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Giant Mountain and Rocky Peak Ridge
(peaks 3 and 4)

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This was my first solo trip, so I opted for the shortest route. It was also the first trip where I tried to bag 2 peaks at the same time.

(Mouse over the picture to see the image full size.)

I got an early start, and within 45 minutes I encountered a couple, up by the little lake. I adjusted my speed a little, and hike with them for the next hour and a half. It was the first time they had hiked in a while, and they explained that a couple relatives were also hiking to Giant, from different directions. I have forgotten all the names now, I am filling this report out later than I anticipated. Anyway, I left them after a while, so I would have time to fit in Rocky Peak Ridge, in addition to Giant. Near the summit of Giant I met their first relative, and in the col between Giant and RPR I met the second. Both were surprised that the couple I was hiking with had made it as far as I described.

Giant was clouded in on the summit, so I turned tail and headed for RPR, figuring I'd get Giant on the way back, which I did. I encountered a couple more people on the trail, and had the summit of RPR to myself.

I took a short break and a bunch of pictures, including the one above - me and my shadow - and headed back over to the summit of Giant. Coming down RPR, I started encountering groups fo people - in all I must have crossed paths with at least 50 other people that day! It was a gorgeous fall day, so I'm not surprised.

I met a group of scout on Giant summit - all with green hair. Some kind of initiation. There were 3 or 4 small groups eating lunch, so I got some pics and headed down.

Stopped once to air out my feet - they were getting too hot. Made it back to the car early.

Giant and RPR is a challenge - pretty steep - but is definitely double as a day trip.