Trout Creek and the Headwaters of Alum Creek - September 11, 2022

scatman

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The day after my Grizzly Lake Trip, I met up with @TractorDoc, @CajunPoncho and Cody to attempt a seventeen mile day hike through the Central Plateau of Yellowstone National Park. Also, @TheMountainRabbit decided that he hadn't had enough of me on the previous trip, so he threw his hat in on the day hike too.

Now this day hike was to begin just south of Hayden Valley, where we would hug the woods along the southern end of the valley for the first few miles. Once we reached Trout Creek, we would follow the creek upstream through its finger meadow. Towards the end of those meadows, we would then cut across a newly burned area to the Alum Creek Drainage, where at that point we would follow Alum Creek to its headwaters. From there, we bushwhacked our way to Beach Lake, where we picked up the old Plateau Trail and followed it most of the way to West Thumb, where we had stashed the Subaru at an unsuspecting turnout. :speechless:

Overview_Map_Headwaters_of_Alum_Creek.jpg
Overview map of our hike

The first four mentioned above got up bright and early, around five 0'clock in the morning at Old Faithful. We set off around 6:00 am to meet TheMountainRabiit at the Cascade Picnic Area, located just south of Hayden Valley. When we arrived at the picnic area, it was a balmy 30 degrees - much warmer than the 17 degrees of the previous years trek through the valley.

Part_1_Telephone_Lines.jpg
Larger scale map - Part I

We headed out along the telephone lines that led us to the valley. It was foggy at the beginning, and it was fun to watch the fog slowly lift of of the sage and grasslands as we made our way. The first interesting thing that we ran into was a thermal area located in the southeastern portion of the valley.

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Frosty and slightly foggy setting out along the transmission lines

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Not much to see until the fog starts burning off

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Frost on my shoes

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Reaching the thermal area

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Thermal area

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Thermal feature along with some instrumentation

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Thermal feature

After exploring the thermal area for a bit, we struck out for Elk Antler Creek. Before reaching the creek though, we began to hear wolves howl jus to the south of us in the trees. We all stopped to take in the serenade as more joined in. This lasted for may two minutes, before all going quiet again. Wow! It's moments like this that tell me that Yellowstone is a special place indeed. For Cody and CajunPoncho, their first off-trail hike in Yellowstone, it must have been particularly special, having the wolves vocalize so close to us for an extended period of time, along with some lingering fog to add to the suspense.

We eventually reached the creek, which was smaller than I had anticipated it being, crossed over it, and then made our way to the hilly country just before Trout Creek.

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The fog is lifting at last

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Wolves in the forest

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A lone bull in the valley.

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A look to the north across the valley

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I learned quickly that these guys are fast hikers

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Elk Antler Creek

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A pair of bulls this time

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The ghost forest to our south - burned a few years ago.

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There should be a bison trail somewhere in the vicinity. :)

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Looking back on Crater Hills and Sulphur Mountain

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A closer look at Sulphur Mountain, with Mount Washburn in the distance

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Yet another bull - these were common occurrences until we left Trout Creek

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Looking north and out into Hayden Valley as we approach the Trout Creek Drainage

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A look up the finger meadows of Trout Creek


Part_2_Tout_Creek.jpg
Larger scale map - Part II

One we reached Trout Creek, it was as simple as following the creek upstream. While simple, it was not necessarily easy, as we had to contend with marshy meadows along the creek, sections of very deep grass, along with more bull bison that gave us wary looks of distrust as we passed.

At one point, we took a quick break for a snack and I ended up leaving my camera their. I got about a half mile up the creek on our route before I realized that I'd left it, so I had to go back and retrieve it. Stupid me! :scatman:

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The meandering Trout Creek

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A look upstream. The meadows were beautiful.

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This guy was limping. This is where we stopped to take a quick break.

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Just about to the point where I'd realized that I'd left my camera behind. :mad:

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The hurt bison was guarding it for me though. Thanks!

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Arriving at the point where we need to break off from Trout Creek and head west towards Alum Creek. This burned area was
unexpected and difficult to get through - at least for me. :) I believe I face planted twice through this.
:moses:

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Typical of the scenery between the two creeks

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Morale still seems to still be high - I think. :)

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Arriving at Alum Creek. It is small at this point and in the shade. I stopped to fill my water bottle here.

