Bob
Trailmaster
- Joined
- Mar 3, 2013
- Messages
- 4,311
Along with @langutah we head out to check out some new country, the Lost River Range in Idaho. I worked in Challis many years ago so knew of it. Was looking for new places on GE and started checking it out. Looked promising. We got rained out of a Uinta trip and Art got interested in a link I sent him.
Day 1 – After a 4 hour drive arrived at a camp spot in Bear Creek. After the monotony of getting to about Arco the mountain range gets interesting (Art had never been in the area). The aspen were just past peak but still great. Car camped that night by a running stream. Woke to bright sun and after a lazy morning got started. After all we were just ‘looking’. About 4 miles of really nice trail we made it to Bear Creek Lake. The rock formations are great, the most twisted and folded layers we both have ever seen. After a relaxing lunch we decided to head up to Bear Creek Pass…… all talus, looked to be a rough slog. Turned out way better, rocks were pretty stable and made it to the 10K pass in no time. Low elevation sure makes a difference (think Wind Rivers). Spectacular tundra type terrain. Down the other side, into the Wet Creek drainage we encountered some rougher talus and then shelf after shelf of limestone to negotiate. All the small tarns and any water source were absent. Lots of elk and goat sign around but only saw one elk during the trip. We headed down Wet Creek to complete a loop. Timber walking, talus walking meadow walking all mixed up. We went though some really nice old growth Douglas fir and Spruce stands. Finally, a nice spring started in the canyon, much needed. Headed down to the first flat meadow and ended up about ¼ mile from a road for the 2nd night camp. Really nice, stream, willows, spruce but could be cowed up earlier in the year. Mileage was 11 today.
Day 2 – Woke up to high clouds but we only had 7miles to go, mostly on road. Quiet hike along the road, only two trucks (hunters) went by us. Got out to the main road (Pass Creek), the aspen and view was really nice. Headed out road hikingand back to our truck. Checked out the Little Lost River Valley and we returned over Doublesprings Pass road around the north side of Mt Borah (highest in Idaho) and home. Only rain we saw was driving back by Pocatello.
All in all a great two night loop hike. Great scenery and great hiking partner. We were successful in gathering some beta for a longer hike from one end to the other of the Range. Really an interesting mountain range, rugged and steep, a lot of timber, talus and little water at the higher elevation. Went 7 miles for the day. Maybe Art will post stuff as well……..
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Day 1 – After a 4 hour drive arrived at a camp spot in Bear Creek. After the monotony of getting to about Arco the mountain range gets interesting (Art had never been in the area). The aspen were just past peak but still great. Car camped that night by a running stream. Woke to bright sun and after a lazy morning got started. After all we were just ‘looking’. About 4 miles of really nice trail we made it to Bear Creek Lake. The rock formations are great, the most twisted and folded layers we both have ever seen. After a relaxing lunch we decided to head up to Bear Creek Pass…… all talus, looked to be a rough slog. Turned out way better, rocks were pretty stable and made it to the 10K pass in no time. Low elevation sure makes a difference (think Wind Rivers). Spectacular tundra type terrain. Down the other side, into the Wet Creek drainage we encountered some rougher talus and then shelf after shelf of limestone to negotiate. All the small tarns and any water source were absent. Lots of elk and goat sign around but only saw one elk during the trip. We headed down Wet Creek to complete a loop. Timber walking, talus walking meadow walking all mixed up. We went though some really nice old growth Douglas fir and Spruce stands. Finally, a nice spring started in the canyon, much needed. Headed down to the first flat meadow and ended up about ¼ mile from a road for the 2nd night camp. Really nice, stream, willows, spruce but could be cowed up earlier in the year. Mileage was 11 today.
Day 2 – Woke up to high clouds but we only had 7miles to go, mostly on road. Quiet hike along the road, only two trucks (hunters) went by us. Got out to the main road (Pass Creek), the aspen and view was really nice. Headed out road hikingand back to our truck. Checked out the Little Lost River Valley and we returned over Doublesprings Pass road around the north side of Mt Borah (highest in Idaho) and home. Only rain we saw was driving back by Pocatello.
All in all a great two night loop hike. Great scenery and great hiking partner. We were successful in gathering some beta for a longer hike from one end to the other of the Range. Really an interesting mountain range, rugged and steep, a lot of timber, talus and little water at the higher elevation. Went 7 miles for the day. Maybe Art will post stuff as well……..
Featured image for home page:
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