Shoshone Lake Lollipop Loop - Yellowstone National Park - July 24, 2022

Rockskipper said:
You forgot those heavy circus peanuts.
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I have to hold some of those back. Sometimes when Hugh gets into mosey mode I have to shake the peanut bag a little and he comes darting up the trail at a brisk pace. @kwc claims that he refuses to be tempted by the scrumptious banana like flavor of the nut but I've learned his weakness may be chocolate. I'll have to raid the pantry to see what trail worthy snacks I have to bribe him with that will not turn to goo when we get too close to the Pelican Valley Mud Volcano.

scatman said:
You're forgetting about that big marsh on upper Pelican Creek. :) I may have to pack a couple of additional meals to make that long 16! :)

The Hayden/Beach Lake/West Thumb will be a cakewalk! Light pack, adrenaline from grizzlies, headwaters of Alum Creek - Epic!
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But we have September on our side. Hopefully the rain holds off and the ground remains solid under our feet.

I agree Hayden Valley will be epic. I'm looking forward to our grand picnic lunch on the distant banks of Alum Creek.
 
Kmatjhwy said:
Now for just myself, am combining taking less stuff with living with the land and utilizing those old indigenous ways that have known and have been taught at Rabbitstick. Maybe sometime just go into the wilds with just a small daypack and live all spring to fall plus and living in the wilds. Like they do on the 'Alone' series on TV but instead for a competition and for money, one is doing it just for themselves - being in the wilds longterm, and enjoying life! And any of us could do this if we really really wanted ... just go into the deep wilds, wander about in those deep wilds, and live. Think of going back to Younts Peak and the whole area not for just a few days but all the whole summer just living! Guess have done it before but how about with less stuff and letting the land provide since am older. Now with the right knowledge and desire ... any of us could do it do think.

You also have usually a late fall trip into the Teton Wilds Hugh? Where are you going this fall do wonder?
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I'm heading back to Pacific Creek. I've been trying to get to Moss Lake for years, and this year it is my number one priority.
 
kwc said:
Slogging through a marsh on a 16 mile day?
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Most of the slogging will probably happen on day two. I think Hugh has us wading thru the leech infested waters of bog creek on his route.

Nothing like a little blood-letting on the trail to keep us strong!
 
I'm really sorry I couldn't do that hike, and I'm sorry you did it while sick. The group that I stayed home for got a really good rating, though, and it felt really nice being present, virtually, for that.

I hiked from Lonestar to 8R5 a few days after your trip, and concur that the bugs were many. DEET and a Thermocell helped.

I actually pulled my bear spray out of the holster right before breakfast at OA1. He was probably 20 yards away. Apparently this critter didn't care that I was yelling at him. As a former band director, neither did my students. Ehh. 20220731_063916.jpg

We, too, saw lots and lots of CDT hikers. Maybe 15-20? The first night a man entered our campsite, looked around, said nothing, and walked past us. I had to ask if he was a CDT hiker, and he nodded. He didn't seem too good at English, and I'm guessing he didn't understand that saying, "Hello," or anything, would get him more of a welcoming. I told him we were following the rules and hanging our food. He looked confused, but eventually he showed me his Ursack, and looked up at the food poles and said he had no string. I think he tired up his Ursack somewhere back on the trail.

My group included folks who waded out in the lake at 8R5. They reported it was shallow and you could go waaaay out. (I will melt in the water, and didn't even get my toes wet.)

We had a nice stroll through the geyser basin.
20220801_100214.jpg

20220801_101939.jpg

The crew that you want to fix the trail you were on was busy at OA3, fixing a bad bog bridge. 20220802_134105.jpg

When we got to OA2, for our night, they were packing things up to take tobthe bog, i think. I think some mules went by early this morning, too. There was much clanking for a few minutes. These guys loaded things up as we set up our camp. At least one mule was unhappy, and there was a mini insurrection, but things eventually calmed. So the park service is working on trails, just maybe not the ones you want.

20220802_144725.jpg

I've not circled the lake before, but I have been at the mouth of the Lewis Channel campsite before, and found that the other campers had no idea how to camp in grizzly, or even chipmunk, country.

I have done the section from Lewis Channel to Delacy, and that beach walking on rocks, is really hard going. We did find a log to sit on, and that made things a bit better.

Glad you're feeling better, and had a good trip!
 
Pringles said:
I'm really sorry I couldn't do that hike, and I'm sorry you did it while sick. The group that I stayed home for got a really good rating, though, and it felt really nice being present, virtually, for that.

I hiked from Lonestar to 8R5 a few days after your trip, and concur that the bugs were many. DEET and a Thermocell helped.

