pnwmossback
Trail Ready!
The moss is getting a refresh after a dry summer
Posts: 11
|
Post by pnwmossback on Sept 13, 2023 11:05:57 GMT -8
Hello, New to the site and putting together a Beartooth loop for 2024. Based on earlier posts by cweston and hikerjer, I put together two possible loops: - Aero Lakes Loop: From hikerjer. This caltopo loop goes from the Lady of Lake TH to Lower Aero Lake -> Rough Lake -> Cairn Lake -> Medicine Lake -> East Rosebud Trail -> US 212. Some questions follow below.
- Beartooth Lake loop: From cweston: This caltopo loop is based on a PM with cweston (many thanks) and it goes from Beartooth Lake -> Green Lake -> Crystal Lake -> Maryott Lake -> Jasper Lake -> Beartooth TH.
So here are some questions: - Feedback: Any pros or cons of either. From an uneducated POV, both seem pretty excellent. We hope to take some days in between where we don't backpack but stay at a lake and day hike instead.
- Aero route: For the Aero loop, I am a little concerned about the routing from Rough Lake to Cairn Lake and then from Medicine Lake to East Rosebud Tr. We don't mind scrambling but would prefer to avoid serious exposure and so any warnings or variants are highly welcomed.
- Bears: We do plan to carry bear spray, but would be good to know if Ursacks are going to be enough or whether we need to rent/buy bear canisters.
Anything else to watch out for? We are all fairly experienced backpackers (couple of Wind River range trips, one in the Idaho Sawtooth and plenty in the Cascades) but not climbers or experienced scramblers. We do know how to navigate via compass and/or gps but we are certainly getting long in the tooth and plan to take about 6-8 days for these loops with some days where we only explore the area without packs in between.
|
|
|
|
Post by cweston on Sept 13, 2023 11:28:49 GMT -8
Both of these areas are pretty low-key in terms of the off-trail travel, IMHO. You'll find follow-able use paths along a lot of the off-trail routes. I can't speak first-hand to the Rough Lake to Cairn Lake route, but from hearing it discussed here, I'd be very surprised if there's any serious exposure. I can speak first-hand about the other route, of course, and there's definitely no exposure. (In fact, if you find yourself exposed, take it as a sign that you are off-route.) You might encounter some hard snow around Donelson depending on the time of year, but there'll be a well-travelled path on pretty level ground, so it's not a problem. If you did a side-trip up Sierra Creek, you might encounter some hard snow along the creek valley further up. One of the real glories of this part of the Beartooths is that it's pretty easy off-trail travel, generally. I think it's a win/win choice. hikerjer, I have the impression that the Aero Lake route might be a little more strenuous than the Sierra Creek area. Does that seem right? Bears: I haven't been in about 10 years. My sense is that you're almost surely not going encounter Griz there, but it is a possibility that exists anywhere in greater Yellowstone. I'd be perfectly comfortable with an Ursack there, FWIW. |
|
pnwmossback
Trail Ready!
The moss is getting a refresh after a dry summer
Posts: 11
|
Post by pnwmossback on Sept 13, 2023 12:09:22 GMT -8
Many thanks cweston. I think that based on an informal survey of the group, there might be a slight preference for the Aero loop though that could change (due to views of Granite Mountain). The elevation gain on the Aero route doesn't seem too bad relative to some of the grunts in the Cascades. In terms of the Beartooth route, are there good views to be had (like the Granite Peak view on the Aero route)? I'll try and find some more information on where the good camping lakes are next. Cairn and Rough Lakes look like they might have decent campsites but Medicine Lake doesn't look too promising based on looking at the contour lines. As I told hikerjer, if you visit our neck of the woods, ping me and I'd gladly buy the beer! |
|
|
|
Post by cweston on Sept 13, 2023 12:19:58 GMT -8
There are nice views of the Castle/Castle Rock group up Sierra Creek, and IIRC some nice views of Granite Peak from Crystal/Maryott/Donelson, but obviously from further away than on the Aero Lakes route. Both of these areas are spectacularly scenic, but I think you're probably correct that the Aero Lakes route might feature more "wow rugged mountain" views.
|
|
|
|
Post by nickhowes on Sept 13, 2023 13:25:23 GMT -8
Both routes should be a lot of fun. I'd probably do the Aero Lakes one. No big exposure IMHO. Most of these routes are covered in my trip reports, although you'll have to pick and choose. Hope they help. There are griz in the Beartooths, but you rarely see them and they are not typically habituated (so far). (My daughter saw a sow and two cubs feeding on a moose carcass near Island Lake CG this Summer.) FWIW, I use a bear canister, but most of my buddies use an Ursack. |
|
pnwmossback
Trail Ready!
