Larry Boy, Hi There! Hope that you are doing well. Am back here on the computer after several days because of work and the Presidents day Holiday. Now have hiked about all of this and will give you in details what I think of these routes. Good for you for thinking of this. How much of this country is about at wild as it gets here in the lower 48. great Great Country. I have been personally hiking in here since 1982. Now I have a photosite if you desire to take a look of this country at
www.reflectionsofthewild.zenfolio.com - and do enjoy
First now with your trip being in August, you will encounter snow but I do not think you will have the problems as one would encounter early in the summer on account of this winter's big snowpack. The first time in 1982 when i visited this country, I crossed over the Buffalo Plateau going south to north in early August. The summer of 1982 was also a year after a winter with a big snowpack with on top over 500 inches. Then there was still quite abit of snow on top in early August but had no problems. I will give notations from south to north.
Togwotee Pass to Marston Pass
Now you should encounter no problems along this entire route. This will probably take 3 to 4 days. I do not know how much of a hiker you are but this is in general realizations of which most people hike in my opinion. If you do not want to hike along the Continental Divide, going up Cub Creek is a nice alternative also with all of it's nice meadows in it's upper stretches. Going up to near Crescent Mountain will not be a problem but just a walk up. In going along the rolling Buffalo Plateau, nearby Wall Mountain makes a very nice walkup. Tremendous views up on top with espicielly down to nearby South Fork of the Shoshone below. Nice views in all directions from the Buffalo Plateau of mountains near and far with espicielly the Tetons to the west. No problem if you have a good sense of direction when up on top of the Buffalo Plateau.
The Younts Peak Area
Now you also should have no problem in here also. Now be on the lookout for Grizzlies in here bigtime for Younts Peak is a well known Cutworm Moth Site. I have seen as near a dozen Grizzlies feeding at one time on the upper slopes of Younts Peak among the boulders. Some of my closest grizzly encounters have happened in this area. So be on the lookout. Also if you have the time, I recommend you climbing Younts Peak for it is well well worth the effort. You can see for miles and miles and miles in all directions. This whole Younts Peak Area is a good place for wildlife including maybe even a Fisher or a Wolverine. Now going on from Marston Pass to the South Fork of the Yellowstone headwaters will be no problems. Good camping down a ways, down the South Fork at the first big meadow and near the trees. At the pass (11,000 feet) between Younts Peak and Thorofare, you will encounter a trail - route down into the head basin of the North Fork of the Yellowstone. This is a very very awesome place. There is a good places to camp in here. Lots of Waterfalls in here. Again Yes Fishers have been seen in this area and a few Wolverines are around also besides the abundant Grizzlies and other wildlife. Now to the NE off of the North Fork of the Yellowstone is a nice drainage - this drainage has a route up it made by outfitters many years ago. Then off of this unnamed drainage, on the upper east side is a pass heading over to the Upper Thorofare Creek and River - there is this same route thru this pass and have hiked it with no problems. One can from this pass area also get easier up on the mountains above and go cross country to near Thorofare Peak. Also a trail in the Upper Thorofare Creek / River drainage continues up the drainage to its upper basin also for have been on this trail - route also. One could spend days and days in here with never once having a bad day.
Thorofare River - Woody Creek To Deer Creek
The Upper Thorofare Creek Area is Awesome with it's nice meadows and the mountains all around. Paradise! Also nearby is Hidden Creek down and off of the Thorofare Creek, a separate drainage. There are some nice meadows in Upper Hidden Creek which is one of the most beautiful places all in this whole Absaroka Wilderness environs - Really Nice! Could spend days and days all in this area. I LOVE Upper Mountain Meadows with the peaks all around bigtime personally! The Woody Creek Trail is not exactly where it is on the maps. In upper Thorofare Creek, there is a site of an outfitter camp. here is where the Woody Creek Trail goes off - a good good trail. But the last time I was here, there was no sigh of where it heads off. At that place where on the map, it goes over the mountain ridge, the trail is actually more north and goes around the mountain and ridge. But a great trail with no problems all the way to Deer Creek Pass and Area. Also places along the Absaroka Crest from Thorofare Mountain to Deer Creek Pass is hikeable in many places but some cliffed peaks to go around in places.
Deer Creek Pass, Saddle 10,438, Pass Creek, and Ishawooa Pass Area
Now you might have problems from Deer Creek Pass itself going up and over this 10,438 foot saddle. Some cliffs around but in the general area, there should be a route somewhere. I personally Have never gone over this one saddle. But when I was nearby in upper North Fork of Butte Creek - seriously scanned the saddle area and saw a line of cliffs on the north side of this saddle. These cliffs might present a problem but have actually not been up to this cliffs itself. Just mentioning from my scanning the last time I was here. Now there is a good trail in North Fork of Butte Creek. If you want another route if need be, then one can go down Butte Creek to the North Fork of Butte Creek and up the North Fork of Butte Creek which is all serviced by good trails. There is a good trail over what you can Twelfth Parallel Pass for have been on it, which goes over this pass, down to beautiful upper Pass Creek, and all the way up to Ishawooa Pass. Have been here many a time. Also the Absaroka Crest here which extends from near Twelfth Parallel Pass to Ishawooa Pass is all hikeable for have done it. Beautiful country. But be on the lookout again for grizzlies, for was bluff charged by a sow Grizzly when on top of this ridge back in the summer of 2006 (July 19th of that year by the way. It was a Sow with one newborn cub which bluff charged me down to about 6 or 8 feet three separate times. But also Upper Pass Creek is gorgeous with it's huge grassy meadows and the mountains all around.
Now to be continued in a next segment .... stay tuned.
). Would love to hear which sections you suggest I re-route. Also I'm still trying to find a good line through the northern section so your input would be awesome there too