Need suggestions for an alternate to the Bighorns

P

Pringles

Member
.
Joined
Nov 23, 2015
Messages
427
I have a last minute request for suggestions. I have a friend flying in today. We *were* going to backpack in the Bighorns, in the Cloud Peak Wildernness. We were going to go in on 17, but it was closed due to a fire. So we figured we'd go to West Tensleep Trailhead and go to Misty Moon or Lost Twin Lakes. Now, not only is that road to that trailhead closed, but highway 16 is closed to transit of the Bighorns from Buffalo to Worland. We still have our packs packed (ok, I have stuff all over the floor, but it's *close*), and our food ready. It would be easy enough to go to Yellowstone, BUT my friend won't hike in grizzly country. (Yes there may be a stray grizzly in the Bighorns, let's not go there right now.) We could go to Rocky Mountainn NP and get walk in permits. I believe there are places to hike down near Laramie--do they have Grizzlies? Could anyone suggest where (in Laramie) you get a map, and where we might go? I also thought of the Uintas--they don't have Grizzlies, do they? Same question on the Uintas--where (probably in that area) can one buy a map, and would anyone have any suggestions?

I'm going to look into access to the northern portion of the Bighorns...

Thanks for any suggestions. The plane lands in 5 1/2 hours. :) Maybe a little kayaking and a driving tour of Yellowstone...
 
No grizzlies near Laramie, and none in the Uintas. I'm not sure where to get a physical map of either in Laramie. How far are you planning to go for your trip? How many days/nights?
 
Hi Jackson. Thanks for responding. As to how far? I wish I'd thought to mention that before. This whole thing has me a little discombobulated. We were just figuring 3-5 miles a day, and being out three nights. The important concepts were just to get out with my friend, and it would be nice if it were pretty. As to buying a map, I mentioned Laramie because that was one of the possible areas to hike, and I have no idea where an outfitter would be in either Laramie or near the Uintas. I'm a pretty good planner, but this took me totally by surprise. I'll call the Bighorn National Forest people tomorrow, and see if maybe they can recommend something, but I'd really like to have some kind of backup plan. If the backup plan sounds possible, we may just start driving early tomorrow and get an opportunity to see someplace new. I know approximately how long it takes to get to Vernal, UT from where I live, I'm assuming that would be in the vacinity (and I mean that loosely) of trailheads in the Uintas. As I read that last sentence, I have this fear that I'm terribly naive about what I want to do, and my picture is going to be plastered all over Facebook, like the three women who were pulled out of the woods in Michigan, after going tubing and planning on getting out of the river after it circles back to the parking lot. Sigh.

Anyway, suggestions of places with backpacking and no Grizzlies, sort of near the Yellowstone area (Powell, WY) would be very welcome.

Beth
 
Grand Teton National Park south of Mount Moran. So, in short, the crest trail from Teton Pass to String Lake.
 
Pringles said:
Hi Jackson. Thanks for responding. As to how far? I wish I'd thought to mention that before. This whole thing has me a little discombobulated. We were just figuring 3-5 miles a day, and being out three nights. The important concepts were just to get out with my friend, and it would be nice if it were pretty. As to buying a map, I mentioned Laramie because that was one of the possible areas to hike, and I have no idea where an outfitter would be in either Laramie or near the Uintas. I'm a pretty good planner, but this took me totally by surprise. I'll call the Bighorn National Forest people tomorrow, and see if maybe they can recommend something, but I'd really like to have some kind of backup plan. If the backup plan sounds possible, we may just start driving early tomorrow and get an opportunity to see someplace new. I know approximately how long it takes to get to Vernal, UT from where I live, I'm assuming that would be in the vacinity (and I mean that loosely) of trailheads in the Uintas. As I read that last sentence, I have this fear that I'm terribly naive about what I want to do, and my picture is going to be plastered all over Facebook, like the three women who were pulled out of the woods in Michigan, after going tubing and planning on getting out of the river after it circles back to the parking lot. Sigh.

Anyway, suggestions of places with backpacking and no Grizzlies, sort of near the Yellowstone area (Powell, WY) would be very welcome.

Beth
Click to expand...
The north slope of the Uintas would be closer to the Yellowstone area than the south slope (closer to Vernal). Nearly any of the basins on the north slope would fit your criteria, as the approaches usually range from 6-10 miles one way and are very easy to follow if you briefly study the maps on Caltopo or elsewhere beforehand. Some options are Red Castle, West Fork Blacks Fork, any of the 3 basins accessed from Christmas Meadows, Allsop Lake, and Priord Lake.

There may be a place to find maps somewhere in Evanston if you end up going to the Uintas. I'm not certain though.
 
Thank you. I got a call from my boss yesterday evening. She and her husband had decided to go for a hike on Sunday, and decided to check out Forest Road 17--the far end was where the trailhead we initially wanted was located. She said that they had gotten to that trailhead, and beyond to the next trailhead, and then hiked up to some lake. I'm a bit baffled as I had called the FS late on Friday morning, and that's when I found out that this particular road was closed due to a fire. It was Saturday when I started seeing information that the second (major) road was closed, and our access to any of the trailheads we wanted. So, it looks like our initially scheduled hike is on as planned. I have learned from this, and will order maps for a couple of these places, and maybe actually plan a hike the Uintas, and the mountains near Laramie. Thank you again!

Pringles
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top