randakag
Member
- Joined
- Jun 8, 2013
- Messages
- 40
In September 2014, Chris, Peter and I did a 47 mile traverse of the Sawtooth Range in Idaho. We had a shuttle drop us off at Grandjean, and from there spent 7 days crossing the range to Pettit Lake. The weather was perfect, and since then this trek has been the benchmark for excellence for all that followed. I recently re-edited my photos from that week. Below is the route. Hopefully some of you can follow our footsteps across this land of jagged peaks and brilliant lakes.
PS: According to my watch app, the total milage and elevation for the traverse + day hike are 46.7 miles, 9983’ up and 8166’ down. You cross a bunch of passes on this traverse. The below #’s are approximate.
Day 1: Grandjean TH to (just past) Baron Creek JCT, 4 miles, +550 ft
We camped a bit past the junction near a creek and expansive views down the valley. Weather was dry and sunny. The smell of sage filled the air. A herd of deer ran through our camp just after sunset. I don’t remember seeing anyone else that day.
Day 2: Baron Creek JCT to Baron Lake, 6 miles, +2650 ft
The beginning was flat and through beautiful forest. Then the brutal climb began. And the range quickly earned its name with jagged spire after jagged spire. For some reason I ran out of water and the creek was far from the ascent. By the time I reached the top of the up, I was crazy thirsty. Thankfully the creek rushed beside us. The last mile or so was through lovely forest and a narrowing valley. We camped by Baron Lake (lots of spots). That day we only saw two or three hikers.
Day 3: Baron Lake to Lower Cramer Lake, 8.2 miles
A small up followed by a long 1700’ down to Redfish Creek, and then a long +1100 up again to Cramer Lakes. Again we saw almost nobody and had Lower Cramer Lake to ourselves.
Day 4: Lower Cramer Lake to Vernon Lake, 8 miles
Up +1000 to the Cramer Divide and down again -1300 to Virginia Lake (wow!) then slowly up again to Vernon. We camped there two nights and met a “bandit miner” whose tent was hidden under dense shrubs. He was a geology student from U Idaho who was taking a semester off to hunt for gems in the Sawtooths.
Day 5: Day hike from Vernon to Upper Ten Lake Basin, 5.5 miles, +500, -500, +200 and back again
The only “cloudy” day with a strange mist hanging above Ten Lake Basin. Nice to be without packs. Chris finally found his bone… Saw no one else that day. A fox circled our camp after sunset looking for scraps. In the morning I found my spatula near the fire ring with a huge bite out of the silicone.
Day 6: Vernon Lake to Twin Lakes, 9.5 miles
The crown jewel of the trek. First we hiked up +1000 to Sand Mountain Pass, and then down -900’ to Toxaway Lake then up again +1000’ and down again -700’ to Twin Lakes. Spectacular panoramas in all directions. We camped on an isthmus between the lakes, which may be the greatest campsite ever.
Day 7: Twin Lakes to Pettit Lake, 7 miles, -1800’
Sunrise was phenomenal, the lake glass. We slowly made our way to Alice Lake and then down and down to Pettit Lake. As we got close, we heard children laughing and hollering by the shore. Happy and healthy, we strolled to the terminus, completing a perfect week in one of the best places anywhere.
PS: According to my watch app, the total milage and elevation for the traverse + day hike are 46.7 miles, 9983’ up and 8166’ down. You cross a bunch of passes on this traverse. The below #’s are approximate.
Day 1: Grandjean TH to (just past) Baron Creek JCT, 4 miles, +550 ft
We camped a bit past the junction near a creek and expansive views down the valley. Weather was dry and sunny. The smell of sage filled the air. A herd of deer ran through our camp just after sunset. I don’t remember seeing anyone else that day.
Day 2: Baron Creek JCT to Baron Lake, 6 miles, +2650 ft
The beginning was flat and through beautiful forest. Then the brutal climb began. And the range quickly earned its name with jagged spire after jagged spire. For some reason I ran out of water and the creek was far from the ascent. By the time I reached the top of the up, I was crazy thirsty. Thankfully the creek rushed beside us. The last mile or so was through lovely forest and a narrowing valley. We camped by Baron Lake (lots of spots). That day we only saw two or three hikers.
Day 3: Baron Lake to Lower Cramer Lake, 8.2 miles
A small up followed by a long 1700’ down to Redfish Creek, and then a long +1100 up again to Cramer Lakes. Again we saw almost nobody and had Lower Cramer Lake to ourselves.
Day 4: Lower Cramer Lake to Vernon Lake, 8 miles
Up +1000 to the Cramer Divide and down again -1300 to Virginia Lake (wow!) then slowly up again to Vernon. We camped there two nights and met a “bandit miner” whose tent was hidden under dense shrubs. He was a geology student from U Idaho who was taking a semester off to hunt for gems in the Sawtooths.
Day 5: Day hike from Vernon to Upper Ten Lake Basin, 5.5 miles, +500, -500, +200 and back again
The only “cloudy” day with a strange mist hanging above Ten Lake Basin. Nice to be without packs. Chris finally found his bone… Saw no one else that day. A fox circled our camp after sunset looking for scraps. In the morning I found my spatula near the fire ring with a huge bite out of the silicone.
Day 6: Vernon Lake to Twin Lakes, 9.5 miles
The crown jewel of the trek. First we hiked up +1000 to Sand Mountain Pass, and then down -900’ to Toxaway Lake then up again +1000’ and down again -700’ to Twin Lakes. Spectacular panoramas in all directions. We camped on an isthmus between the lakes, which may be the greatest campsite ever.
Day 7: Twin Lakes to Pettit Lake, 7 miles, -1800’
Sunrise was phenomenal, the lake glass. We slowly made our way to Alice Lake and then down and down to Pettit Lake. As we got close, we heard children laughing and hollering by the shore. Happy and healthy, we strolled to the terminus, completing a perfect week in one of the best places anywhere.
