I didn't get everything I wanted, but I was flexible enough to get a trip going. I'm doing a nice big loop in the south-west corner.
9U4 Union falls
8b6 Lower Bechler
8t1 Basin beach
oe1 Summit Lake
9a5 Buffalo Lake
9a6 Robinson Creek
9u1 Falls River cutoff
Probably going to be more than 70 miles all told. At lest two pitches will be off-trail as I cut through madison plateau to get from 8t1 to oe1, and from oe1 to 9a5. I think I'm planning on another off-trail section to get from 9a5 to 9a6.
Still tweaking some dates, but when I pick up my permits, I am going to try and get the rangers to swap me 8t1 for 9d3, which is what I really want. It's a walk-up only for the date I want, and I really, really want 9d3 because of where it's positioned. 8t1 is at shoshone lake by a thermal basin, which is nice, but the angles for the off-trail section put me going through the thickest section of the forest. 9D3 goes through much thinner sections of forest.
It'll be nice, I think.
Most days are about ten miles give or take a few miles, which gives me a lot of additional time to explore the area.
I've also got another reservation for canyon the week after this loop.
Joseph's coat for two days, another day spent at 4w3, then out. There's a lot of really really cool thermal features in the area.
The see-sawing is funny, I think. Last time I was in yellowstone, I did a single overnight in the back country. Now I'm hurling myself into it with great force. Both of these are solo hikes in mid to late July.
One of these days, I'm going to have to buckle down and experience hiking with another living soul at least once. The last time I tried was Buckskin gulch, and the dude dipped on me without having the courtesy to tell me he was dipping. I was not pleased because he was supposed to be my shuttle back to my car, but to his credit, the dude made it up by driving all the way down from salt lake, shuttling me, spending half a day in the gulch, and then going back out.
I dunno.
I guess the experience left me wary of trusting someone who wasn't me.
Those of you who do a lot of group hiking, what is it like? When I think of it, all I can really think of is being held back by the slowest member of the group. That, or being the slowest member of the group. But I'm sure it must be nice to chat at the end of the day and have people you can rely on if you get in a spot of trouble.
