One Last Shot at Sublette: A Sensational Saturday on the Cliffed Crest of the Continental Divide

Absarokanaut

Member
Joined
Sep 17, 2014
Messages
697
Tired of thinking and talking about the election and our future at about 7:30 PM on Friday November 11, 2016 while setting back a half dozen beers or so at the Silver Dollar Bar I frequent all too often I made the decision to try and do one of my favorite dayhikes the following morning. We'd had some heavy mountain snows a month before; but mostly warm, dry weather for more than 3 weeks gave me confidence that for the most part I would walk on top of the snow I encountered with a temp of 11 degrees starting out from US HWY 26/287 at about 9,200' just west of Togwotee Pass; about an hour and ten minutes drive Northeast from here in Jackson. I knew I might not complete the hike, but I so wanted to get up into the tundra of sheep and vole land.

My objective was the 11,040'+ Summit of Mt. Sublette; sometimes known as Brooks Lake Mt. or the Brooks Lake Cliffs. Anyone going into this area needs to know this summit is not noted on modern maps but the treacherous summit of very close by 10,537' Sublette Peak is. Sublette Peak is entirely East of the Continental Divide; here are a couple of pics of it so as to not confuse this fairly benign hike with the the far more dangerous outing of the Peak.

First, from Wind River Lake near the top of Togwotee Pass taken last Saturday:

IMG_0645.JPG

Here it is from up on Mt. Sublette in July 2009:

Absaroka Sublette Peak From Mount Sublette.jpg

Here are the Cliffs of Mt. Sublette from Wind River Lake last Saturday:

IMG_0647.JPG

The hike begins on the North side of US HWY 26/287 about a third of a mile down from the westernmost Togwotee Pass Sign. There is a wideout there just east of a headwaters tributary of Blackrock Creek that goes under the highway. I usually do this hike as a counterclockwise loop that starts with a faint trail to the right as you descend into some willows just a couple of minutes from the highway. The trail then rises steeply through mixed conifers that have intermitently been devastated by beetles. About 1.2 miles in you cross a lovely stream with a dropping gorge that gives one of the greatest Columbine and later Monkely Flower displays you'll ever see from Later July and often into September.

Not far after the stream crossing after rising an additional +/-250' you break into a magnificent meadow with an amazing flower display in season. After you rise up the left side of the cirque be CAREFUL unless you have wings, the cliffs on the summit and divide fall off hundreds of feet

Before doing this hike you might scout out the area. Although all but the fewest of steps are in the Bridger-Teton National Forest the best views of Mt. Sublette are in my opinion from the Shoshone National Forest's Brooks Lake area. Here, there's no hiking route up to be seen but rest assured there is a Class I route up the other Side.

Mt. Sublette is the trapezoidal highpoint here just right of Center with Sublette Peak left of Center. This entire Cliff Face is the Crest of the Continental Divide. This photo was taken from a boondocking site on the Bonneville Pass Road which begins just a mile or so short of Brooks Lake on the Brooks Lake Road; Shoshone National Firest. If you choose to drive the "4WD" Barbours Point road to Brooks Lake from Wind River Lake know that it is treacherous with just a little moisture. I've driven it many times and ended up with white kncucles a time or two so please don't do it wet.

Brook Lake From Bonneville Raod.jpg

Here is Sublette Peak on the left and Mt. Sublette from the summit of Austin Peak with the Gros Ventre Range in the background. Late July 2011:

Absaroka Austin Gros Ventre 2013.jpg


This last Saturday I did not summit Mt. Sublette, being alone it was icy and windy enough for me to exercise better judgement. I did however get very close. It was a wonderful day and the latest I've ever been up on this section of the Divide Crest. I have posted other photos of this hike in other threads; most recently Mountains and Peaks. If folks show any interest I'll post some summer pics of this hike but for now just enjoy this Alabsater Autumn.

Sublette's summits approaching the cliffs.

