So the plan was...

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<p>that the missus, one son and his girlfriend would head out Friday night and set up camp and I would wait in town and pick up the other son from the airport and drive out in the late evening.</p>
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That WAS the plan.</p>
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The plane was late, that was for starters.  Then on our way out of town we get a call from the campsite where my family is being evicted from their choice of sites due to heavy winds that were knocking trees down.  We felt the winds too on the highway, it was a tad unnerving.  Sustained 50 mph winds with some very strong gusts that seemed to love the 18 wheelers. </p>
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We got stuck in a long traffic jam due to an accident and finally made it out to the campsite at 1:00.  Needless to say an early start hiking wasn't going to happen.</p>
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Still, we had a good time of it, even if we didn't make it up all the way to the peak of Mt. Sparrowhawk.  Here's a view from a ridge.</p>
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<p><a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/90649/width/1000/height/800/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="Read's Ridge.JPG" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="17313" data-type="61" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/17313/width/1000/height/191" style="; width: 1000px; height: 191px"></a></p>
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<p>We kind of wasted some time bushwhacking in the woods to find what, according to the 15 year old guide book was an easier way up.  Meh.  We had fun anyway.</p>
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<p>Today we lingered over breakfast and also had another late start.  This time we went up the Wind Valley and while we weren't going to do any climbing (wanting to stay IN the valley), we had a nice climb and scramble to the ridge top but abandoned travelling further as it was getting late in the afternoon.</p>
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<p><a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/90652/width/1000/height/800/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="P1110361.JPG" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="17314" data-type="61" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/17314/width/375/height/500" style="; width: 375px; height: 500px"></a></p>
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<p>That valley was where we were planning on staying.  See that meadow?  There's a horse in there.  Don't see him?</p>
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<p><a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/90654/width/1000/height/800/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="P1110338.JPG" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="17315" data-type="61" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/17315/width/667/height/500" style="; width: 667px; height: 500px"></a></p>
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<p>The hand was shaking from the wind.  That's my story and you're sticking to it.</p>
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<p>At any rate, it was a gorgeous day.  Lens has a smudge on it that I really didn't notice until we got home, but here's the view from where we stopped.</p>
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<p><a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/90656/width/1000/height/800/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="Wind Ridge.JPG" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="17316" data-type="61" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/17316/width/1000/height/138" style="; width: 1000px; height: 138px"></a></p>
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<p>Was able to keep pace, mostly, slow and steady, no circulation problems.  It was great being out there, regardless of whether any of our plans came to fruition.</p>
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<p>One plan did - I wanted a beer when I came home.  Got that.</p>
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