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- Dec 23, 2013
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Headed to the west desert with my wife yesterday to summit the second highest peak in the Lakeside Range. The hike consisted of making our way through Vindicator Canyon, where we stopped at an old lead and zinc mine to look around, before heading further up canyon. Eventually, we climbed out of the canyon and made our way up to a ridge and followed the ridge north and then west to the top of unnamed peak 6551.
Solitude was the theme for the day as we saw no one else the entire day. While the day was sunny, the wind blew steadily all day which made it quite chilly when we weren't hiking up hill.
![01.jpg 01.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97654-f75bc6d0ab9bed95a1fd36a6b881f04f.jpg)
Almost to the trailhead - looking southwest towards Craner Peak which is the highest peak in the range at 6625 feet.
![02.jpg 02.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97655-221c30bc16af67ee1642ae70baff771d.jpg)
Unnamed Peak 5546 at the entrance to Vindicator Canyon
![03.jpg 03.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97656-05d9fcab2997d5aa7c5632de9bd423ac.jpg)
Peak 6551 at the center of the image. A little over three miles to the summit.
![04.jpg 04.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97657-226b6cea5e61b9119c812831a344bcf1.jpg)
Heading into Vindicator Canyon
![05.jpg 05.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97658-49026f446f959899851cca580dbea525.jpg)
Passed a lot of burned Juniper along our route
![06.jpg 06.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97659-d47a52d291cc925b9428ea9ad695e4f0.jpg)
Craner Peak
![07.jpg 07.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97660-415b643ad0f0d9d45f122a1730074bf5.jpg)
A Juniper that survived the fire
![08.jpg 08.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97661-0bb3bf44d0dafce6749b5cf110113625.jpg)
Unnamed Peak 5861
![09.jpg 09.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97662-24b82c8e3bdd6ebdff3ae5e15366d659.jpg)
Our first wildflower of the hike - Arrowleaf Balsamroot - This was the only one we saw all day
![10.jpg 10.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97663-966f0209f9f4c980590f3ace44e5015b.jpg)
Some red rock in Vindicator Canyon
![11.jpg 11.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97664-bef8440aeab957ce41bd8eb725f809bd.jpg)
Old foundation near mining site
![12.jpg 12.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97665-aa1da3a12897949a2770f4e2b244ea30.jpg)
Checking out the old mine shaft
![13.jpg 13.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97666-c93e82ba8f1be7e1331c752fabe51ed0.jpg)
Looks like it goes a long way down
![14.jpg 14.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97667-00246b723b03900b7d625ee42873767f.jpg)
Sheila, making her way up Vindicator Canyon
![15.jpg 15.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97668-d182d6b74df36969ee35dcacc278b792.jpg)
Peak 6551 - seen as we are making our way out of the canyon and onto the ridge
![16.jpg 16.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97669-11881ab70033c75da7d70f125128c769.jpg)
Low Cryptantha
![17.jpg 17.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97670-14a2eddaad62b265a5db7d7318f46cfd.jpg)
Views starting to open up to the east
![20b.jpg 20b.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97689-80c65e2fa476f2685953ed3d901c6c5c.jpg)
Obligatory mountain shot.![Smile :) :)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
![18.jpg 18.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97671-41d3b333bc78cc70f08d2b60c5f08ef2.jpg)
Stansbury Island and Castle Rock - our hiking destination two weeks ago
