>>257436So after everything was said and done I climbed up and down a total of three valleys. It was somewhat surreal. I had a camel back of water that tasted of charcoal (refilling my supplies by melting snow(anyone know how to avoid the charcoal taste next time?)) and the slopes had vastly different biomes: the north facing (shadowed) slopes had shin- high snow. The south facing slopes were bare desert with temperatures to match.
When I reached to the final peak (I didn't know it at the time) there was a small rock formation. I tried climbing up this thing, but with my pack, I couldn't arm-bar my way up this crack. I ended up tossing my pack up into this cave in the rock face. Once I climbed up I was able to follow my pack into this cave for a breather, I was able to see the valleys I had just crossed. This rock climbing almost seemed like a final boss to a video game. Although I'm sure I'm being a bit too romantic about the situation.
Pic is muah In Said snow cave.
