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Post by swimswithtrout on Oct 16, 2023 15:47:19 GMT -8
On our 28 day trip trip, we camped at the large meadow at very head of the valley above Oly for easy fishing access to Cairn/Billy Lks.. We hopped the low ridge to the SW, climbed up to the south end of Skytop Basin then dropped down to Rough Lk. Between Skytop and Oly there's a lot of slow going around some huge boulders, but no "exposure". After spending time between Lower/Upper Aero, on our way back out and north, we jumped straight south from Rough, taking the spectacular high valley to just above Fizzle Lk, then contoured around Fizzle and up to Fossil. Slideshow of full trip.
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panatomicx
Trail Wise!
Less noise and more green
Posts: 496
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Post by panatomicx on Oct 20, 2023 12:15:09 GMT -8
Always love that slideshow!!
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pnwmossback
Trail Ready!
The moss is getting a refresh after a dry summer
Posts: 11
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Post by pnwmossback on Oct 26, 2023 13:51:54 GMT -8
Thanks swimswithtrout and others. The Rough -> Fizzle -> Fossil looks like a good alternative if one is camping at Fossil. We'll perhaps do that in preference to Skytop -> Oly -> Dewey -> Fossil
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Post by offtrail on Oct 28, 2023 11:51:24 GMT -8
Sorry about joining this thread late, been in Europe the past month. I've done extensive hiking across the Beartooths including both loops you're considering. Did a long loop starting at Island Lake and worked our way across the plateau past Jasper, Crystal, Desolation, Big Butte over to Lake of the Winds. Came back the southerly route past Marianne, Otter, Green and Cloverleaf lakes. Great offtrail loop and fairly easy terrain. Also have done the Aero Lakes loop up past the Aero Lakes in Skytop basin then down to Oly Lake and then up to Fossil, then Windy/Fizzle and then up the drainage to Rough and Lone Elk Lakes then back to Lady of the Lake trailhead. Both are fantastic loops, but if I had to pick just 1, I'd go for the Aero lakes loop. The scenery is amazing and there's lots of base camp options. We basecamped for a couple of days between upper and lower Aero and did a dayhike up to the top of Wilse Peak. Easy walking just lots of scree in places. But an amazing view of the mountains. Skytop Lake basin was another place we spent a couple of days. Just so beautiful. And going down the valley from Skytops to Oly is straightforward and easy. Then there's trail back up to Fossil. Also going from Fossil past Windy and up to Rough is easy. There's actually a use trail forming there's been so many hikers. Let me know if you have more questions.
offtrail
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pnwmossback
Trail Ready!
The moss is getting a refresh after a dry summer
Posts: 11
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Post by pnwmossback on Nov 1, 2023 10:56:47 GMT -8
Thanks offtrail . Hope that Europe was great. We are likely going to be in the BT for about 7 days so should be able to explore a bit. Absolutely want to explore Skytop basin likely as a day hike. We were planning on basecamping at Fossil for a day to explore around Fossil, such as Z lake etc. It will be a long drive for us from Seattle so want to make it count!
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