Tom Grundy's Ruby Peak Page

Over the July 4th weekend we did a few adventures. On Friday the 2nd we paddled out to the columns of Crowley Lake. This involved pumping up and putting in where TA2 was for the adventure race - except the water level was down and so the last bit was total muck, I was sinking up to my knees before finding a solid layer. So Iris walked to where there were some rocks and I paddled both boards out and then went to meet her, except it was very thick water plants so that wasn't so much fun either. Eventually we got out into the lake and underway. There were grebes in the lake - both eared and western (or maybe Clark's) and they had some interesting calls. We paddled around the headland and into the wind towards the columns. It took a while to get there, but we made it. We stopped there for some pictures and to look around as well as to have a little picnic. The columns are interesting - volcanic ash beds had hot water and gasses circulating through it which made the columns more resistant to erosion - then when Crowley Lake was formed that eroded out the weaker material around them. After poking around a bit we headed back - that went a lot faster even though I was towing Iris some of the way as she stretched. The tailwind or at least lack of a headwind made a big difference. To land we took the big fin off of one board and then stuck the fin end up on top of the other board and I held the fin end up and dragged both boards up the shallow creek until we got to more solid ground. Iris practiced driving manual transmission for a bit on the return (I would say standard - but I don't think they are very standard any more).

taking a break from paddling

a picnic by the columns

back in the columns

Iris and sunrays after the paddle

On July 4th we drove up to Rock Creek and were very fortunate to find a parking spot at Mosquito Flat. Iris was really feeling the altitude so I packed up and headed up the trail while she relaxed in the car and concentrated on breathing for a while.

I made pretty good time up the trail to Ruby Lake, but then things slowed down a bit as the trail was discontinuous through the talus and there was some steep uphill. I crossed the stream and headed up the E ridge of Ruby Peak. There was a bit of scrambling near the beginning and then a fairly gentle slope before things got much steeper and more interesting at the top. I was moving fairly slowly by now, mostly due to the altitude and lack of oxygen I think (nearing 13,000 feet). The scrambling was interesting but I managed to keep it 4th class up to the top. There were a few nice flat spots (sort of like the top of columns) on the 13,188 foot summit. As one would expect, the views were most excellent and a breeze kept it from being too warm. I took pics, ate bagels and half a summit cookie, and then climbed down to sign and look at the summit register.

Ruby Lake panorama - Ruby Peak is on the left under the tiny cloud

Petit Griffon - a tower between Abbot and Mills

panorama starting up the E ridge of Ruby Peak

panorama high on the E ridge of Ruby Peak

360 degree Ruby Peak summit panorama - southish is center right

For the descent I opted for the technically easier SE "face" linking a series of ramps, steep notches, and scree chutes. As I got lower I traversed to the east and then dropped through the krumholtz to the talus below. There I went to a small inviting pool for a quick dip and to get some water (probably should have done that in the other order) and then headed down the drainage before cutting on up to the ridge to Lookout Peak. at 11,902' this is a pretty small (compared to its neighbors) point on the edge of Little Lakes Valley - it does have more nice views though. Then I continued along the ridge over another bump and NE to where I was able to drop down a chute to the talus below. From there I headed to the outlet of Ruby Lake and then started jogging down the trail. I was almost back to the trailhead when I heard Iris call from across Rock Creek. She was preparing to soak her knee in the cold waters after her triumphant hike all the way up to Ruby Lake and back, she didn't set any speed records, but it was the first real hike she had done since February, so a great accomplishment. I went around to join her (but not in the soaking). Then we headed back to Bishop in time to shower, make some sandwiches and a smoothie, and walk to the end of the street to watch the fireworks.

cooling off in a refreshing pool

panorama from Lookout Peak

columbine flowers

Iris chills her knee in Rock Creek

Rock Creek

This year they were launching the fireworks from the soccer fields about 2 blocks from the Church, so it was quite close. First they hosed down the adjacent trees and grass, but when it got dark they started the show. I think it is the closest I've ever been to a display of this magnitude. I think some of the biggest ones had elements directly overhead and they completely filled and then some a full frame 24mm lens image. I would have been fine with earplugs, and some of the brighter ones were painfully bright when they exploded. In any case it was a pretty good show - not that I'm that big of a fan of blowing up money, but if you are going to do it I might as well enjoy the show, especially if it is almost over my house. Speaking of over my house, it seems the street just outside was a popular place to blow up fireworks, but not as popular as the empty lot to the East which was home to at least 2 groups of people blowing things up for hours.

fireworks - mostly as they appeared

fireworks - same pic - but post processed to be much brighter

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