Post by: branches on August 11, 2017, 02:25:06 AM
The second morning, we wanted to summit Johnson Peak but when we got halfway up the smoke was very bad and blocked all views and we could not even glass to Hawkeye Point so we decided to go back down and try again on a clear day.
The area still looked great even with the smoke and the heat. We noticed that the goats did not like the heat and after daylight, they would go to there dusting bowls. We also noticed that the biting flies were very much at home flying into our eyes and mouth when we did not want then to.
Overall we had a great time and will be back soon. This is a very beautiful place and we are excited to get the chance to visit.
Also we would like to thank the person or people who cleared the Lilly Basin Trail. They took down at least a half dozen dead falls over the trail and also cleared the brush and re worked the trail to the Heart Lake.
Here is the first set of pictures of our hike.
The flowers were great and the smells were good in the areas that held water. This area even with the heat was still awesome. The birds were working the flowers hard and the scenery was great.
Post by: branches on August 11, 2017, 02:28:37 AM
Post by: branches on August 11, 2017, 02:38:25 AM
Post by: branches on August 11, 2017, 03:17:03 AM
Post by: Sandberm on August 11, 2017, 04:56:57 AM
Thanks for sharing with us your trip. I like these kinds of threads.
Post by: huntnfmly on August 11, 2017, 04:57:31 AM
Post by: Todd_ID on August 11, 2017, 05:05:46 AM
Good trip and story!
Post by: boneaddict on August 11, 2017, 06:14:05 AM
Post by: cbond3318 on August 11, 2017, 06:47:54 AM
great pics! :tup:
Post by: bracer40 on August 11, 2017, 07:02:22 AM
Post by: quadrafire on August 11, 2017, 08:18:50 AM
Post by: branches on August 18, 2017, 01:30:11 AM
Post by: Skyvalhunter on August 18, 2017, 05:36:29 AM
Post by: Fl0und3rz on August 18, 2017, 05:41:30 AM
Post by: fish vacuum on August 20, 2017, 09:46:20 AM
Post by: jackelope on August 20, 2017, 03:32:44 PM
Post by: branches on August 31, 2017, 01:41:07 AM
Post by: The scout on August 31, 2017, 05:21:44 AM
Post by: netcoyote on August 31, 2017, 06:45:19 AM
Post by: jackelope on August 31, 2017, 11:56:50 AM
not to thread jack, jackelope hope you are flexible on your time up there in October. I have spent a lot of time up there that time of year and it can be fogged in for a week at a time. there coats are better the later you go but I would be going the first part of October just to be safe.
Thank you. The plan is the first part of October. Maybe a weekend trip late in September.
Post by: skidynastar33 on August 31, 2017, 06:53:51 PM
Post by: jackelope on August 31, 2017, 08:03:06 PM
Post by: branches on September 01, 2017, 12:18:53 AM
not to thread jack, jackelope hope you are flexible on your time up there in October. I have spent a lot of time up there that time of year and it can be fogged in for a week at a time. there coats are better the later you go but I would be going the first part of October just to be safe.
Thank you. The plan is the first part of October. Maybe a weekend trip late in September.
Yes the clouds can be very bad at the end of September and yes they can stay that way for over a week before clearing up. If you can see 75 yards that is good. Also the snow could make it hard for getting around. I think the two tents we packed out were damaged from snowfall because the tent poles were busted up. The owners must have wanted to get out before the conditions got too dangerous for the hike out
Post by: branches on September 01, 2017, 12:28:07 AM
Just curious Branches, did you go in on the Lilly Basin trail?
Yes we hiked in on the Lilly Basin trail. It was in better shape this year because somebody cut out all of the blowdowns and some of the brush along the trial. I would like to add that there is what I think a dangerous spot on the trail in the basin at Glacier Creek. The steep rock face is getting harder to climb on. I guess somebody with mountaineering or climbing experience would think it is nothing but we have had our hands full each time we have to get around it.
Post by: netcoyote on September 01, 2017, 09:14:56 AM
Just curious Branches, did you go in on the Lilly Basin trail?
Yes we hiked in on the Lilly Basin trail. It was in better shape this year because somebody cut out all of the blowdowns and some of the brush along the trial. I would like to add that there is what I think a dangerous spot on the trail in the basin at Glacier Creek. The steep rock face is getting harder to climb on. I guess somebody with mountaineering or climbing experience would think it is nothing but we have had our hands full each time we have to get around it.
I work with a Backcountry Horsemen trail crew that clears the Lilly Basin trail every year. One of our other crews (or maybe even FS crew) cleared it this year. The large pile of jumbled logs high on the ridge was cut by our crew several years ago.
We have been talking with the FS about the Glacier Creek crossing. Last year, we did a full report of the conditions and the FS got funding for a blasting project to cut a shelf on the rock face for a trail. They have it on their books to be done this year but they are running out of time.
Good to hear about someone enjoying the trail. Thanks for the pictures.
Post by: branches on September 02, 2017, 10:44:55 PM
Just curious Branches, did you go in on the Lilly Basin trail?
Yes we hiked in on the Lilly Basin trail. It was in better shape this year because somebody cut out all of the blowdowns and some of the brush along the trial. I would like to add that there is what I think a dangerous spot on the trail in the basin at Glacier Creek. The steep rock face is getting harder to climb on. I guess somebody with mountaineering or climbing experience would think it is nothing but we have had our hands full each time we have to get around it.
I work with a Backcountry Horsemen trail crew that clears the Lilly Basin trail every year. One of our other crews (or maybe even FS crew) cleared it this year. The large pile of jumbled logs high on the ridge was cut by our crew several years ago.
We have been talking with the FS about the Glacier Creek crossing. Last year, we did a full report of the conditions and the FS got funding for a blasting project to cut a shelf on the rock face for a trail. They have it on their books to be done this year but they are running out of time.
Good to hear about someone enjoying the trail. Thanks for the pictures.
This is good news about the trail. We usually stop for a break at that log pile on the ridge or at the camp just about 10 minutes up from there. Will the blasting of the rock shelf be wide enough for stock to get by? I bet it has been many years since a horse or mule has made it to the lake. The first time I took my kids to the lake I told them I had rode up by mule and they said NO WAY because of that spot on Glacier Creek. I will have to see if I have any old pictures of the creek. I have not taken any pictures of that spot the last two years because we were roping the big packs up or down the small cliff.
Post by: branches on September 02, 2017, 11:24:41 PM
This is the log pile we usually take a break at.
The other picture are of the creek that has washed away the trail. The area to the right of the creek is basically now a vertical cliff. All of the rock and dirt are gone from the creek up the hill about 25 yards. You can still get up the rock face and some people can still navigate the trail with a light pack but if you have a big pack you might want to rope your pack up or down the rock face. You can always bushwack up the creek a couple of hundred yards and find away across and come back to the trail.
Post by: netcoyote on September 03, 2017, 02:15:09 PM
Here's a picture from a couple weeks ago.
Post by: branches on September 03, 2017, 10:11:29 PM