#raelakesloop

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Rae Lakes Loop - August 2018 - Day 3

Part 1

Part 2

Good morning friends. 

After the deer I saw the only marmots of the trip (3) but not near enough to get a decent picture. 

Day 3 was the day I needed to cross Glen Pass, the high point of the trip at nearly 12,000 feet. But first, Middle and Lower Rae Lakes. 

Here’s what I had to climb up. What you can’t tell from the picture is that there’s about 30 switchbacks between me and that saddle at the top, which is the pass, still like 1800 feet away.

I made it!

On the way down, I had to balance on some loose scree while another mule train passed, going UP. The trail at the top of the pass was so narrow and crowded. I’m glad I wasn’t up there then while a dozen mules and horses were trying to get past.

On the way back down: 

More green the farther down you go:

I camped the third night next to Charlotte Creek, too tired to take any pictures. Another deer did wander through. 

Day 3: Upper Rae Lakes to Charlotte Creek

Miles: 12.5

Elevation  gross: +1894' -5122'

Part 4

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Rae Lakes Loop - August 2018 Part 2

Part 1

Thanks to my love of slow mornings I was one of the last ones to leave Upper Paradise Valley on Wednesday morning. This granted me the privilege of being visited by some of the locals. Three deer ran down from hillside and frolicked a bit and nibbled a few mushrooms. 

Then I started walking. Uphill mostly, for the rest of the day. 

Then I had to walk across a very bouncy bridge:

Did I mention I was walking uphill?

Til it finally leveled out around all the lakes

Campsite at Upper Rae Lakes

This was a very hard day and the last several miles were very difficult. It was worth all the effort in the end and I slept very well.

Day 2: Upper Paradise Valley to Upper Rae Lake

Miles: 11 

Elevation gain: +4100 feet

Part 1

Part 3

[runchef]

I’ve got a handful of marathons, a couple 50K’s under my belt, but this is by far the craziest thing I’ve ever attempted. 42 miles and 7000’ vertical in one day. Thanks again to @kasia_dinen & @joshuadinen for always pushing me to my limits and beyond! The whole video is available at https://youtu.be/x1H_2zXPMRY. I finally stopped procrastinating on learning to video edit, almost 7 years later. #betterlatethannever #trailrunning #neverstopexploring #raelakesloop #oneday #insanity (at Rae Lakes)