm glad I carried for a week. The ULA Helix!
5 ounces of security I'm glad I carried for a week. The ULA Helix!		 A quick rest stop after the treacherous Mt Hilton arete descent.
A quick rest stop after the treacherous Mt Hilton arete descent.		 A view back at Mt Hilton arete. I descended the slope left of the Mt Hilton peak
A view back at Mt Hilton arete. I descended the slope left of the Mt Hilton peak
My 1993 campsite on the first Alps High Route
My 1993 campsite on the first Alps High Route		 Pika's camp, used in 2003 during the Griz to Papoose Lake trip
Pika's camp, used in 2003 during the Griz to Papoose Lake trip		 Pika's camp, the best one along the Canyon Creek glacial face.
Pika's camp, the best one along the Canyon Creek glacial face.		 Pool for soaking in at Pika's camp
Pool for soaking in at Pika's camp
Next morning the clouds covered the route and ridges
Next morning the clouds covered the route and ridges		 Next morning the clouds covered the route and ridges
Next morning the clouds covered the route and ridges		 Ridges and clouds in bw
Ridges and clouds in bw		 Pika's campsite, one of my favorites
Pika's campsite, one of my favorites
Pika's campsite in BW
Pika's campsite in BW		 Glaciated granite sidewalks and aretes above Canyon Creek
Glaciated granite sidewalks and aretes above Canyon Creek		 Western White pine sculpture
Western White pine sculpture		 Western White pine sculpture in BW
Western White pine sculpture in BW
Glaciated granite sidewalks and aretes above Canyon Creek
Glaciated granite sidewalks and aretes above Canyon Creek		 Grey Rock Pass, my 2003 route to Papoose Lake
Grey Rock Pass, my 2003 route to Papoose Lake		 Grey Rock Pass, my 2003 route to Papoose Lake
Grey Rock Pass, my 2003 route to Papoose Lake		 ? Flowers near Man-on-Rock pass
? Flowers near Man-on-Rock pass
? Flowers near Man-on-Rock pass
? Flowers near Man-on-Rock pass		 Magnificient White bark pine at Man-on-Rock pass
Magnificient White bark pine at Man-on-Rock pass		 Magnificient White bark pine at Man-on-Rock pass
Magnificient White bark pine at Man-on-Rock pass		 Magnificient White bark pine at Man-on-Rock pass
Magnificient White bark pine at Man-on-Rock pass
Man on Rock Pass from Canyon Creek side
Man on Rock Pass from Canyon Creek side		 Man on Rock Pass from Canyon Creek side
Man on Rock Pass from Canyon Creek side		 Man on Rock Pass from Canyon Creek side
Man on Rock Pass from Canyon Creek side		 Rattle Snake creek cirque
Rattle Snake creek cirque
Thompson Peak's south side
Thompson Peak's south side		 Man on Rock Pass from Rattle Snake Creek side
Man on Rock Pass from Rattle Snake Creek side		 My 2003 campsite on the route to Papoose lake
My 2003 campsite on the route to Papoose lake		 Kelly on the High Route
Kelly on the High Route
Cassiope heather at base of hemlock
Cassiope heather at base of hemlock		 Cassiope heather at base of hemlock
Cassiope heather at base of hemlock		 Twisted foxtail pine
Twisted foxtail pine		 Twisted foxtail pine
Twisted foxtail pine
Twisted foxtail pine in BW
Twisted foxtail pine in BW		 Twisted foxtail pine in BW
Twisted foxtail pine in BW		 Twisted foxtail pine in BW
Twisted foxtail pine in BW		 Caesar and Thompson Peaks
Caesar and Thompson Peaks
Grizzly Lake from Climbers route
Grizzly Lake from Climbers route		 My Griz lake campsite, a new one
My Griz lake campsite, a new one		 View of climbers route
View of climbers route		 The last iceberg on Grizzly Lake
The last iceberg on Grizzly Lake
My Griz lake campsite, a new one
My Griz lake campsite, a new one		 Sunrise on Thompson and Griz Lake
Sunrise on Thompson and Griz Lake		 Sunrise on Thompson Peak
Sunrise on Thompson Peak		 Sunrise on Thompson Peak
Sunrise on Thompson Peak
Sunrise on Climber's route
Sunrise on Climber's route		 Sunrise on Climber's route
Sunrise on Climber's route		 Valley of smoke from distant forest fires
Valley of smoke from distant forest fires		 My last view of Grizzly Lake for 2008
My last view of Grizzly Lake for 2008
1940s Trinity Alps Post Card - Sapphire Lake
1940s Trinity Alps Post Card - Sapphire Lake
previous pagepages 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 ALL next page

comment | share
Ryan Waterbury 24-Jul-2019 00:05
Smokey skies and Mt. Shasta is perhaps my favorite. Very impressive scale.
Greg Hummel 06-Dec-2010 01:06
I've got to chime in, Deem's photography and outdoorsmanship is legendary and should be valued from any photography collector.
Gary Robertson 11-Jul-2009 15:23
Deems is in a class of his own ... how in the heck he traversed that long, cliffy Thompson Peak Ridge with a small dog ... totally amazes me ... but of course his route-finding skills are legendary ... as are his wilderness photos.
vernon in cecilville 07-Dec-2008 07:22
sir , you are a true ascended master , a lemurian of the first order !!! i doubt if bigfoot himself could follow that route !! ( 3 ) cheers !!!
Kevin in Yreka 08-Nov-2008 08:30
Deems,
Thanks for sharing these awesome shots! Inspiring to say the least. Isn't northern California wonderful! Take care.
Regan Dillon 22-Jul-2008 16:14
I am going to live in the Alps in the next 4 years. These are enriching photos with which I will be able to add to.
Mark Duran 22-Jul-2008 14:44
WOW! What knock-out beautiful photos. I have some land up on Coffee Creek but have been working so hard up there I haven't gotten a chance to do a hike. If you're passing through, you're welcome to camp with us and share some stories.
Teeeeeeeeeee 20-Jul-2008 05:55
Thanx for a wonderful vicarious hike with you. At 85 I wouldn't venture it for my first hike. I would want to stop at each place , hang my hammock and enjoy the magnificent view. Take me again some day. Teeeeeee
tortoise 19-Jul-2008 23:54
beautiful, beautiful
Terry Marsh 19-Jul-2008 01:01
Inspiring photography - as always!
Barry Ailetcher11-Jul-2008 01:22
just a Outstanding gallery of great photographs
Bob Reynolds09-Jul-2008 13:55
Great gallery. I backpacked the Trinity Alps many years ago and really enjoyed the diverse scenery of the area. Thanks for bringing back some fond memories. Despite the fires, it looks like you had a wonderful trip and came back with some amazing photos as well. Thanks for sharing your adventure.
Reinhold Metzger 09-Jul-2008 03:52
Some of the most fantastic landscape photography I have ever seen
Giancarlo Guzzardi07-Jul-2008 08:21
beautiful images and great experience
Monte Dodge07-Jul-2008 00:15
You are a wild man!!~! nice work!!!! vote
Type your message and click Add Comment
It is best to login or register first but you may post as a guest.
Enter an optional name and contact email address. Name
Name Email
help private comment
click on thumbnails for full image