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Hike to nearly 9000' for a view of the Pinnacles, Goat Mountain, Belvedere, Profile, and Big Creek basins, and distant peaks.
Between Big Creek and Yellow Pine. The top is rocky, bottom is steep, vista ridge in middle & view up top is worth it.
Check first photo posted===========> for labeled pic of view southeast. Clear plastic container (unless I carry a ammo box up, ug) Started w/ things for the boonies like lotion, light, dry flies. Please trade even.
Good boots and water===========> are a must.
Wildlife============> I saw mountain goats, sheep, elk and deer in this basin. Binoculars/zoom is nice.
Hike wolf-aware==========> They've been seen both sides of Profile summit.
ACCESS (ah, the fun part)===========> detailed info at geocache page of GCH16P "Enter the River of No Return"
!! DO Not underestimate the backcountry roads & hikes.
The View ==========> from top:
-- The lake you'll staring straight down at is Horseshoe Lake on the Belvedere drainage. It had cutthroat trout for years, but a snowslide turned the water layers over in winter and fish died; IF YOU HIKE DOWN, please let us know whether you see any minnows or survivors!
-- Below and west is the Profile Road, beyond that you can see Middle Lake and a glimpse of Crater Lake in the Profile drainage. The small rough road visible went to the old Red Metal mine. Profile is named for a view of that ridge you can see, from points further away, it looks like a man lying down on top. "Profile" Sam Wilson pioneered in the basin, and they say it looks like him. I've only been where I could see the shape once, from some high, off-trail How-did-I-get-here location off the Cougar Basin trail.
-- The Pinnacles are the pointy tall rough looking peaks across Belvedere; the really tallest is 'The' Pinnacle. My cousin climbed it, I've not worked up the ambition yet.
-- Goat Mountain is across Belvedere Creek to the east/northeast, it's left flank drops into Big Creek. A friend (now 91 in '07) once found a small black ice glacier up there somewhere.
-- Big Creek is the one Belvedere runs into before continuing to the Middle Fork of the Salmon. A trail follows all the way down, trail head is about 14 miles from Profile Summit, past the Big Creek Ranger Station.
-- I think I see Rainbow Peak in the distance south/se, a very bare, sandy, triangular, tan & reddish mountain top. (Thunder Mountain area)
Starting points >>===>>====>>
1) Park on Profile summit, making a 3 mile round trip that gains 1300' of elevation. or
2) for 4WD’s with plenty of clearance and good tires, follow the rough mining road that starts up from summit, east, watch undercarriage at end right before levels out,
N45 03.526 W115 24.506; makes a 2 mile RT hike, gains 1000'
3) for strong ATV’s (older models _do NOT_ make the steepest part, & turn around can risk a roll). Goes above the mine-cut BUT, --!-------->
study a map that shows were patented ground ends & wilderness begins, they are illegal in wilderness, and They DO watch. This will be blocked when the legislation coming is passed to close all the little access and mining roads. We fought, but it's inevitable, at least the main roads will stay open. (Public Land = YOURS)
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
45' qhr F bs gvccl gbc [or further:]
[if I get fiesty & carry up an ammo box, then I will dismantle the clue above and move it into the tree line, on the SAME azimuth]
ybt wnz, ebpx urnqre