![22b.jpg 22b.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97688-b45cf83e9b2d62b5043b239ed8aac67b.jpg)
A couple of steep hills coming up
![19.jpg 19.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97672-57e7f27fe8e7f3aa975f492716236d9a.jpg)
Making our way north along the ridge
![20.jpg 20.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97673-8821102fdf24fab31c290a36f72092f0.jpg)
Phlox
![21.jpg 21.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97674-4978df8e20023136c5d4b2ef2eb0e488.jpg)
Sheila, making her way up to the ridge - unnamed peak 5927 behind her
![22.jpg 22.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97675-5ba9eeb645e3cfd22b973eac11aac867.jpg)
Almost on top of the ridge - Stansbury Island in the distance
![23.jpg 23.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97676-1a420440d2d88d4b1a6a018d05830d07.jpg)
Craner Peak again - some snow left on the upper northern slopes
![23b.jpg 23b.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97690-57e7f27fe8e7f3aa975f492716236d9a.jpg)
The final push
![24.jpg 24.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97677-eff5c65dda5efd6daaaeaef358388821.jpg)
View to the south from the summit of Peak 6551
![25.jpg 25.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97678-f3acc675728b19de8aebfa3a161d3016.jpg)
View to the north along the spine of the Lakeside Range, from the summit of Peak 6551
![26.jpg 26.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97679-6055d91270cc3f2b28a2536538c43300.jpg)
View to the west, with Puddle Valley below and the Grassy Mountains in the distance
![27.jpg 27.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97680-d0b0c2a60eb2f45cd46bf8df3234fb26.jpg)
Sheila, just off the summit (the post is the summit marker) - time for lunch
![27a.jpg 27a.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97686-7333f64399ad06d195a815bd78b97788.jpg)
Brown's Peony, near the summit
![27b.jpg 27b.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97687-c86073cae04e502519d5fb474e1eb067.jpg)
A nice look down Peepstone Canyon
![28.jpg 28.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97681-7d10639990c53586f8b1ffe8e5e7334e.jpg)
We descended down a side canyon to Vindicator Canyon and ran into this adit in the side canyon
![29.jpg 29.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97682-ab4ae0968c5efad65f085c37aec27e88.jpg)
Looking down the side canyon
![30.jpg 30.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97683-db974fc67dc6ca935382882e9d2a8c4e.jpg)
View down Vindicator Canyon
![31.jpg 31.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97684-e812fdab9f04bc627b2e1f3fbb3da9dd.jpg)
Back at the old Jeep![Thumbs Up :thumbsup: :thumbsup:](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
![32.jpg 32.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97685-c694e4be3bc41a299f55a35284f4c66d.jpg)
View of the Stansbury Range on our drive out
The End
Solitude was the theme for the day as we saw no one else the entire day. While the day was sunny, the wind blew steadily all day which made it quite chilly when we weren't hiking up hill.
![01.jpg 01.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97654-f75bc6d0ab9bed95a1fd36a6b881f04f.jpg)
Almost to the trailhead - looking southwest towards Craner Peak which is the highest peak in the range at 6625 feet.
![02.jpg 02.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97655-221c30bc16af67ee1642ae70baff771d.jpg)
Unnamed Peak 5546 at the entrance to Vindicator Canyon
![03.jpg 03.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97656-05d9fcab2997d5aa7c5632de9bd423ac.jpg)
Peak 6551 at the center of the image. A little over three miles to the summit.
