View into Paradise Park from the top of Hell Canyon. In the distance
is the Never Summer Mountains. The high tundra to the right is the top
of Mount Baldy. Click on photo to follow a high contour to the right.
Our "plan" is to stay above the trees and work our way to a pass that
will let us descend to Fifth Lake behind Mount Baldy. From there, we can
then pick up the hint of a trail to Lake Verna and then continue to Grand Lake
on the main trail. Snowfields and snowchutes block our route and we
have to make some changes. After staying above the trees for a mile or two,
we end up descending deep into Paradise Park and making the difficult
but scenic route through its big meadows and downed timber. In hindsight,
we now know that the easiest route to Fifth Lake from here is to immediately
continue up the ridge's straightest route to Ogalalla Peak. The Hell Canyon side
of the ridge is just gentle enough to allow for a long but non-technical climb.
That is assuming that one has the strength to do so and the weather is favorable.
One would then have a very high altitude and windy walk directly to Isolation Peak.
A little before Isolation Peak there is a saddle that looked safe and free of snow
from which one can descend into Paradise Park and work one's way around the
western reach of Isolation Peak to the saddle that leads to Fifth Lake.
Any other way around Isolation Peak is to dangerous cliffs.

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