Dreamer
off route
- Joined
- Jun 14, 2016
- Messages
- 290
Ok, so it’s about time I follow through and finish this adventure. You can find the first half posted in July.
After meeting up with my friend above Boulder Creek for another nine days of food, I headed up to Middle Fork Lake. The lake is large, has a good trail, established sites and attracts plenty of horse packers.
![B14B851A-66A2-4706-8606-2D90B91A605A.jpeg B14B851A-66A2-4706-8606-2D90B91A605A.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/70/70438-1b5c78d23c96cc7fd06e783fde70bed0.jpg)
![38370569-31A4-4A67-A352-038178C414BE.jpeg 38370569-31A4-4A67-A352-038178C414BE.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/70/70420-64f12aae92fa46bd2e22c0cd21c55dcd.jpg)
I spent the night at a lesser used site tucked into the trees along the north shore. The spot was not out of the way enough to avoid having a couple horse guys decide to ride through the middle of my camp while I was eating dinner. Slept well and got an early start. The next destination was Bonneville Basin. The route I took went around to the east of Middle Fork, over to Rainbow Lake then cut off trail through the woods. I did get a little off track in the thick timber, but managed to pull it together with a bit of head scratching and the trusty quad. Before heading towards Rainbow I took a detour up to Noel Lake, which sits about 20ft below the Divide.
![F0AA25E8-DB36-4BBE-B5F9-4641DBE71F1F.jpeg F0AA25E8-DB36-4BBE-B5F9-4641DBE71F1F.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/70/70421-b6026ead369035a933a042ceef742866.jpg)
![42DB5D8B-E65D-4E98-8022-CAFF73A30005.jpeg 42DB5D8B-E65D-4E98-8022-CAFF73A30005.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/70/70422-d5aeb8e168140f035df53d602e1821b6.jpg)
![52E58C43-4498-415E-8BC6-3879A1D348C0.jpeg 52E58C43-4498-415E-8BC6-3879A1D348C0.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/70/70423-653b91887d8ba5afc3a6df424fa67fc4.jpg)
There is a route down the other side from Noel, but that is for climbers. The wind was so strong coming over the notch in the Divide that I had to get on my hands and knees to get the view over to the west face of Roberts Mountain. I ate my lunch by the lake.
![FDFB88CF-232C-4CEA-8914-83E47C94DCD8.jpeg FDFB88CF-232C-4CEA-8914-83E47C94DCD8.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/70/70424-09005121e2c6f4f582bd2c9d1e7047ee.jpg)
The next day I took Raid/Bonneville Col into the East Fork. The area even back in 2012 was popular but when I went through there this year I saw over 40. I camped near Pyramid Lake. Two hikers followed me up the pass where the caught me relaxing. One said he liked to make a cup of tea at the crest of passes and offered me one. I sat with them enjoying the moment and watched a habituated pika zipping back and forth gathering grass. I’ve adopted the tea tradition and have relished many a cup on high.
![CAC3B4A9-D6F7-42F9-94F0-6BC7592763BD.jpeg CAC3B4A9-D6F7-42F9-94F0-6BC7592763BD.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/70/70425-3370f7a6935b5fb4396384e478417de2.jpg)
![C5221948-0517-4834-8EE1-CD733DB3380D.jpeg C5221948-0517-4834-8EE1-CD733DB3380D.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/70/70426-bc0ed8d0d104bebcf7519f7c88ac25a8.jpg)
![218208B7-5B18-412D-B441-965814AFD000.jpeg 218208B7-5B18-412D-B441-965814AFD000.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/70/70427-d8ba127b04fa3a788103c61ab141424c.jpg)
I went over Hailey Pass via the side door first thing the next morning and visited Baptiste Lake before dropping to the west end of Grave Lake for the night. Got a little of the bear heebie jebbies after finding a really fresh print in the mud a short distance from where I could find a flat spot. Still slept in the open, as is my want, but did a quality hang for the food.
