Gore range fans

Yeah, that's probably unclear--they're just options for possible camps that I've identified.

I suspect this would probably be a 5-6 day trip, but it certainly could be done in less.

But yeah, the country is pretty rough. Eastern Gore range bushwhacks are kindof infamous: the forests are very dense and wet. There was extensive beetle kill in this area, so lots of downed trees to clamber over (although they've had a few years to rot and settle now).

The bushwhack from Upper Slate to South America is tough, but not gnarly the way Black Creek (one drainage to the north) is. (Few things are that gnarly.)

From either lake it's only about 1.5 miles to treeline, but I'd expect it to be half a day's travel minimum. It gets much easier above the trees, although it seems to be a pretty low-snow year, so that means more talus (yuck).

I've driven all but that last 2 1/2 miles in a Nissan Altima, but I've never driven or hiked to Mahan Lake.  I've always been heading to Elliot Ridge.

cweston, I'm curious about a couple of things. I that you and a couple of others on here like the off trail hikes and I think I'd like it also if I had more experience and confidence. I'm wondering how you estimate how long it will take you since you don't really know what you're going to run into until you're there?

A couple of years ago we were forced to bush wack after loosing the trail. While I've never been through to the amazon jungle what we had to plow through I think would have been close. The dense vegetation grabbing my pack at almost every step, a ton of small ups and downs in mud. The going was extremely slow. I found it more frustrating than fun. Looking back on it I'm glad it happened because it's given me more confidence in my compass/map skills but still...sheeesh!!!

But maybe you guys are who more experienced can look at a map and make a good guess whether or not you'll be plowing through the equivalent to the amazon jungle?

It's really very difficult to tell from the map.

Very, very rarely have I ever travelled off-trail without *any* information other than the map. Whether that's photos or 1st-hand descriptions from someone who's been there, or second-hand information that I consider reliable, etc.

So, while I've never been up the south fork of Slate Creek, I do know that it can be done. And, while I don't know exactly what conditions I'll encounter there, I've done bushwhacks in nearby drainages, so I have a pretty-good idea what to expect.

Generally, it *really* helps if you can avoid having a tight schedule on any day you'll be bushwhacking. And low expectations: I certainly wouldn't anticipate a rate of anything above .5 MPH. (even that is optimistic in some scenarios.)

I would not say that bushwhacking is "fun," in most cases. What's fun to me is being able to get to places that are otherwise inaccessible.

Also, Coolkat: I typically schedule my more ambitious off-trial travel for trips where I'll have a partner (my adult son). Although I typically lead, he's perfectly comfortable giving his input on routefinding and other decisions, and I find it very helpful to talk through decisions with him rather than be completely on my own in places where a mistake could have extensive consequences.

I've been to a few places where it took 2-3 attempts before I finally succeeded. One was Doig Lake, in the Gores. Slow going along Black Creek did me in on my first attempt.