Hiking Emigrant Peak

View South from Emigrant Peak

With an elevation of 10,921 feet, Emigrant Peak now tops the list of altitudes I’ve reached while hiking.  During the ten hours on the trail yesterday, I dodged two thunder storms, the second with hail.  I did not reach the top, but turned back about some 200ft below as I had no interest in experiencing the lightening of the second storm exposed on the rocky summit.  It was a wise decision getting myself back down below the tree line.

The open alpine meadow hiking amongst the blanket of wildflowers (yarrow, columbine, sage and lupine to name a few) was unlike any hiking I’d done before.  Ravens and eagles kept me company (along with some folks on twitter who responded to the photos I was posting).

lichens and moss above 10,000 ft on Emigrant Peak

mini wildflowers, just beneath the summit

Consider this clip a still with a soundtrack.