![4783EA5E-D6B2-4E0A-B280-172DD5E72355.jpeg 4783EA5E-D6B2-4E0A-B280-172DD5E72355.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/70/70428-18c70a1922196977e753c1a19f541bc6.jpg)
![60BE4CAD-EC06-4D5D-81A6-1B4FC6B925E1.jpeg 60BE4CAD-EC06-4D5D-81A6-1B4FC6B925E1.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/70/70429-90dff09de77040a1741cd2ac16114187.jpg)
![E145F044-CD8D-4C7D-9EBF-888770B3E2A0.jpeg E145F044-CD8D-4C7D-9EBF-888770B3E2A0.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/70/70430-0b2e1cbd3ceea9778428c654ca57afe9.jpg)
Went cross country over to Macon Lake where I grabbed the trail to Washakie Pass, after which I again left the trail to drop towards Shadow Lake for my second to last camp.
![3A4D5DC6-3003-46A8-81C1-E86BB889C664.jpeg 3A4D5DC6-3003-46A8-81C1-E86BB889C664.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/70/70431-e4f77df9e34df6c0149ff299be43a9db.jpg)
![B5FB79FB-D31A-4656-804D-E6C4F17335F1.jpeg B5FB79FB-D31A-4656-804D-E6C4F17335F1.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/70/70432-d95319c4ab8358fc4b0abe7a2c3d39af.jpg)
![E2CFCDA8-EC38-4248-B840-A9D5E5614663.jpeg E2CFCDA8-EC38-4248-B840-A9D5E5614663.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/70/70433-f58a7a1a0379fefae1e4c71cb40f5c10.jpg)
![1E19B663-9216-433A-AE1A-AB9B0AFDC9DF.jpeg 1E19B663-9216-433A-AE1A-AB9B0AFDC9DF.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/70/70434-a888394af3f694218c1d67e780171bda.jpg)
The final night was spent in the trees by Mud Lake not far from the trailhead. The parking lot is always a shock. After this I headed on up to the Tetons for a loop along the crest.
![F0D88A08-76EC-44D6-B3A1-A8B31F0AC4E6.jpeg F0D88A08-76EC-44D6-B3A1-A8B31F0AC4E6.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/70/70435-a63176e63d8b272156e400f9a06503c9.jpg)
![5445ABDD-0FBC-4F46-B7A5-38210D916B25.jpeg 5445ABDD-0FBC-4F46-B7A5-38210D916B25.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/70/70436-d235607aeeb61e89a26cf35b5775801a.jpg)
After meeting up with my friend above Boulder Creek for another nine days of food, I headed up to Middle Fork Lake. The lake is large, has a good trail, established sites and attracts plenty of horse packers.
![B14B851A-66A2-4706-8606-2D90B91A605A.jpeg B14B851A-66A2-4706-8606-2D90B91A605A.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/70/70438-1b5c78d23c96cc7fd06e783fde70bed0.jpg)
![38370569-31A4-4A67-A352-038178C414BE.jpeg 38370569-31A4-4A67-A352-038178C414BE.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/70/70420-64f12aae92fa46bd2e22c0cd21c55dcd.jpg)
I spent the night at a lesser used site tucked into the trees along the north shore. The spot was not out of the way enough to avoid having a couple horse guys decide to ride through the middle of my camp while I was eating dinner. Slept well and got an early start. The next destination was Bonneville Basin. The route I took went around to the east of Middle Fork, over to Rainbow Lake then cut off trail through the woods. I did get a little off track in the thick timber, but managed to pull it together with a bit of head scratching and the trusty quad. Before heading towards Rainbow I took a detour up to Noel Lake, which sits about 20ft below the Divide.
![F0AA25E8-DB36-4BBE-B5F9-4641DBE71F1F.jpeg F0AA25E8-DB36-4BBE-B5F9-4641DBE71F1F.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/70/70421-b6026ead369035a933a042ceef742866.jpg)
![42DB5D8B-E65D-4E98-8022-CAFF73A30005.jpeg 42DB5D8B-E65D-4E98-8022-CAFF73A30005.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/70/70422-d5aeb8e168140f035df53d602e1821b6.jpg)
![52E58C43-4498-415E-8BC6-3879A1D348C0.jpeg 52E58C43-4498-415E-8BC6-3879A1D348C0.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/70/70423-653b91887d8ba5afc3a6df424fa67fc4.jpg)
There is a route down the other side from Noel, but that is for climbers. The wind was so strong coming over the notch in the Divide that I had to get on my hands and knees to get the view over to the west face of Roberts Mountain. I ate my lunch by the lake.
