Peggy Lake Backpacking Trip
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Peggy Lake Backpacking Trip - Looking north up the valley towards Red Dirt Pass, where there was quite a storm brewing. Looking north up the valley towards Red Dirt Pass, where there was quite a storm brewing.
Peggy Lake Backpacking Trip - Across the same valley to the west. Across the same valley to the west.
Peggy Lake Backpacking Trip - Looking back down the same valley towards Gold Creek Lake, there are some very pretty meadows down there. This is taken from about half way up Ute Pass. Looking back down the same valley towards Gold Creek Lake, there are some very pretty meadows down there. This is taken from about half way up Ute Pass.
Peggy Lake Backpacking Trip - Up the valley again, Red Dirt Pass is just around to the right out of view. Up the valley again, Red Dirt Pass is just around to the right out of view.
Peggy Lake Backpacking Trip - The side of Flattop Mountain, looking the same direction as the previous picture. The side of Flattop Mountain, looking the same direction as the previous picture.
Peggy Lake Backpacking Trip - Same idea, the whole valley to the north.
Same idea, the whole valley to the north.
Peggy Lake Backpacking Trip - Same valley once again from higher up. Same valley once again from higher up.
Peggy Lake Backpacking Trip - Over the top of Ute Pass, the Bear Creek valley is down to the right, Ute Creek is in the valley just over the ridge. Over the top of Ute Pass, the Bear Creek valley is down to the right, Ute Creek is in the valley just over the ridge.
Peggy Lake Backpacking Trip - The Bear Creek Valley, with the Bear Lakes at right, from near the top of Ute Pass.
The Bear Creek Valley, with the Bear Lakes at right, from near the top of Ute Pass.
Peggy Lake Backpacking Trip - Looking back towards Ute Pass from part way up Flattop Mountain. Looking back towards Ute Pass from part way up Flattop Mountain.
Peggy Lake Backpacking Trip - The final pitch to the top of Flattop Mountain, about 600 feet above us. The final pitch to the top of Flattop Mountain, about 600 feet above us.
Peggy Lake Backpacking Trip - The Ute Creek valley with a rainbow below us, and North Park in the distance. The Ute Creek valley with a rainbow below us, and North Park in the distance.
Peggy Lake Backpacking Trip - From part way up Flattop Mountain, with the Ute Creek drainage on the left, and the Bear Creek valley straight ahead. From part way up Flattop Mountain, with the Ute Creek drainage on the left, and the Bear Creek valley straight ahead.
Peggy Lake Backpacking Trip - Looking east from the top of Flattop Mountain, with Twin Lakes visible far below. Looking east from the top of Flattop Mountain, with Twin Lakes visible far below.
Peggy Lake Backpacking Trip - North-east across Flattop Mountain to Mt. Zirkel in the distance. North-east across Flattop Mountain to Mt. Zirkel in the distance.
Peggy Lake Backpacking Trip - From the northern end of Flattop Mountain down towards Peggy Lake our destination for the night. From the northern end of Flattop Mountain down towards Peggy Lake our destination for the night.
Peggy Lake Backpacking Trip - A similar picture of Peggy Lake - you can see the wind whipping up the surface. It was very windy and cold there. A similar picture of Peggy Lake - you can see the wind whipping up the surface. It was very windy and cold there.
Peggy Lake Backpacking Trip - From the most northern end of Flattop Mountain you can see Red Dirt Pass, and Mt. Zirkel. From the most northern end of Flattop Mountain you can see Red Dirt Pass, and Mt. Zirkel.
Peggy Lake Backpacking Trip - The valley to the north of Mt. Zirkel, which is at the left. The valley to the north of Mt. Zirkel, which is at the left.
Peggy Lake Backpacking Trip - Peggy Lake the next morning, where it was still windy. Peggy Lake the next morning, where it was still windy.
Peggy Lake Backpacking Trip - The little connector between the larger and smaller parts of Peggy Lake. The little connector between the larger and smaller parts of Peggy Lake.
Peggy Lake Backpacking Trip - The smaller part of Peggy Lake which just sort of drops off at the edge. The smaller part of Peggy Lake which just sort of drops off at the edge.
Peggy Lake Backpacking Trip - Climbing back up to Flattop Mountain you can see a shallow ring all the way around the edge. Climbing back up to Flattop Mountain you can see a shallow ring all the way around the edge.
Peggy Lake Backpacking Trip - One last look at Peggy Lake from near the top. We went over the top of Flattop Mountain to get there because there are basically cliffs on all other sides. One last look at Peggy Lake from near the top. We went over the top of Flattop Mountain to get there because there are basically cliffs on all other sides.
Peggy Lake Backpacking Trip - The top of Flattop Mountain looking north with Zirkel in the background. It's flat like this on top for about a mile.
The top of Flattop Mountain looking north with Zirkel in the background. It's flat like this on top for about a mile.
Peggy Lake Backpacking Trip - Upper Bear Lake, our second destination.
Upper Bear Lake, our second destination.
Peggy Lake Backpacking Trip - The tiny Bear Lake (Bear Pond?), and our campsite. Lower Bear Lake is just through the tree's to the right, and Upper Bear Lake, is just behind our campsite. The tiny Bear Lake (Bear Pond?), and our campsite. Lower Bear Lake is just through the tree's to the right, and Upper Bear Lake, is just behind our campsite.
Peggy Lake Backpacking Trip - Another shot of our campsite. It was so windy that night we were worried about some of the trees falling on us. Another shot of our campsite. It was so windy that night we were worried about some of the trees falling on us.
Peggy Lake Backpacking Trip - Lower Bear Lake just above Bear Pond. Lower Bear Lake just above Bear Pond.
Peggy Lake Backpacking Trip - Lower Bear Lake - it looks like it changes in depth sometimes, but I can't imagine when.
Lower Bear Lake - it looks like it changes in depth sometimes, but I can't imagine when.
Peggy Lake Backpacking Trip - One last look at our campsite, with Bear Pond behind it. One last look at our campsite, with Bear Pond behind it.
Peggy Lake Backpacking Trip - Another look at Flattop Mountain from back down in the valley above Gold Creek Lake Another look at Flattop Mountain from back down in the valley above Gold Creek Lake
Peggy Lake Backpacking Trip - A beaver dam in that same valley. Apparently there used to be a permanent hunting camp set up among that nearest group of trees before it was a wilderness area (in the 50's and 60's) A beaver dam in that same valley. Apparently there used to be a permanent hunting camp set up among that nearest group of trees before it was a wilderness area (in the 50's and 60's)
Peggy Lake Backpacking Trip - The same beaver dam with Ute Pass behind it. The same beaver dam with Ute Pass behind it.
Peggy Lake Backpacking Trip - One last look at Flattop Mountain over Gold Creek Lake. One last look at Flattop Mountain over Gold Creek Lake.