Diane Greer
Member
- Joined
- Nov 28, 2013
- Messages
- 62
Hi-
Planning some backpacks in August and looking for some advice. As usual, too many great options and not enough time.
In the Wind River Range:
As many people noted on this site the trailheads out of Elkhart Park and Big Sandy are crazy busy. As such I am looking at some trips in the center of the range between Bonneville Basin and the Hay Pass areas. Typically we hit these areas using a car drop between Big Sandy and Elkhart Park. This year we are thinking about going in/out via Scab Creek or Boulder Lake to avoid the crowded parking areas.
Despite many trips to the Wind we have never used either of these trailheads. Long ago I ruled out Boulder Canyon based on the sage advice from Joe Kelsey. His description of Boulder Canyon trailhead includes this sentence, “The arduous ascent of the canyon allows time to contemplate the trailhead’s low elevation…”
Wondering if anyone recommends either Boulder or Scab Creek. Any thoughts on which is the better of the two? (Hoping that any issues related to the blowdown will be resolved by the time of our trip.)
In the Teton Wilderness:
We have always been intrigued with the Buffalo Plateau and are thinking about a trip starting at Brooks Lake that would cross Bear Cub Pass, follow the trail up Cub Creek to the head of the drainage and then ascend the Buffalo Plateau from the saddle near the Perry N Boday Lake area, ending up atop the plateau to the west of summit of Crescent Mountain. From there we would travel atop the plateau to the Marston Pass area.
I have two questions. Kmatjhwy indicates that route finding atop the plateau is not a problem. Georgia Yankee and his partner found despite best efforts they kept wandering to far west. I plan to have a GPS along with topo maps to stay on course. Any other advice for staying on track?
After walking to Marston Pass we plan to spend a day or two exploring the North and South Fork of the Yellowstone and then head down Lost Creek to Ferry Lake. Possible exit routes include heading down Lake Creek to Pendergraft Meadows and then go up the South Fork of Buffalo Creek and cross the saddle into the Cub Creek drainage. From there we would head down Cub Creek and re-cross Bear Cub Pass to the Brooks Lake area.
Alternatively, I could continue down Lake Creek to the Lower Pendergraft Meadow area and then head back via Cub Creek to the Brooks Lake area. (My husband is also wondering if the plateau is so scenic that we should consider just turning around and exit the way we came in.) Any recommendations?
In the Washakie Wilderness:
When looking at Wyoming backpacks I often find myself considering the East Washakie Wilderness Loop out of Kirwin which crosses Greybull Pass, Burnwell Pass and Bear Creek Pass (and possibly East Fork Pass). Has anyone done this trip in late August? If so, were you able to cross Jojo Creek with a standard SUV, like a RAV 4, or do you need a higher clearance vehicle. (I understand that I can park before the crossing and simply walk an additional 12 mile (round trip) to get to the Kirwin trailhead.
Thanks in advance for any comments of suggestions.
Planning some backpacks in August and looking for some advice. As usual, too many great options and not enough time.
In the Wind River Range:
As many people noted on this site the trailheads out of Elkhart Park and Big Sandy are crazy busy. As such I am looking at some trips in the center of the range between Bonneville Basin and the Hay Pass areas. Typically we hit these areas using a car drop between Big Sandy and Elkhart Park. This year we are thinking about going in/out via Scab Creek or Boulder Lake to avoid the crowded parking areas.
Despite many trips to the Wind we have never used either of these trailheads. Long ago I ruled out Boulder Canyon based on the sage advice from Joe Kelsey. His description of Boulder Canyon trailhead includes this sentence, “The arduous ascent of the canyon allows time to contemplate the trailhead’s low elevation…”
Wondering if anyone recommends either Boulder or Scab Creek. Any thoughts on which is the better of the two? (Hoping that any issues related to the blowdown will be resolved by the time of our trip.)
In the Teton Wilderness:
We have always been intrigued with the Buffalo Plateau and are thinking about a trip starting at Brooks Lake that would cross Bear Cub Pass, follow the trail up Cub Creek to the head of the drainage and then ascend the Buffalo Plateau from the saddle near the Perry N Boday Lake area, ending up atop the plateau to the west of summit of Crescent Mountain. From there we would travel atop the plateau to the Marston Pass area.
I have two questions. Kmatjhwy indicates that route finding atop the plateau is not a problem. Georgia Yankee and his partner found despite best efforts they kept wandering to far west. I plan to have a GPS along with topo maps to stay on course. Any other advice for staying on track?
After walking to Marston Pass we plan to spend a day or two exploring the North and South Fork of the Yellowstone and then head down Lost Creek to Ferry Lake. Possible exit routes include heading down Lake Creek to Pendergraft Meadows and then go up the South Fork of Buffalo Creek and cross the saddle into the Cub Creek drainage. From there we would head down Cub Creek and re-cross Bear Cub Pass to the Brooks Lake area.
Alternatively, I could continue down Lake Creek to the Lower Pendergraft Meadow area and then head back via Cub Creek to the Brooks Lake area. (My husband is also wondering if the plateau is so scenic that we should consider just turning around and exit the way we came in.) Any recommendations?
In the Washakie Wilderness:
When looking at Wyoming backpacks I often find myself considering the East Washakie Wilderness Loop out of Kirwin which crosses Greybull Pass, Burnwell Pass and Bear Creek Pass (and possibly East Fork Pass). Has anyone done this trip in late August? If so, were you able to cross Jojo Creek with a standard SUV, like a RAV 4, or do you need a higher clearance vehicle. (I understand that I can park before the crossing and simply walk an additional 12 mile (round trip) to get to the Kirwin trailhead.
Thanks in advance for any comments of suggestions.