![FDFB88CF-232C-4CEA-8914-83E47C94DCD8.jpeg FDFB88CF-232C-4CEA-8914-83E47C94DCD8.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/70/70424-09005121e2c6f4f582bd2c9d1e7047ee.jpg)
The next day I took Raid/Bonneville Col into the East Fork. The area even back in 2012 was popular but when I went through there this year I saw over 40. I camped near Pyramid Lake. Two hikers followed me up the pass where the caught me relaxing. One said he liked to make a cup of tea at the crest of passes and offered me one. I sat with them enjoying the moment and watched a habituated pika zipping back and forth gathering grass. I’ve adopted the tea tradition and have relished many a cup on high.
![CAC3B4A9-D6F7-42F9-94F0-6BC7592763BD.jpeg CAC3B4A9-D6F7-42F9-94F0-6BC7592763BD.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/70/70425-3370f7a6935b5fb4396384e478417de2.jpg)
![C5221948-0517-4834-8EE1-CD733DB3380D.jpeg C5221948-0517-4834-8EE1-CD733DB3380D.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/70/70426-bc0ed8d0d104bebcf7519f7c88ac25a8.jpg)
![218208B7-5B18-412D-B441-965814AFD000.jpeg 218208B7-5B18-412D-B441-965814AFD000.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/70/70427-d8ba127b04fa3a788103c61ab141424c.jpg)
I went over Hailey Pass via the side door first thing the next morning and visited Baptiste Lake before dropping to the west end of Grave Lake for the night. Got a little of the bear heebie jebbies after finding a really fresh print in the mud a short distance from where I could find a flat spot. Still slept in the open, as is my want, but did a quality hang for the food.
![4783EA5E-D6B2-4E0A-B280-172DD5E72355.jpeg 4783EA5E-D6B2-4E0A-B280-172DD5E72355.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/70/70428-18c70a1922196977e753c1a19f541bc6.jpg)
![60BE4CAD-EC06-4D5D-81A6-1B4FC6B925E1.jpeg 60BE4CAD-EC06-4D5D-81A6-1B4FC6B925E1.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/70/70429-90dff09de77040a1741cd2ac16114187.jpg)
![E145F044-CD8D-4C7D-9EBF-888770B3E2A0.jpeg E145F044-CD8D-4C7D-9EBF-888770B3E2A0.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/70/70430-0b2e1cbd3ceea9778428c654ca57afe9.jpg)
Went cross country over to Macon Lake where I grabbed the trail to Washakie Pass, after which I again left the trail to drop towards Shadow Lake for my second to last camp.
![3A4D5DC6-3003-46A8-81C1-E86BB889C664.jpeg 3A4D5DC6-3003-46A8-81C1-E86BB889C664.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/70/70431-e4f77df9e34df6c0149ff299be43a9db.jpg)
![B5FB79FB-D31A-4656-804D-E6C4F17335F1.jpeg B5FB79FB-D31A-4656-804D-E6C4F17335F1.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/70/70432-d95319c4ab8358fc4b0abe7a2c3d39af.jpg)
![E2CFCDA8-EC38-4248-B840-A9D5E5614663.jpeg E2CFCDA8-EC38-4248-B840-A9D5E5614663.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/70/70433-f58a7a1a0379fefae1e4c71cb40f5c10.jpg)
![1E19B663-9216-433A-AE1A-AB9B0AFDC9DF.jpeg 1E19B663-9216-433A-AE1A-AB9B0AFDC9DF.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/70/70434-a888394af3f694218c1d67e780171bda.jpg)
The final night was spent in the trees by Mud Lake not far from the trailhead. The parking lot is always a shock. After this I headed on up to the Tetons for a loop along the crest.
![F0D88A08-76EC-44D6-B3A1-A8B31F0AC4E6.jpeg F0D88A08-76EC-44D6-B3A1-A8B31F0AC4E6.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/70/70435-a63176e63d8b272156e400f9a06503c9.jpg)
![5445ABDD-0FBC-4F46-B7A5-38210D916B25.jpeg 5445ABDD-0FBC-4F46-B7A5-38210D916B25.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/70/70436-d235607aeeb61e89a26cf35b5775801a.jpg)
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