IMG_0605.JPG

Looking at the Wind River Range. Oddly the Headwaters of the Winds are in the Southwestern Absaroka.
IMG_0606.JPG

The Pinnacle Buttes. If I were not cautious I'd of gotten closer to the edge and you'd see Brooks Lake below:

IMG_0610.JPG

Austin Peak:

IMG_0611.JPG

Some of the Absaroka to the Northeast:

IMG_0612.JPG

Arguably the remotest summits of the 48 States; 12,156' Younts Peak left of Center and 12,058' Thorfare Mt. right of center in the Bridger-Teton National Forest's Teton Wilderness near the SE corner of Yellowstone National Park

IMG_0613.JPG

More of the Absaroka with Younts Peak on the right:
IMG_0615.JPG
Breccia Peak. Most of the rock formations of the peaks here are made up of volcanic breccia.
IMG_0617.JPG
Mt. Moran and the wild and incredibly underated Northern Tetons to the right and the core of the Tetons in the photo below that.
IMG_0619.JPG
IMG_0620.JPG
From the left the Hoback Peaks of the Wyoming Range, the Snake River Range, and Southern Tetons across the Leidy Highlands. The microwave relay tower has been there a long time. Please note that tower has a massive chasm between it and Sublette's summit, not a way to go.
IMG_0621.JPG

The Gros Ventre Range.

IMG_0623.JPG

IMG_0624.JPG
Another shot of Sublette's 800' plus East Face.

IMG_0625.JPG

Can't get enough of the Wind Rivers either:

IMG_0627.JPG
More of the Pinnacles with Black Mt. in the distance.

IMG_0628.JPG

Sheep Mt., the backside of the Sleeping Indian in the Gros Ventre Range:

IMG_0631.JPG

I went up over the snow in the center of these photos:
IMG_0634.JPG

IMG_0637.JPG

From the Continental Divide Crest I usually walk the southern boundary of the Teton Wilderness along the Breccia Divide and then down another tributary of Black Rock Creek but there was more snow than I expected. Perhaps I'll add some warmer weather pics later. It was a gorgeous day and a wonderful failure. Every failure sans injury here is joyous; otherwise I wouldn't keep going back.

Although relatively close to Jackson since the Forest Service took these trails off the map relatively few folks go up here. I've summited Sublette more than 50 times and seen another group up there once. This is not my favorite hike, but it is up there and the gateway to my favorite area on earth, the true Headwaters of the Wind River in the world's first National Forest. Thanks for coming along.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0614.JPG
    IMG_0614.JPG
    86.8 KB · Views: 31
  • IMG_0630.JPG
    IMG_0630.JPG
    77.7 KB · Views: 31
Last edited by a moderator:
Just being up there is no failure in my book. Impressive!

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
 
Yeah, that's no failure. Looks like a great day. Love all the super clear photos of the distant mountains and ranges. Thanks for posting.
 
Wow - Nice!!! It looks like you had an incredible day. Glad that you made the most of it in this nice weather we have had here in November.
 
Since I was too chicken !@#$ to get close to the edge and not only didn't fully summit I didn't do the ridge/plateau walk on this hike here are some photos from and around Sublette in earlier months and years.

Here is Upper Jade Lakes with the Ciffs of Sublette, Peak 11,040'+ at far left.

Absaroka Upper Jade August 2013.jpg

The trapazoid of Sublette with Sublette Peak on the left from Austin Peak.

Absaroka Austin View To Sublette and Gros Ventre Range Danish Dames August 16 2011.jpg

Walking the ridge/plateau with Aiko; shot by my buddy Mike W.

Absaroka Me And Aiko On Breccia Divide.jpg

Gardner S. caught me catching my breath on the way up sublette in September 2012.

Absaroka Me Up TOW.jpg

Across the Leidy Highlands to another Wyoming Mt. Range.

Absaroka Tetons From Breccia Divide.jpg

Looking Northeast.

Absaroka Mount Sublette View Northeast July 2009.jpg

October 2014.

Absaroka TOW 102514 Teton View.jpg

October 2014.

