VICTORIA PEAK (11,732'), EAGLE PEAK (11,845') November 2-3, 1985

One of the best fall peak climbs in the High Sierra led by the local chapter, we left town Saturday morning to carpool out to Bridgeport, CA. Driving up the road to Twin Lakes, we got free overnight parking by the lake, and started our backpack on the Barney Lake trail. After making camp, I went for a day hike to Barney Lake. I saw perhaps a bobcat as I hiked ahead, and obtained a nice view of Crown Point.

Snapping photos of the high ridge above camp, the light changed on the crags. We made a campfire which helped on the long, cold night, and kept me up to midnight.

Awake the next morning, we took a scree chute up to the main ridge on which stood Victoria and Eagle Peaks. Temperatures grew nice in the sun, and it was so pleasant for this time of the year. We topped out on the ridge, and hiked over to Victoria Peak for our first views. Register books lay on both peaks, and we signed in. It is a short hike over to Eagle Peak, where we had more excellent views of the Sawtooth Ridge across the way. Hiking back then to our ascent gully, we had our easy scree descent, and then back to camp, packed up, and hiked out to our cars.

With such peak climbing soon to be eliminated from chapter activities, we were so lucky to be able to enjoy and complete this set of climbs. Everyone savored the clear views, and the excellent exercise. It is so fortunate for like-minded people to have the High Sierra so accessible, and fairly easily driven to, then.

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