Independence Peak (T#21) and Kearsarge Peak (T#22)

Travis Day 10

I woke in my van from excitement feeling like today was going to be a good day. I had two peaks to climb: Independence and Kearsarge. Brewing some coffee, there was no need to rush. I packed, put on my shoes, and then headed south toward the first of the two peaks I was going to climb: Independence Peak. My planned route was the North Ridge, a well-known, classic 3rd class ridgeline. Later I would return to my van and head north for Kearsarge Peak.

The morning sun brightened up the eastern face of the ridge while the west side was still in shadow.

I climbed a steep talus slope up towards a notch in the ridge. A dark, coal black wall of rock rose strikingly on the lower ridgeline. It stood in stark contrast from the upper mountain which consisted of a deep orange granite.

Soon enough I gained the north ridge and climbed it to the summit.

I had an excellent view of the town Independence, a green pasture in a valley of brown. Similar to a lichen blob on a granite boulder. I wondered if the peak or the town was named first. After taking in the view, I began to get a bit cold from not moving and descended the west slope off the summit and cruised back to my van.

I made a peanut butter jelly sandwich for lunch, drank some water and then headed off again for another mountain, Kearsarge Peak. On my way up I heard a noise and looked over to see a bighorn sheep bounding down the gulley and away from me. So cool! I continued hiking and thirty minutes later saw two more. They blasted up a steep wall of rock when they saw me and disappeared. I couldn't believe how fast they had ascended the vertical face!

I continued on my way to Lily Pass where I gained the ridge to the summit.

The only other person who had been up there recently was Nathan a few weeks prior.

I could see the peaks he intended to climb today back in the snowy basin.

I still felt bad about leaving him but now I was also quite enjoying my solitude. I had made the right decision going my own way and in a few days we would meet up again anyway. It was still early in the day so I enjoyed the view for nearly forty minutes before getting too cold and descended back to my van.

Great day!

View the activity here.