<p class="ql-block">Tryon Peak in the background </p> <p class="ql-block">3 Days Labor Day long weekend trip </p><p class="ql-block">Day 1 - Thinking of Hiram peak (9797ft) which encountered one bear near the peak 10+ years ago. Changed to Folger peak (9639ft) with the expectation from Highland Lakes Campground to Tryon Meadows via Folger peak as gave up to drive to dirt Highland Lakes at about 2 miles to Highland Lakes. </p><p class="ql-block">Overall 8.3 miles 1880ft in 4 hours 45 minutes </p><p class="ql-block"></p><p class="ql-block">Day 2 - Thinking to attempt 12.7 miles 4100ft Highland peak which failed to attempt 10+ years ago due to thunderstorms. Changed to expect much easier Tryon Peak (9977ft) as hiked about 5 times. </p><p class="ql-block">Ended 8.5 miles 1880ft in 7 hours 35 minutes by bypassing ridge between Ebbetts Pass and Tryon Peak which was equivalent to 8/6/23 9 miles 1995 ft in 7 hours 18 minutes via the ridge.</p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block">Day 3 - planned 3 Options </p><p class="ql-block">1. Estimated 8.5 miles 700 ft Wheeler Lake from Sandy Meadows Trailhead or about 6 miles from Woodchuck Basin Trailhead </p><p class="ql-block">2. Heiser Lake Stanislaus Meadows about 6 miles loop</p><p class="ql-block">3. Bear Valley area</p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block">Picked option#1 after chatting with camping neighbor, he is hunter, camped there for almost every year for 56 years since he was 10 years old. He shared deer meat to us. Tasted like beef steak.</p><p class="ql-block">Hiked 6.1 miles 777ft in 3 hours 42 minutes as giving up due to failed to follow Sandy Meadows Trail after about 2 miles.</p><p class="ql-block"></p><p class="ql-block">Mosquito Lakes stop before Wheeler Lake attempt and Lake Alpine Slick Rock after hiking for about 1 hour each. Sighted osprey and missed Lake Alpine bald eagle as not expected to see.</p><p class="ql-block">Milpitas Bald eagle stop on the way home, no luck, but, sighted osprey flying over.</p> <p class="ql-block">On Tryon Peak </p> <p class="ql-block">Noble Lake wildflowers </p> <p class="ql-block">Ebbetts Peak with 3 hikers </p> <p class="ql-block">Tryon Peak and Noble Lake </p> <p class="ql-block">Tryon Peak South, likely the area our camping neighbor told me with Devil’s Postpile National Monument kind of rock formation </p> <p class="ql-block">Tryon Peak registration </p> <p class="ql-block">Bypassing the ridge by hiking down, not much better than hiking on the ridge </p>