Parma
@parma26
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2014
- Messages
- 759
So, I'm back from a great trip to Idaho with some family. We decided to do a family backpacking trip and settled on the Sawtooths. I've been there before, but haven't done a real backpacking trip in the Sawtooths. We left it up to my brother, the resident expert on all things Idaho, to choose the route. We went from Redfish Lake to the Iron Creek Trailhead. It ended up being 28 miles over 4 days/3 nights. Not too many people in the backcountry, just around the trailheads and the popular day hiking areas/lakes.
Let's get on with the photos!
This is the lodge at Redfish Lake. It has all the needs a true backwoodsman "needs"...even a glass of wine and wifi.
For $10 you get a ride across Redfish Lake to the Redfish Lake Inlet trailhead...it was about 6 miles
As tradition, i take the good ole selfie with my son at the trailhead sign.
Here's part of our group of nine hiking up the trail.
Along the trail this time of year you get tons of huckleberries! It's very hard to keep a good pace with these delicious berries all around.
This is the world famous Elephants Perch, this is a rock climbers dream rock. For more info on this check out this site: http://www.mountainproject.com/v/the-elephants-perch/105905689
My older brother with us has climbed pretty much everything in this region. Including some highlights of some first ascents and lowlights of falling.
Here I am doing my part to help nature
I liked these boulder fields, they made it feel like some Hobbitts with a Wizard would come running thru being chased by some Orcs at any moment.
Mt. Cramer was the backdrop as we climbed to Alpine Lake.
And here is Alpine Lake...the one closer to Redfish Lake. There is another Alpine Lake closer to Iron Creek.
Finally at the highest point (approx. 9,300') we can see down into the Baron Lakes
Obligatory flower photo
Here is Baron Lake and where we setup for camp the first night. This was 8.93 miles from the Redfish Inlet Trailhead.
In the morning we woke up to this...it was breathtaking! It's amazing what some sunshine and blue skies can do.
There was this toilet that someone hauled in here that was popular and a welcome site!
Day two was a good hike, mostly along the Baron Creek...and pretty much all downhill!
Some scenery from hiking on day 2.
A view of the valley we were headed down on day two toward Grandjean.
This is Baron Falls, it's about 70' high.
We had a little rain during the day.
Here's our camp after day two, this was 7 miles from Baron Lakes near the turnoff to Sawtooth Lake.
We needed to cross this creek/river. It was COLD! My brother decided to grab the packs of the younger ones and haul them across. I had my camera ready for the fall, isn't that what brothers are for? (he didn't fall)
Day three hiking up to Sawtooth Lake.
Here's the creek we hiked near that was photo worthy.
We camped just below Sawtooth Lake near this unnamed lake...very blue! This was 5.4 mile hike to here on day three.
With fire restrictions in force, we weren't able to light a fire. But we still gathered around the fire pit.
Fourth and final day, we are headed to Sawtooth Lake and the trailhead. This is the same lake we camped near and was photo worthy again.
The cost of getting great photos is finding the high points. Problem is that you need to come down.
This is looking back across the lake where we camped.
First glimpse of Sawtooth Lake. This is one of the larger lakes in the Sawtooths, and a very popular day hiking spot. It's also probably the most photographed lake in Idaho. It's nearly a mile long and 1/2 a mile wide.
Here is my son and me at Sawtooth Lake.
Sawtooth Lake without us in the way
All along this trip we saw and heard these Pikas. They are very curious fellas.
Leaving Sawtooth Lake and headed for the trailhead
This is Alpine Lake #2 near Iron Creek Trailhead
I thought this was cool. It looked like one tree fell and was uprooted, and took out two others on its way down.
Almost there!
We made it. This day's mileage was 6.87 making the total for the 4 days 28.21 miles
And here's the much needed post trip meal/burger!
That's it. The Sawtooths are amazing! One thing about this area is that you are either hiking up or down, not too many level spots. And if you are running into too many people, then you need to explore more areas, this is the largest wilderness area in the US outside of Alaska.
Featured image for home page:
Let's get on with the photos!
This is the lodge at Redfish Lake. It has all the needs a true backwoodsman "needs"...even a glass of wine and wifi.
For $10 you get a ride across Redfish Lake to the Redfish Lake Inlet trailhead...it was about 6 miles
As tradition, i take the good ole selfie with my son at the trailhead sign.
Here's part of our group of nine hiking up the trail.
Along the trail this time of year you get tons of huckleberries! It's very hard to keep a good pace with these delicious berries all around.
This is the world famous Elephants Perch, this is a rock climbers dream rock. For more info on this check out this site: http://www.mountainproject.com/v/the-elephants-perch/105905689
My older brother with us has climbed pretty much everything in this region. Including some highlights of some first ascents and lowlights of falling.
Here I am doing my part to help nature
I liked these boulder fields, they made it feel like some Hobbitts with a Wizard would come running thru being chased by some Orcs at any moment.
Mt. Cramer was the backdrop as we climbed to Alpine Lake.
And here is Alpine Lake...the one closer to Redfish Lake. There is another Alpine Lake closer to Iron Creek.
Finally at the highest point (approx. 9,300') we can see down into the Baron Lakes
Obligatory flower photo
Here is Baron Lake and where we setup for camp the first night. This was 8.93 miles from the Redfish Inlet Trailhead.
In the morning we woke up to this...it was breathtaking! It's amazing what some sunshine and blue skies can do.
There was this toilet that someone hauled in here that was popular and a welcome site!
Day two was a good hike, mostly along the Baron Creek...and pretty much all downhill!
Some scenery from hiking on day 2.
A view of the valley we were headed down on day two toward Grandjean.
This is Baron Falls, it's about 70' high.
We had a little rain during the day.
Here's our camp after day two, this was 7 miles from Baron Lakes near the turnoff to Sawtooth Lake.
We needed to cross this creek/river. It was COLD! My brother decided to grab the packs of the younger ones and haul them across. I had my camera ready for the fall, isn't that what brothers are for? (he didn't fall)
Day three hiking up to Sawtooth Lake.
Here's the creek we hiked near that was photo worthy.
We camped just below Sawtooth Lake near this unnamed lake...very blue! This was 5.4 mile hike to here on day three.
With fire restrictions in force, we weren't able to light a fire. But we still gathered around the fire pit.
Fourth and final day, we are headed to Sawtooth Lake and the trailhead. This is the same lake we camped near and was photo worthy again.
The cost of getting great photos is finding the high points. Problem is that you need to come down.
This is looking back across the lake where we camped.
First glimpse of Sawtooth Lake. This is one of the larger lakes in the Sawtooths, and a very popular day hiking spot. It's also probably the most photographed lake in Idaho. It's nearly a mile long and 1/2 a mile wide.
Here is my son and me at Sawtooth Lake.
Sawtooth Lake without us in the way
All along this trip we saw and heard these Pikas. They are very curious fellas.
Leaving Sawtooth Lake and headed for the trailhead
This is Alpine Lake #2 near Iron Creek Trailhead
I thought this was cool. It looked like one tree fell and was uprooted, and took out two others on its way down.
Almost there!
We made it. This day's mileage was 6.87 making the total for the 4 days 28.21 miles
And here's the much needed post trip meal/burger!
That's it. The Sawtooths are amazing! One thing about this area is that you are either hiking up or down, not too many level spots. And if you are running into too many people, then you need to explore more areas, this is the largest wilderness area in the US outside of Alaska.
Featured image for home page:
Last edited:
