Teton Wilderness - direct route from Hidden Canyon to the N Fork Yellowstone River?

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Fungi

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For my trip this summer, I am considering trying to go cross country from the headwaters of Hidden Creek south to the N Fork of the Yellowstone. The Mountain Rabbit posted a great report last summer where he climbed from Hidden Canyon up to Point 11,798' and then continued on the Thorofare Plateau. I would follow the same route initially, but then I'd like to get down to the N Fork Yellowstone. Has anyone here done that, or looked into the possibility? Between the topo map and Google Earth, it looks like descending the ridge at 44.01823, -109.89348 might work.
 
I believe that @Kmatjhwy has described going from Hidden Creek to Thunder Mountain to the NF of Yellowstone. I read it here, so a little searching might find you more info.

I've spent time looking at the map and your point into that valley looks like the obvious way to the NF.
 
Yes you can get down...at the pass below point 10842 head down, pic your route. I have that on good Beta.
 
wsp_scott said:
I believe that @Kmatjhwy has described going from Hidden Creek to Thunder Mountain to the NF of Yellowstone. I read it here, so a little searching might find you more info.

I've spent time looking at the map and your point into that valley looks like the obvious way to the NF.
Click to expand...

Thanks! I found his description, which matches up with the route I'm considering. It is good to know that it "goes".
 
Fungi said:
Thanks! I found his description, which matches up with the route I'm considering. It is good to know that it "goes".
Click to expand...
20250723_112732.jpg

The upper section looks really inviting once you're up there. Hoping to hit a version of that same route soon.

There's one narrow little N-S cliff band on the middle section (not pictured) between 10842 and the North Fork that looks a bit scary on topo, but I have it on good authority that it's a non-issue. (And worst case you can wander a bit north and clear it easy at the cost of a little extra elevation.)

Feel free to shoot me a PM.
 
Mtn Rabbits red line is the way...........
 
Bob said:
Yes you can get down...at the pass below point 10842 head down, pic your route. I have that on good Beta.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the confirmation!
wsp_scott said:
Correction: her description :)
Bob said:
Mtn Rabbits red line is the way...........
Click to expand...
wsp_scott said:
Correction: her description :)
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

wsp_scott said:
Correction: her description :)
Click to expand...
TheMountainRabbit said:
View attachment 149779

The upper section looks really inviting once you're up there. Hoping to hit a version of that same route soon.

There's one narrow little N-S cliff band on the middle section (not pictured) between 10842 and the North Fork that looks a bit scary on topo, but I have it on good authority that it's a non-issue. (And worst case you can wander a bit north and clear it easy at the cost of a little extra elevation.)

Feel free to shoot me a PM.
Click to expand...
Thanks! That is what I was thinking, though I hope to make the side trip up to Point 11,798' before the descent. Your photos from there look amazing!

That cliff band is my only concern. I will probably go to the top of the waterfall there first and see how it looks. If I don't like it, I'll climb around onto the ridge immediately north and then descend. It is definitely reassuring to know that it is passable.
 
I have another question for the experienced explorers of this area. Has anyone followed the crest of the Absarokas from the headwaters of Thorofare Creek north to the headwaters of Fall Creek? Or considered it? It looks like it would be an awesome but challenging traverse. It looks like the whole stretch could be passable based on the topo and Google Earth, but there are a few areas that I'm not certain about.

The more I research this trip, the more questionable ideas I come up with...
 
That was our destination on our trip. I have a route plotted thru there, going down Fall Creek to the east fork of Shoshone. Looks like some of the best wilderness around. You can pm me for my info.....
 
Bob said:
That was our destination on our trip. I have a route plotted thru there, going down Fall Creek to the east fork of Shoshone. Looks like some of the best wilderness around. You can pm me for my info.....
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Ah, I wondered if that is what you had planned. That area looks incredible! I'll send you a message.
 
FWIW, There are obvious pieces of trail visible on Google Earth up Bruin Creek. Might be useful as an access or bailout route

here is one of the spots I found the trail 44.06944, -109.79108
It was pretty obvious on the north side of the creek up to treeline
 
wsp_scott said:
FWIW, There are obvious pieces of trail visible on Google Earth up Bruin Creek. Might be useful as an access or bailout route

here is one of the spots I found the trail 44.06944, -109.79108
It was pretty obvious on the north side of the creek up to treeline
Click to expand...
Bruin Creek was my original thought, and I may still end up doing that. I'm a little worried that I'll run into a lot of washouts if I try to follow that old trail, but it still may be the the safest choice. I did find a report from a group that hiked it 12+ years ago, so that is a little encouraging.
 
Lol.... 12 years is a lot of change. Don't take to much stock in it other than they went thru there....
 
Bob said:
Lol.... 12 years is a lot of change. Don't take to much stock in it other than they went thru there....
Click to expand...
Yeah, and probably not for the better. Have you seen this trip report? It's awesome:
forrestmccarthy.blogspot.com

Du'Mor' — Packrafting Wyoming's Wildest Corner

Michael Fiebeg , Thorofare Creek The Du'Mor' packrafting route starts in the Dunoir near Dubois and finishes on the Buffalo Fork Rive...
forrestmccarthy.blogspot.com forrestmccarthy.blogspot.com
 
Yeah, thats the only one I have found referencing Bruin and Fall Creek. I rely more on the more current GE pics.....
 
Yeah, that trip report is pretty good.

Another separate thing. There is a very obvious trial going up the whole Thorfare Creek (everyone knows this), but the USFS map shows it ending at treeline. The trail continues into the trees, again very obvious with cut trees. We followed it a ways before it became obvious it wasn't going where we wanted it to. We left it here (44.01865, -109.82106) and bushwacked to the west to get over the NF Yellowstone. I'd really like to follow that trail and see where it goes. So, if you are in the area and looking for something to do ... :)
 
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