I actually pulled my bear spray out of the holster right before breakfast at OA1. He was probably 20 yards away. Apparently this critter didn't care that I was yelling at him. As a former band director, neither did my students. Ehh. View attachment 112293

We, too, saw lots and lots of CDT hikers. Maybe 15-20? The first night a man entered our campsite, looked around, said nothing, and walked past us. I had to ask if he was a CDT hiker, and he nodded. He didn't seem too good at English, and I'm guessing he didn't understand that saying, "Hello," or anything, would get him more of a welcoming. I told him we were following the rules and hanging our food. He looked confused, but eventually he showed me his Ursack, and looked up at the food poles and said he had no string. I think he tired up his Ursack somewhere back on the trail.

My group included folks who waded out in the lake at 8R5. They reported it was shallow and you could go waaaay out. (I will melt in the water, and didn't even get my toes wet.)

We had a nice stroll through the geyser basin.
View attachment 112294

View attachment 112295

The crew that you want to fix the trail you were on was busy at OA3, fixing a bad bog bridge. View attachment 112296

When we got to OA2, for our night, they were packing things up to take tobthe bog, i think. I think some mules went by early this morning, too. There was much clanking for a few minutes. These guys loaded things up as we set up our camp. At least one mule was unhappy, and there was a mini insurrection, but things eventually calmed. So the park service is working on trails, just maybe not the ones you want.

View attachment 112297

I've not circled the lake before, but I have been at the mouth of the Lewis Channel campsite before, and found that the other campers had no idea how to camp in grizzly, or even chipmunk, country.

I have done the section from Lewis Channel to Delacy, and that beach walking on rocks, is really hard going. We did find a log to sit on, and that made things a bit better.

Glad you're feeling better, and had a good trip!
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Nice bear encounter @Pringles! I had a black bear that wouldn't listen to my shouts at Smoke Jumper Hot Springs a number of years ago. Things got a little tense for a few seconds.

I'm glad your trip went well. Did your other trip members have as good a time as you did?

They were working on that trail last year too. It would be my guess that they have the more popular trails at the top of their trail maintenance bucket list.

Absolutely love the mule shots. Running into mules/mule trains in the backcountry are worth the price of admission alone in my book. :)

I'm guessing that @Rockskipper had something to do with the mule insurrection. She likes to send ripples through the status quo. :D
 
Okay @Bob. I've replaced the six pound, three person tent that I took on this trip, with my 1.8 pound one person tent. I've also jettisoned the four pound tripod. And I've replaced my 20 degree synthetic bag with my 20 degree down bag (weighs less, though I'm not sure by how much). I will not be carrying an additional camera lens (roughly 1 pound) like I did on the Shoshone Trip. My pack is going to be light as a feather! :)
 
scatman said:
Okay @Bob. I've replaced the six pound, three person tent that I took on this trip, with my 1.8 pound one person tent. I've also jettisoned the four pound tripod. And I've replaced my 20 degree synthetic bag with my 20 degree down bag (weighs less, though I'm not sure by how much). I will not be carrying an additional camera lens (roughly 1 pound) like I did on the Shoshone Trip. My pack is going to be light as a feather! :)
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The avian dinos had feathers, so how much would a T-Rex mullet weigh?
 
Rockskipper said:
Feather weight is a relative thing. If your pack weighs as much as a T-Rex mullet, you might be in for a world of hurt. You might be anyway, given the company you're taking with you, and watch out for this:

nbcmontana.com

Biologists to start grizzly bear captures Aug. 9 in Yellowstone

The U. S.
nbcmontana.com nbcmontana.com
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They were trapping grizzlies on Flat Mountain Arm when Katie and I did our canoe trip three years ago. You could see one of the culvert traps up the hill between a few trees. Katie wouldn't let me go investigate. :( Silly girl. :)

I'll be so light, the wind will blow me along the plateau. Think Mary Poppins. :)
 
Bring your umbrella.... Mary..... Not to fly but for rain.
 
scatman said:
Are you suggesting that there is rain in the forecast?
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Saturday
Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 53. West wind 8 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Saturday Night
A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 40. West southwest wind 8 to 11 mph.
Sunday
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Sunny, with a high near 61. West wind 8 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.
Sunday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 41. West wind 7 to 11 mph becoming south southeast after midnight.
Monday
Sunny, with a high near 66.
Monday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 44.
Tuesday
Sunny, with a high near 69.
Tuesday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 47.
Wednesday
A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 69.
Wednesday Night
A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48.
Thursday
A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 63.
 
Bob said:
Saturday
Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 53. West wind 8 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Saturday Night
A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 40. West southwest wind 8 to 11 mph.
Sunday
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Sunny, with a high near 61. West wind 8 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.
Sunday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 41. West wind 7 to 11 mph becoming south southeast after midnight.
Monday
Sunny, with a high near 66.
Monday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 44.
Tuesday
Sunny, with a high near 69.
Tuesday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 47.
Wednesday
A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 69.
Wednesday Night
A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48.
Thursday
A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 63.
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Well, If I can make it through Saturday afternoon and evening, then I should be good to go. :)
 
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