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Making our way up the Alum Creek Drainage

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Ahead! Could it be? Yes, the headwaters of Alum Creek. Dry though it may be.

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Sorry, but I had to get a shot at the headwaters

At this point, it was time for a major celebration. And nothing says "major celebration" like caviar on crackers with Tony Chocolonely for dessert!

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Caviar, crackers, mussels and Circus Peanuts on hand for the celebration

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Who wants some caviar? I know that I do! :D

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Look at that! Tony's Chocolonely!

It was at this point that I made a crucial mistake: I left my light-weight, titanium, long spoon in a crack of the log that I was sitting on. I had used it to scoop out some tuna to put on a tortilla, and placed it securely in the crack as not to put it on anything that I might be taking with me on my next trip to Wapiti Lake. This forgetfulness forced me to buy a heavy spoon at old faithful that I would then have to carry to Wapiti. This weighed heavy on my mind once I had realized what I had done for the next six days. :eek:

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Beginning our bushwhack to Beach Lake

Part_3_Beach_Lake.jpg
Larger scale map Part III

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Slow going

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Beginning our descent down to the lake

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Arriving at Beach Lake on the eastern shore

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Four happy hikers at Beach Lake. Morale might be teetering. :)

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Looking back north along the eastern beach

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First trail marker near Beach Lake for the old Plateau Trail

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Posing at a trail marker for the old Plateau Trail

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Before reaching the Arnica Creek Meadows, the old trail runs through a wooded area for about two miles. About one third of which
was burned. This made following the old trail difficult, as we looked for sewn logs and downed, burnt trail markers to guide us.
Once we reached the meadows, we were fine until almost the end. The above image is part of the burn area the old trail runs through


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Grizzly dig in the upper meadows of Arnica Creek

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The meadows of Arnica Creek

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Hard to gauge morale at this distance. :D

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Trail marker near the edge of the meadow for the non-maintained Plateau Trail

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Arnica Creek. What happened to the beaver ponds that used to be present?

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Long shadows are moving across the meadows

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After leaving the meadows, there is still a mile to go through the forest. The image shows some
sewn logs of the Plateau Trail. At some point we got off-trail and had to find our way to another
transmission line corridor in order to get back to the Subaru.


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A lot more downfall across the old trail than there was when I first hiked it nearly 25 years ago.

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One of the last markers before we went the wrong way

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Stumbling out of the woods and onto a transmission line corridor. We followed this corridor back to the service road,
and then south to my vehicle


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This trail marker used to be the first marker that you'd come to if heading from West
Thumb on your way to Beach Lake. Now that the tree has been cut down, people
will no longer be able to easily find the old trail. :( Why cut the tree down?


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Gate to the service road as we reach the Grand Loop Road at West Thumb.

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Back at the car.

What a great hike. It was exhausting for me though. Could it be that we might be one of the last to use the old Plateau Trail? I'm guessing that it will be my last time using it, for I am getting long in the tooth as they say. :(

Hats off to @TheMountainRabbit, Cody and Patrick for making it through. And of course, I always enjoy the company of @TractorDoc, who is crazy enough to let me create our routes for these yearly day hikes.


The End.
 
A fantastic report!

How fantastic to get to hear the wolves! I was photographing in the Hayden one morning at sunrise when I heard some wolves singing a ways away - far further than you guys, but it was a memory I won't forget.
 
* Fair Warning *
Planning a simple day hike with Hugh quickly evolves into a dawn to dusk walking marathon that typically involves terrain even a rabbit would have a difficult time getting thru. Well, except for @TheMountainRabbit that is. :)

Very accurate reporting I must say Hugh. I know you've been eager to tell everyone about the origins of the Heavy Spoon. I think it needs to have a place in future Yellowstone adventures. . . whomever complains the most on the day hike is burdened with carrying it for the backcountry portion. The legacy of the Heavy Spoon must live on!

I hope to sort thru more of my pictures soon and post my perspective of events. Some will be similar. Some may be different. There may even be a picture of @scatman kissing the ground after losing a battle with a downed log.

To wet everyone's appetite here is one of my favorite pictures so far. I call it "Hugh in the Mist." It has one of those mythical vibes to it -- kind of like a picture of Bigfoot or the Loch Ness Monster in the wild.

