Post by panatomicx on Sept 5, 2020 10:29:09 GMT -8
We were not even sure that we'd be able to do our annual Rocky MT backpack this year. But the mountains were calling, and I figured that the least likely place to run into any Covids would be the backcountry. We decided to keep it simple, and do an Aero Lakes route which we had done before. Joining us were Tim, who was with us in the Winds last year, but who had never seen the Beartooths, and two young people (20's), Micah and Brooke. Micah was an experienced backpacker, but Brooke, though very fit, had only done one 2-day backpack before in her life. Usually it's a bunch of old farts, so having the kids with us this time was special.
I planned an extra day to acclimate, having been hit pretty hard last year in the Winds, and skiing at Breckinridge this March. We spent the first night in Red Lodge at the Yodeler, (Corporate free and groovy!), with a great (Right Joe?) Mexican dinner at Las Palmitas. Breakfast, as usual, at Prindy's. Then we drove over the pass, but stopped near the top (11,000 ft), and spent about an hour an a half up there, walking, flying a kite, fooling around. Spent the next night in Cooke City, following a tourist stop in Yellowstone, and another really good outdoor meal at the Log Cabin in Silver Gate.
Up on the Pass
Monday morning we spotted one car, then headed up Lulu Pass Rd to the trailhead. Lady of the Lake is a good way to access the plateau, as it's a pretty, mostly flat trail till you get to the 1000' climb up Cardiac Hill to Aero Lake. The right turn to cross Zimmer Creek was barely marked with a single stone, but we did notice it, and hopped over the stream and zipped (Ha!) up the hill to Lower Aero Lake. We camped on a grassy bench overlooking the Lake. No one else around but the goats, and one other party about a mile away. My acclimatization scheme was working, I had no symptoms.
Tim, Micah and Brooke went for a swim, I relaxed by the tent, and Joe continued his quest for the perfect Goat photo. The kids then climbed every little hill around the camp. Like you say when the children are little, and they're running around all day, "They'll sleep well tonight!".
Up Zimmer Creek
Turnoff
Almost there
Made it!
Tim and Brooke woke up early for the sunrise from one of the nearby hills, and we set out for Rough lake. Around the West side of Lower Aero,up the incredibly beautiful drainage, past the waterfalls, to Upper Aero. Crossed the stream, went around the East side of the lake, over many, many, many boulder fields, and up the saddle. Brooke and Micah were motoring at this point, and by the time we got to the camp at Rough Lake they had already dropped their packs and rock-hopped over to a little island in the lake.
Coming over the saddle to Rough Lake
We came over that notch in the background
Camp at Rough Lake
I planned an extra day to acclimate, having been hit pretty hard last year in the Winds, and skiing at Breckinridge this March. We spent the first night in Red Lodge at the Yodeler, (Corporate free and groovy!), with a great (Right Joe?) Mexican dinner at Las Palmitas. Breakfast, as usual, at Prindy's. Then we drove over the pass, but stopped near the top (11,000 ft), and spent about an hour an a half up there, walking, flying a kite, fooling around. Spent the next night in Cooke City, following a tourist stop in Yellowstone, and another really good outdoor meal at the Log Cabin in Silver Gate.
Up on the Pass
Monday morning we spotted one car, then headed up Lulu Pass Rd to the trailhead. Lady of the Lake is a good way to access the plateau, as it's a pretty, mostly flat trail till you get to the 1000' climb up Cardiac Hill to Aero Lake. The right turn to cross Zimmer Creek was barely marked with a single stone, but we did notice it, and hopped over the stream and zipped (Ha!) up the hill to Lower Aero Lake. We camped on a grassy bench overlooking the Lake. No one else around but the goats, and one other party about a mile away. My acclimatization scheme was working, I had no symptoms.
Tim, Micah and Brooke went for a swim, I relaxed by the tent, and Joe continued his quest for the perfect Goat photo. The kids then climbed every little hill around the camp. Like you say when the children are little, and they're running around all day, "They'll sleep well tonight!".
Up Zimmer Creek
Turnoff
Almost there
Made it!
Tim and Brooke woke up early for the sunrise from one of the nearby hills, and we set out for Rough lake. Around the West side of Lower Aero,up the incredibly beautiful drainage, past the waterfalls, to Upper Aero. Crossed the stream, went around the East side of the lake, over many, many, many boulder fields, and up the saddle. Brooke and Micah were motoring at this point, and by the time we got to the camp at Rough Lake they had already dropped their packs and rock-hopped over to a little island in the lake.
Coming over the saddle to Rough Lake
We came over that notch in the background
Camp at Rough Lake
