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2007:08:11 16:31:55
At arrival at our base camp the card game starts. John couldn't figure out how everyone knew his cards.

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2007:08:11 19:12:54
The Santa Barbara fire made for some spetacular sunset effects. Shown also is Troop 82's hut in Lone Pine.

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2007:08:12 07:32:39
Sunday Morning. Time to get up and pack for the big trip.

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2007:08:12 10:31:07
The traditional Trailhead Photo.

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2007:08:12 11:18:33
This old shack actually shows up on the Topo map.

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2007:08:12 13:47:35
The Group stops for lunch at Cottonwood Pass.

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2007:08:12 15:13:58
John gets re-invigorated it the cool water at Chicken Springs Lake. Our first on-the-trail campsite.

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2007:08:12 15:24:58
Kevin pitches his tent at Chicken Springs Lake.

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2007:08:13 15:19:27
Yes, Kevin does walk on water!

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2007:08:13 16:11:29
Our second Campsite at Soldier Lake. The lake is shallow and fishing is not too good.

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2007:08:13 18:54:31
View of our Soldier Lake campsite from above.

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2007:08:13 19:02:27
Soldier Lake in the Morning.

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2007:08:14 10:50:48
Leaving Soldier Lake, the group takes a moment to discuss which way Steve's goat path will take us.

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2007:08:14 11:48:17
The scenery just doesn't quit. We were lucky to have some clouds to cool down our uphill trek.

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2007:08:14 12:37:10
You don't see blue like this in skies at home.

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2007:08:14 15:39:49
Our first day at Sky Blue Lake. Brian stops to skip a rock or two.

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2007:08:14 15:42:00
John is practicing for the shot-put. He needs a little work on his technique.

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2007:08:14 15:56:56
Every boy in the group took a leap of faith. This one was for the camera.

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2007:08:14 18:22:21
Even though it looks like a volcano, it is just the sunset over a peak with the smoke from the Santa Barbara fire adding effect.

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2007:08:14 18:38:22
According to the ranger, we were very fortunate to sight some Sierra Nevada Long-Horn Sheep on the hills surrounding our campsite. An endangered species.

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2007:08:15 09:00:55
Early morning at Sky Blue Lake. Steve is filling out his Captain's Log.

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2007:08:15 09:21:37
Often the great scenery goes unnoticed.

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2007:08:15 09:39:34
John catches our first substantial fish. A Golden Trout. The boys cleaned it, cooked it, and and ate it.

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2007:08:15 12:13:37
The Camaraderie of the Cliff jumpers.

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2007:08:16 10:18:58
Bobby and Kevin as we leave Sky Blue Lake.

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2007:08:16 12:20:47
The boys relax and wait for the group at the top of Crabtree Pass.

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2007:08:16 13:13:15
View toward Crabtree Lakes from Crabtree Pass.

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2007:08:16 15:28:18
Picking their way down in front of a majestic backdrop.

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2007:08:16 18:52:46
Our Campsite at Crabtree Lakes.

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2007:08:16 18:52:56
A quick rest before Dinner.

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2007:08:17 08:19:27
The earlybird in pajamas catches the fish. -- (Actually, anybody throwing a hook in this lake catches a fish.)

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2007:08:17 09:28:21
Patric packing up camp at Crabtree Lakes

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2007:08:17 10:11:21
Bobby's an old pro at handling nosebleeds.

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2007:08:17 11:58:09
I wandered away from the troop (OK, I got lost) and came across this 6-point Buck. (The boys make too much noise to do this any other way).

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2007:08:17 12:02:27
The boys wait patiently while the adults wrap up business with the Ranger at Crabtree Ranger Station.

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A lunch stop provides a photo opportunity of the troop with Mt Whitney in the background.

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2007:08:17 17:51:30
Camping near Hitchcock lakes just above Guitar Lake, positioning ourselves for the big assult the next day.

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2007:08:18 08:49:20
Starting the ascent to Mt Whitney early in the morning. I got a 20 minute head start and the boys passed me after 40 minutes.

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2007:08:18 09:50:42
Dropping our backpacks here, we continue to the top of Whitney with daypacks.

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2007:08:18 12:44:17
A view from the top of Mt Whitney

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2007:08:18 13:02:28
Mt Whitney Summit: The Group of 9 boys that went on the trip.

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2007:08:18 13:03:39
Whitney Summit: The group of six adults that went on the trip.

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2007:08:18 13:06:08
Simon and Bobby stop at the warming hut on Mt Whitney

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2007:08:18 13:12:09
All of us plus the Ranger at the Summit Hut.

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2007:08:18 17:10:38
Our last wilderness campsite. Cold and windy, everyone went to bed immediately after dinner.

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2007:08:18 18:39:12
Preparing for a Cold Night.

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2007:08:19 08:06:26
I'd say the temperature got down to around Freezing.

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2007:08:19 10:08:16
The T1201 boys were first on the scene of an elderly hiker that fell from the trail 15 feet down a rocky hill. Fortunately, after treatment, Dr Winston (in green) pronounced his injuries were minor.

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2007:08:19 14:15:02
The boys were glad to be back in civilization but had to wait while the cars were shuttled from the trailhead to Whitney Portal.