The moss is getting a refresh after a dry summer
Posts: 11
|
Post by pnwmossback on Sept 13, 2023 15:28:11 GMT -8
nickhowes: Went through some of the reports on your site. If I am not mistaken, the Granite Peak one is the most relevant to the Aero route since it looks like you went towards Skytop Lakes. Are there camps at lower Aero or does one go on to upper Aero. Looks like there might be decent camps on the south side of upper Aero, though. Any comments on the exit from Medicine Lake to the East Rosebud Trail? The other choice may be to go back to Cairn Lake -> Oly Lake and then to the East Rosebud Trail further down. BTW, we camped at Upper Cramer Lake this year, very near where the waterfall is. Looks like you camped in the head of the meadow near where the trail passes Lower Cramer Lake. Here is a picture of Upper Cramer Lake at our campsite and another from the Cramer Divide.
|
|
|
|
Post by nickhowes on Sept 14, 2023 4:07:28 GMT -8
Are there camps at lower Aero or does one go on to upper Aero. Looks like there might be decent camps on the south side of upper Aero, though. Any comments on the exit from Medicine Lake to the East Rosebud Trail? The other choice may be to go back to Cairn Lake -> Oly Lake and then to the East Rosebud Trail further down. Not many good campsites around Lower Aero lake. A few around Upper Aero lake. No problem getting from Medicine Lake to the East Rosebud trail. |
|
pnwmossback
Trail Ready!
The moss is getting a refresh after a dry summer
Posts: 11
|
Post by pnwmossback on Sept 14, 2023 5:14:17 GMT -8
Thanks a lot, nickhowes. Do you happen to know if there is a more direct route from Medicine Lake to Echo lake so as to do a day hike to Impasse Falls? |
|
|
|
Post by nickhowes on Sept 14, 2023 5:41:41 GMT -8
Do you happen to know if there is a more direct route from Medicine Lake to Echo lake so as to do a day hike to Impasse Falls? I've not hiked directly from Medicine Lake to Echo lake. From what I know of the area, I expect that it would be possible, but pretty strenuous, with route-finding challenges - sounds like fun! |
|
pnwmossback
Trail Ready!
The moss is getting a refresh after a dry summer
Posts: 11
|
Post by pnwmossback on Sept 14, 2023 12:35:21 GMT -8
Looks like we can spend a day exploring the Skytop drainage and then cut over from Medicine to East Rosebud with a detour to Impasse Falls and then on to a camp at Fossil Lake. The Fossil Lake basin seems big enough to hold at least 2 tents....
|
|
panatomicx
Trail Wise!
Less noise and more green
Posts: 496 
|
Post by panatomicx on Sept 27, 2023 16:55:10 GMT -8
 Nick-Here's our campsite at Lower Aero, the bench above the lake to the left, right at the top of Cardiac Hill.  And this is the upper end of Lower Aero. Both fabulous spots. From lady of the Lake TH we did Aeros-Rough-Skytop-Oly-Fossil, then back. Lots of boulder hopping, no real exposure. My opinion, for what it's worth, is that there are no bears once you get up on the plateau. But Joe still made us move the cans a mile away from camp.  |
|
panatomicx
Trail Wise!
Less noise and more green
Posts: 496
|
Post by panatomicx on Sept 27, 2023 17:03:39 GMT -8
 Fossil |
|
pnwmossback
Trail Ready!
The moss is getting a refresh after a dry summer
Posts: 11
|
Post by pnwmossback on Oct 5, 2023 18:00:35 GMT -8
Hey, many thanks for the report panatomicx. How was the routefinding between Skytop and Oly? There seemed to be cliffy bits in between on caltopo. Did you camp at Oly or just go directly to Fossil? best pnwmb |
|
panatomicx
Trail Wise!
Less noise and more green
Posts: 496
|
Post by panatomicx on Oct 6, 2023 16:33:45 GMT -8
|
|
pnwmossback
Trail Ready!
The moss is getting a refresh after a dry summer
Posts: 11
|
Post by pnwmossback on Oct 11, 2023 7:54:20 GMT -8
One more question for the collective: Is anyone aware of shuttle services at Cooke City? We need to get from the trailhead at Kersey Lake up and over Colter Pass to our starting TH at the Lady of the Lake TH.
Likely time of the year is mid-August
|
|
