McNamee Peak 13,780
Traver Peak 13,852’
While we continue the waiting game with uncertain avalanche conditions, plans seem to change rapidly. I told Isaac to be at our place at 4 am to head for Pacific Peak, but with a poor forecast and probable wind loading we decided for a less ambitious goal for the day. 4 am it is and as I back out of the garage, I run over Nicole’s backpack. Isaac and I unload the pack and start to dry everything out and we are finally once again backing out of the garage at 4:45. We arrive at the trailhead for Wheeler Lake and start walking shortly after 6:30 am. We snowshoed the 3 miles to the lake and chose our line that weaved through and up snow covered slopes to the summit of Clinton Peak at 11:45.
The weather was nice to this point but once we gained the ridge, it was instantly windy. We hid from the wind and ate a snack before braving the traverse to McNamee and Traver. As soon as we started across the ridge, the wind sandblasted us with snow and we all moved as fast as we could while shielding our faces with a glove on one side. McNamee 12:25 and the race was on to Traver. Just below the summit of Traver, I found a place that was almost completely out of the wind and decided to hang there while everyone caught up. Relaxing for about 20 minutes, it was nice to just relax and check out the views without blinding snow and wind. We all summitted Traver Peak together at 1 pm. After a brief time on the summit we descended the snow covered ridge and made our way down steep slopes to Wheeler Lake. Once again we put on snowshoes and hiked the 3 miles back to the car. It was 4:25 pm when everyone made it back to the car and we were all pleased to relax. Two more centennial summits for Laura and I, but mostly just a great day out with friends.
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