Arrow, Lava peaks in Highwood Mountains --- off trail July 1, 2014

Wayne Phillips on Lava Peak in the Highwood Mountains on the way to Arrow Peak in the distance

I do this off-trail hike/climb about every other year.
We hit it just right on Tuesday, with wildflowers blooming in every direction and green beyond green.
We began from the Geyser side, about two miles inside the national forest boundary and followed a fairly direct ridge to the top, gaining more than 3,100 feet along the four mile length.
Coming back, we got off course and headed down a different ridge, through some fairly rough cliffs, which we were able to skirt.

For more photos and the technical aspects of this hike, click on this link:

Arrow, Lava peaks in Highwood Mountains --- off trail | Garmin Adventures