There are rumors that he moseys in Yellowstone's backcountry. . . some say they've seen him scurrying over downfall while others say they've witnessed him float across a bog. . . is that really the Scatman emerging from the fog? :thinking: :D

0O7A0572.JPG
 
Great TR. Must have been a fast crew for a 17 mile day hike!

We started at 7:00 am and finished up sometime after six in the evening if I remember correctly. @TractorDoc might know the exact time when we reached the Subaru. I remember that it was dark by the time we got back to Old Faithful.
 
* Fair Warning *
Planning a simple day hike with Hugh quickly evolves into a dawn to dusk walking marathon that typically involves terrain even a rabbit would have a difficult time getting thru. Well, except for @TheMountainRabbit that is. :)

Very accurate reporting I must say Hugh. I know you've been eager to tell everyone about the origins of the Heavy Spoon. I think it needs to have a place in future Yellowstone adventures. . . whomever complains the most on the day hike is burdened with carrying it for the backcountry portion. The legacy of the Heavy Spoon must live on!

I hope to sort thru more of my pictures soon and post my perspective of events. Some will be similar. Some may be different. There may even be a picture of @scatman kissing the ground after losing a battle with a downed log.

To wet everyone's appetite here is one of my favorite pictures so far. I call it "Hugh in the Mist." It has one of those mythical vibes to it -- kind of like a picture of Bigfoot or the Loch Ness Monster in the wild.

There are rumors that he moseys in Yellowstone's backcountry. . . some say they've seen him scurrying over downfall while others say they've witnessed him float across a bog. . . is that really the Scatman emerging from the fog? :thinking: :D

View attachment 114651

Scatman kissing the ground just might be the theme of this hike. :D Looking forward to seeing that picture. Was I at least graceful on my descent to the ground?

Looks like I'm heading straight towards a bog in your picture? I'm guessing the fog kept us from seeing it until it was too late? :) I somehow was able to concentrate enough not to got face down into it. I think I do better in the early morning, as I still have some semblance of coordination. :D
It was amazing how many seeps and small streams were located on the south end of the valley up against the forest.

I think we may need to write a book titled Tales of a Heavy Spoon. Maybe @Rockskipper will be kind enough to write the forward to the book for us. Or maybe sprinkle some of her satirical wit throughout, or best yet do both. :thumbsup: I'll let you do most of the writing though, since you are clearly better than me with the written word. I can brainstorm though, and I have endless ability to come up with off-the-wall meaningless information.
 
We started at 7:00 am and finished up sometime after six in the evening if I remember correctly. @TractorDoc might know the exact time when we reached the Subaru. I remember that it was dark by the time we got back to Old Faithful.
I have us at 715a to 6p - almost exactly.

Was a great route, @scatman. Thanks for letting me tag along!
 
Last year you leave behind your Steripen, this year your camera and your spoon, might be time to find a place on the couch for you :)

Still no bears in Yellowstone, I'll bet you made up the part about the wolves as well

looks like a great day
 
Last year you leave behind your Steripen, this year your camera and your spoon, might be time to find a place on the couch for you :)

Still no bears in Yellowstone, I'll bet you made up the part about the wolves as well

looks like a great day

I've been giving that couch idea some serious thought lately. That's why next August will be my last big trip. I was to embarrassed to mention in my report that I lost one of my water bottles after one of my face plants too. Maybe @TractorDoc was able to capture that with his camera? You know, if someone followed in my footsteps on these trips, they'd probably have a full set of camping gear by now. :)

I pretty much make everything up these days. :) Clearly you didn't check out the Grizzly Lake Report: plenty of bears in that one. :)
 
Last big trip ....? Nope I have a lots of 5 to 7 nighters for you........ not hard :rolleyes:
 
Thanks for sharing!

Awwww how far did you have to walk back for your camera?

Nooooo not your spoon! I have managed to never lose my spoon so far, but I know that it will have to happen someday... O_O
 
Thanks for sharing!

Awwww how far did you have to walk back for your camera?

Nooooo not your spoon! I have managed to never lose my spoon so far, but I know that it will have to happen someday... O_O
Lol...... Replaced my spoon last year... Got a long handled one for freeze dried pacs..... Had the old one since 1997
 
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