![04.jpg 04.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97657-226b6cea5e61b9119c812831a344bcf1.jpg)
Heading into Vindicator Canyon
![05.jpg 05.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97658-49026f446f959899851cca580dbea525.jpg)
Passed a lot of burned Juniper along our route
![06.jpg 06.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97659-d47a52d291cc925b9428ea9ad695e4f0.jpg)
Craner Peak
![07.jpg 07.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97660-415b643ad0f0d9d45f122a1730074bf5.jpg)
A Juniper that survived the fire
![08.jpg 08.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97661-0bb3bf44d0dafce6749b5cf110113625.jpg)
Unnamed Peak 5861
![09.jpg 09.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97662-24b82c8e3bdd6ebdff3ae5e15366d659.jpg)
Our first wildflower of the hike - Arrowleaf Balsamroot - This was the only one we saw all day
![10.jpg 10.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97663-966f0209f9f4c980590f3ace44e5015b.jpg)
Some red rock in Vindicator Canyon
![11.jpg 11.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97664-bef8440aeab957ce41bd8eb725f809bd.jpg)
Old foundation near mining site
![12.jpg 12.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97665-aa1da3a12897949a2770f4e2b244ea30.jpg)
Checking out the old mine shaft
![13.jpg 13.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97666-c93e82ba8f1be7e1331c752fabe51ed0.jpg)
Looks like it goes a long way down
![14.jpg 14.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97667-00246b723b03900b7d625ee42873767f.jpg)
Sheila, making her way up Vindicator Canyon
![15.jpg 15.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97668-d182d6b74df36969ee35dcacc278b792.jpg)
Peak 6551 - seen as we are making our way out of the canyon and onto the ridge
![16.jpg 16.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97669-11881ab70033c75da7d70f125128c769.jpg)
Low Cryptantha
![17.jpg 17.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97670-14a2eddaad62b265a5db7d7318f46cfd.jpg)
Views starting to open up to the east
![20b.jpg 20b.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97689-80c65e2fa476f2685953ed3d901c6c5c.jpg)
Obligatory mountain shot.
![18.jpg 18.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97671-41d3b333bc78cc70f08d2b60c5f08ef2.jpg)
Stansbury Island and Castle Rock - our hiking destination two weeks ago
![22b.jpg 22b.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97688-b45cf83e9b2d62b5043b239ed8aac67b.jpg)
A couple of steep hills coming up
![19.jpg 19.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97672-57e7f27fe8e7f3aa975f492716236d9a.jpg)
Making our way north along the ridge
![20.jpg 20.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97673-8821102fdf24fab31c290a36f72092f0.jpg)
Phlox
![21.jpg 21.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97674-4978df8e20023136c5d4b2ef2eb0e488.jpg)
Sheila, making her way up to the ridge - unnamed peak 5927 behind her
![22.jpg 22.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97675-5ba9eeb645e3cfd22b973eac11aac867.jpg)
Almost on top of the ridge - Stansbury Island in the distance
![23.jpg 23.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97676-1a420440d2d88d4b1a6a018d05830d07.jpg)
Craner Peak again - some snow left on the upper northern slopes
![23b.jpg 23b.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97690-57e7f27fe8e7f3aa975f492716236d9a.jpg)
The final push
![24.jpg 24.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97677-eff5c65dda5efd6daaaeaef358388821.jpg)
View to the south from the summit of Peak 6551
![25.jpg 25.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97678-f3acc675728b19de8aebfa3a161d3016.jpg)
View to the north along the spine of the Lakeside Range, from the summit of Peak 6551
![26.jpg 26.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97679-6055d91270cc3f2b28a2536538c43300.jpg)
View to the west, with Puddle Valley below and the Grassy Mountains in the distance
![27.jpg 27.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97680-d0b0c2a60eb2f45cd46bf8df3234fb26.jpg)
Sheila, just off the summit (the post is the summit marker) - time for lunch
![27a.jpg 27a.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97686-7333f64399ad06d195a815bd78b97788.jpg)
Brown's Peony, near the summit
![27b.jpg 27b.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97687-c86073cae04e502519d5fb474e1eb067.jpg)
A nice look down Peepstone Canyon
![28.jpg 28.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97681-7d10639990c53586f8b1ffe8e5e7334e.jpg)
We descended down a side canyon to Vindicator Canyon and ran into this adit in the side canyon
![29.jpg 29.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97682-ab4ae0968c5efad65f085c37aec27e88.jpg)
Looking down the side canyon
![30.jpg 30.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97683-db974fc67dc6ca935382882e9d2a8c4e.jpg)
View down Vindicator Canyon
![31.jpg 31.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97684-e812fdab9f04bc627b2e1f3fbb3da9dd.jpg)
Back at the old Jeep
![32.jpg 32.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97685-c694e4be3bc41a299f55a35284f4c66d.jpg)
View of the Stansbury Range on our drive out
The End