|
|
Post by younger on Jun 29, 2021 11:54:31 GMT -8
Our family is vacationing in Yellowstone later this summer. We have two nights of back country camping on the schedule (10 day trip in total). We are a family of six, ages 14-56. I am the only one that has ever backpacked so the plan is to keep the hikes short and the packs light.
We have one night reserved on the Gardiner River about 4 miles from the Snow Pass trailhead. We have an early wake up and very busy morning so we have to stay in the Mammoth or Tower Junction area's. Looking for an easy hike for this one.
We have a second sight reserved on Pebble Creek about 6 miles from the trailhead for later in the trip. The Slough Creek and Lamar River sights were already reserved.
Looking for feedback on the viability of the plan. We are all in better than average condition, but never been out backpacking and remote camping as a family.
Are the distances okay? What's the difficulty level? Are there better options?
Thanks in advance -
|
|
tigger
Trail Wise!
Posts: 2,547 
|
Post by tigger on Jun 29, 2021 12:09:44 GMT -8
I think the distances are great - plenty long enough to feel like they're hiking and test the waters as it were. There are others in our group that are more educated in that specific area than I, so I will bow to their advice in that regard.
|
|
|
|
Post by cweston on Jun 29, 2021 12:30:41 GMT -8
Looks like the 4-mile hike could actually be the more difficult of the two, since it involves climbing/dropping between drainages, whereas the 6-mile trip is all up Pebble Creek, right? But either way, not being a YNP backcountry expert, just looking at the topo these look like pretty moderate hikes to me.
|
|
|
|
Post by younger on Jun 29, 2021 12:45:49 GMT -8
I was thinking that first hike might be a little too much since it is our first time out and we can't hit the trail head until early afternoon.
Wondering if someone with local knowledge knows of camp sites with an easier hike? |
|
|
|
Post by cweston on Jun 29, 2021 13:06:55 GMT -8
I looked a little more carefully at the map:
Looks like you climb about 650 feet in a little over a mile near the beginning of the hike to the Gardiner River site, and then about 450 feet in about a mile near the end.
That's pretty moderate, I'd say, for decently conditioned, acclimated to elevation (if applicable) adults/teens. I wouldn't sweat it too much. You have the bigger of the two climbs right out of the gate, which is how you want it, IMHO.
|
|
|
|
Post by Hikerjer on Jun 29, 2021 13:22:31 GMT -8
Good advice from the others. I would keep a very close watch on the fire season. It’s shaping up to be a terrible year. I wouldn’t be surprised if much of the hiking in the park is prohibited if things don’t improve. Definitely have a plan B.
|
|
|
|
Post by cweston on Jun 29, 2021 13:42:27 GMT -8
Good advice from the others. Are you the same poster as long-time poster hikerjer (lower-case vs upper-case H)? I was wondering this earlier this week. |
|
|
|
Post by hikerjer on Jun 29, 2021 22:24:19 GMT -8
Ya, my mistake. I inadvertently capitalized the “h” but I really don’t know how. Apologies.
|
|
|
|
Post by cweston on Jun 30, 2021 3:41:29 GMT -8
Ya, my mistake. I inadvertently capitalized the “h” but I really don’t know how. Apologies. No worries—that’s what I assumed but I figured it was worth asking. If H had been a different person, I’d have suggested a different handle. |
|
|
|
Post by burntfoot on Jun 30, 2021 10:37:17 GMT -8
I've worked in the park several seasons and have pretty much done all of those trails. If you want to avoid that first climb, I'd recommend starting further south where the road levels off and the terrain becomes flat. That would be the Golden Gate Trailhead. You'd have some fairly flat walking, and then turn left on the Fawn Pass Trail. That takes you over a small ridge into the Gardiner River area. I am guessing that your campsite is 1G2.
Pebble Creek is one of my favorite places in the park. I much more prefer the campsites in there, rather than along Slough Creek, depending on which campsite you have.
|
|
|
|
Post by younger on Jun 30, 2021 11:12:56 GMT -8
Thank you all for the feedback, especially Burntfoot. Great tip on using the alternate trail head to avoid that initial climb.
For the Pebble Creek hike - would you recommend using the Pebble Beach trail head or the Warm Creek trail head up by the Northeast Entrance? Is it worth taking a morning to hike to Bliss Pass from the camp site before heading out?
|
|
|
|
Post by burntfoot on Jul 1, 2021 18:19:16 GMT -8
I love those upper meadows beyond the Bliss Pass cutoff, if starting from the campground. But, starting from Warm Creek, you'd have something like 600 or 700 up and over to get into those meadows. That route is about 5 miles to the cutoff. For newbies, I'd recommend starting at Pebble Creek Campground, which is 6 miles to the cuttoff. Don't waste your time with the Bliss Pass Trail. That is close to 2,000 feet up STEEPLY with no good views until near the top. If not going on to Slough Creek, use your morning hike to get into those meadows beyond your campsite, which will save you steep climbs up Bliss Pass and the Warm Springs ridge. Watch for bears.
|
|
|
|
Post by younger on Jul 2, 2021 4:55:19 GMT -8
Thank you very much. Just the kind of local knowledge we need.
Now - How about some rain? Please!
|
|
|
|
Post by younger on Jul 2, 2021 5:11:17 GMT -8
Another question -
There are six of us - Do we each need our own can of bear spray?
|
|
zeke
Trail Wise!
Peekaboo slot 2023
Posts: 9,879
|
Post by zeke on Jul 2, 2021 5:55:35 GMT -8
Not each of you, but definitely the one in front and the one in the back. If you can afford a 3rd can, it should be carried by the #2 hiker in the line, as a back up person to the front hiker.
ETA: Have each person carrying one when they go off to the cathole. Any trip away from the group is a liability to that person.
|
|