Absaroka Pinnacles from Sublette October 2014.jpg

Absaroka Pinnacles From Mount Sublette.jpg

Absaroka Tetons & Paintbrush July 2014.jpg

Taken by Absaroka Ranch Guest I guided up Sublette in 2005.
Tof Of the World..jpg
 

Attachments

  • Absaroka Flowers & Northern Tetons July 2014.jpg
    Absaroka Flowers & Northern Tetons July 2014.jpg
    182.3 KB · Views: 19
Similar threads
Thread starter Title Forum Replies Date
Outdoor_Fool Brooks Range trek - Anaktuvuk Pass to the Haul Road - Cancelled Flight - last minute change-up Backpacking 21
forest dweller Smartphones and how to get your battery to last... General Discussion 19
RyanP Grand Gulch last-minute questions Trip Planning 14
travel2walk last minute Colorado trip, maybe 4 passes? Meet Up (Members Only) 0
TrektheWorld Utah Trip - last weekend of October 2021 Meet Up (Members Only) 2
andyjaggy Last minute Winds trip Meet Up (Members Only) 12
forest dweller Where to go, last minute, early August, with wife, for 2 weeks, with no backcountry permits? Trip Planning 25
Perry Need Some Last Minute Suggestions. Trip Planning 13
C High Uintas Wilderness - Last minute plans Trip Planning 4
Perry Last Minute Over Nighter to Packard Lake Backpacking 13
Perry The Last Song Stuck in Your Head on Trail? General Discussion 29
fossana Zinke's last ditch attempt to suppress Dept of the Interior FoIA requests (public comment open) General Discussion 2
kwc Last Day of Skiing April 2018 Northeast Edition Winter Sports 1
westy Invite Autumnal equinox - one last mountain trip Meet Up (Members Only) 2
F Last flight General Discussion 1
Mike Jones Snowshoeeing trip to Yosemite last weekend! Backpacking 4
N Planning a last-minute trip this weedend Trip Planning 1
Vegan.Hiker Flight cancelled, need last minute info Trip Planning 15
WasatchWill Hayden Peak, conquered at last! Hiking & Camping 15
steve Invite Last-minute Maze Figure 8 packrafting trip this weekend Meet Up (Members Only) 3
steve Invite Last-minute overnighter up AF Canyon tonight - 5.23.14 Meet Up (Members Only) 6
steve Invite Last-minute invite: Day Hike up AF Canyon - Sat, May 17 Meet Up (Members Only) 41
steve Invite last-minute snowshoe camping up AF Canyon. Jan 31-Feb1 Meet Up (Members Only) 0
IntrepidXJ Last Weekend Around Moab Hiking & Camping 3
I Last minute advice needed! Trip Planning 6
intuitive cat what was your best/most satisfactory new gear this last season? Gear 18
Nick Last of The Great Unknown now on iTunes General Discussion 0
Nick Last of The Great Unknown on ABC Nightline tonight! General Discussion 1
gloo last of the great unknown General Discussion 11
Nick Last of The Great Unknown screening this week! General Discussion 19
gnwatts Last Dollar Road Off Road 4
Nick Invite Backpacking - Last weekend in April Meet Up (Members Only) 25
Bill Last of the Great Unknown - Official Trailer General Discussion 13
Archbishop Photos from Low Gap Trail last summer Photography 2
forest dweller Grizzly Bear Kills Backcountry Guide Near Yellowstone, Investigators shot and killed the bear after it charged. General Discussion 13
fossana cottonwood [x] wilderness double shot Hiking & Camping 13
balzaccom Your best shot General Discussion 2
Dave Anyone shot with the new Canon 16-35? Photography 44
Laura My tent shot is the featured photo for Best of May 2014 Photography 8
IntrepidXJ Invite Long Shot: San Juan Overnighter Meet Up (Members Only) 32
Nick The Maze: Shot Canyon to Pictograph Fork Backpacking 9
Dreamer Sublette County backroads fly fishing and truck camping On The Water 7

Similar threads

Back
Top