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Post by absarokanaut on Dec 7, 2021 14:33:04 GMT -8
I loved walking those thermal features at Mammoth after an October storm once and several other warmer evenings. Mammoth is awesome, you'll have a blast. Assuming you're driving up Gardiner is close enough for a bit of meal alternatives. I would guess Bozeman would be your best final big supply stop would be. You know this living in Colorado but for others just remember when you head for the Lamar, etc., when snows are deeper ungulates and other animals travel the plowed roadway at times. If the weather is "good" maybe a night for Dinner in Livingston. It'll be winter but you should watch Rancho Deluxe anyway.
Have a great time.
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Post by nickhowes on Dec 7, 2021 15:10:59 GMT -8
TrailElder : A couple of photos of YNP in the Winter:
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TrailElder
Trail Wise!
Something will have gone out of us as a people if we ever let the remaining wilderness be destroyed
Posts: 507
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Post by TrailElder on Dec 11, 2021 7:52:20 GMT -8
Some friends have done this and had good experiences. Different area than Mammoth (I'd be interested in your take on the differences) and, of course, different experience yurts vs. 5-star lodging! We are more the yurt types, but could splurge for a special occasion. www.yellowstoneexpeditions.com/index.html
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Post by nickhowes on Dec 11, 2021 15:13:08 GMT -8
TrailElder Sorry but I don't have much info on guided tours - I just take my skis and go. Thirty years ago, we did take a guided tour out of Old Faithful and it was fun, but probably not to relevant to today.
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Post by absarokanaut on Dec 12, 2021 17:01:33 GMT -8
I love the Canyon's Waterfalls more than any thermal features but winter is different. I do not know the company but staying at Canyon could be VERY limiting when it comes to major Thermal areas and the Lamar Valley. It would be interesting to see the places you can go from their location. Being able to get to the Lamar at Dawn and Dusk is crucial if you have ANY wildlife ambitions. Thermal areas also shine at night, so Canyon not the best choice if those are any kind of priorities. In the summer for folks truly interested in Yellowstone I ALWAYS recommend a minimum of two different lodging locations for YNP and a third for GTNP. Most outdoor oriented folks I know focus their summer outings down here on the southern half of the GYE and spend a night in YNP or do a LONG day of the lower loop. Winter obviously makes that difficult. In the summer I usually recommend a single overnight in Cooke City, going up the East side of the Park and coming back down the West the following day.
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Post by topshot on Jan 3, 2022 12:54:36 GMT -8
Back to my original question, I now know we'll arrive July 10 and depart July 15. I hope to reserve a car camp the first 2 nights while doing the normal touristy stuff so we'll have 3 nights to backpack somewhere. Where would you go with 3 full days at this time?
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Post by burntfoot on Jan 3, 2022 15:49:10 GMT -8
Skyrim Trail in NW Yellowstone or Heart Lake/Mt. Sheridan in the SE part of the park. If there is a ton of snow or a slow melt, I'd say Heart Lake/Mt. Sheridan or Black Canyon.
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Post by hikerjer on Jan 6, 2022 8:41:24 GMT -8
This may be heresy but I’m going to throw it out anyway. First, let me be clear. I love Yellowstone. However, for hiking it’s not necessarily the best in the area. Just a few miles to the east is Cooke City and the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness area. There are numerous FS campgrounds in the area that won’t be nearly as crowded as those in the park. Reservations may still be necessary but there is plenty of dispersed camping. I’d suggest the Island Lake area on US Highway 212. If you want specific suggestions, shoot me a PM. If you are set on hiking in the park, I’d stick with the Black Canyon of the Yellowstone or the Skyrim Trail depending on conditions.
Where are you renting your car and what direction are you coming from?
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Post by cweston on Jan 6, 2022 9:29:14 GMT -8
This may be heresy but I’m going to throw it out anyway. First, let me be clear. I love Yellowstone. However, for hiking it’s not necessarily the best in the area. Just a few miles to the east is Cooke City and the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness area. There are numerous FS campgrounds in the area that won’t be nearly as crowded as those in the park. Reservations may still be necessary but there is plenty of dispersed camping. I’d suggest the Island Lake area on US Highway 212. I agree. But July 10 could definitely be early for the country accessible from the Island Lake TH, right? (My perception may be skewed, because the one time I hiked from that trailhead was an exceptionally heavy snow year.)
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Post by topshot on Jan 6, 2022 14:43:30 GMT -8
Where are you renting your car and what direction are you coming from? SLC, but coming in from Crater Lake NP (and likely Craters of the Moon NM) so the West Yellowstone entrance. Departing out the south through GTNP to head back to SLC.
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Post by burntfoot on Jan 6, 2022 18:27:37 GMT -8
I agree. But July 10 could definitely be early for the country accessible from the Island Lake TH, right? (My perception may be skewed, because the one time I hiked from that trailhead was an exceptionally heavy snow year.) Probably a little early for the Beartooths. You may have some snow to slog through, although it will be close to done. But, if the snow is gone, you'll have tons of mosquitos in July. I usually hit the Beartooths for a days-off backpacking in August or September when I worked in Yellowstone. But, I agree with Jer that it is the most spectacular area for hiking in the Yellowstone area.
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Post by Hikerjer on Jan 6, 2022 19:54:33 GMT -8
In the Beartooths, as in most of the Rockies, it all depends on winter and spring snowfall. I’ve actually climbed Granite Peak as early as July 6th with minimal snow issues. Other years I wouldn’t dream of it. One just has to monitor the spring weather and snowpack. You just never know but with climate change, I suspect we’re going to be able to get into the high elevations earlier and earlier. I ‘m not sure that’s a good thing. I do concur that bugs could be a real issue but that’s true just about anywhere in the northern Rockies in early July.
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Post by topshot on Jan 8, 2022 12:21:09 GMT -8
The Skyrim Trail would be right up my alley though it would be just 2 nights. It appears to me it would be best to go up Specimen Creek to WE5/WE7, across the ridge next day to WF2, and then out to the road for 4 miles back to the car.
For Black Canyon, if anyone has made a loop with Rescue Creek (some claim site 1A2 is really nice), which direction is best and where did you start/end? It appears to be almost 4 miles of road walk from the USFS campground to the RC TH.
For Heart Lake, I'd probably loop around the lake as well to extend the trip. It seems 8J1 & 6 are the best sites on the east side. Any comment on the 8B_ sites south of the lake? Is there anything cool to see south of the lake? Soaking in the spring-fed river west of 8C1 is too far out of the way I think.
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Post by topshot on Apr 6, 2022 15:51:15 GMT -8
Any comments on my post directly above this? I need to make my reservation Friday. This would be for July 12-15. Of course, none of those may be available then so might just have to wing it.
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Post by burntfoot on Apr 6, 2022 17:37:00 GMT -8
Skyrim plan sounds good. Camp at Shelf Lake on day 1. That will put you 1/2 mile from the ridge. A good side trip on your first day would be Sheep Mountain if you were interested. 1,000 feet above Shelf Lake.
I've done both trails, but not as a loop. That wouldn't interest me, with the uphill involved on the return. Plus, most of that Rescue Creek Trail is dry. Saw a rattlesnake with a whistle pig in its mouth on that trail.
The best Heart Lake sites are any along or near the lake. Wasn't too impressed with those further south. Basin Creek would be your route for the loop. Did it once, but is not on my must-do-again list.
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