Grizzly Lake and Mount Holmes - YNP - September 7, 2022
Nov 3, 2022 7:56:30 GMT -8
MTalpine, burntfoot, and 1 more like this
Post by scatman on Nov 3, 2022 7:56:30 GMT -8
I planned two back-to-back backpacking trips for September in Yellowstone. This report is on my first trip to Grizzly Lake. On this four day trip, I would hike into campsite 1C2, north of Grizzly Lake, and set up a basecamp with some of my backpacking friends, and do two day hikes from camp. The first day hike would be a hike down to Grizzly Lake, and then off-trail around the lake. I've always been curious of the marshy area at the south end of the lake. My second day hike would take me to the summit of Mount Holmes (sixteen miles roundtrip), which I hadn't summited since 2013.
Day 1 -
The Mount Holmes Trailhead
Electric Peak in the distance
Winter Creek
More Winter Creek
Arriving at campsite 1C2
Looking north along Straight Creek from our campsite
Looking south along Straight Creek from our campsite
My tent at 1C2
Day 2 -
Arriving at Grizzly Lake
Bushwhacking down the west side of the lake
Nearing the southern end of the lake
View north from the south end of Grizzly Lake
Fording the inlet, which was very silty. We got poured on just after this ford -
quite the thunder and lightning show heading across the marshy area at the
south end of the lake.
A wet kilt after the deluge.
Heading back north, up the east side of the lake
Log jam at the Grizzly Lake outlet
On trail now, heading back to camp
Our campsite up ahead on Straight Creek
Day 3 -
Woke up to cold temperatures and fog on Straight Creek
Heading up Winter Creek towards Mount Holmes
Winter Creek heads underground at this point along the trail
Large meadow just south of campsite 1C4. At the west end of this meadow is
where the old Cougar Creek Trail is located. It ran from the patrol cabin on Winter
Creek to the patrol cabin on Cougar Creek, sixteen miles to the south.
Passing the Winter Creek Patrol Cabin
Trilobite Point up ahead
Approaching the White Peaks
Bear scat on the trail
Heading to the saddle between the White Peaks and Mount Holmes
Mount Holmes above
Looking north into the Gallatin Bear management area, towards Echo and Three
Rivers Peaks
Looking north towards Antler Peak and Dome Mountain
Heading up Mount Holmes
Visitor on the trail above
Pauses for a moment. The grizzly then began eating white bark pine nuts right
by the trail.
It then climbed a white bark pine tree to shake more cones to the ground. I
considered myself very lucky to watch this unfold in front of me.
The bear eventually broke of an upper limb and brought it back to the ground with
it.
Amazing! While I always feel fortunate to see a grizzly in the backcountry,
this was a special encounter, getting to see the bear break apart the cones for
the nuts, and then get to see it climb a tree to get more. A good day indeed.
Back on the ground now. It continued to eat the pine nuts, but eventually wondered
down the slope and out of view.
Back to the job of summiting the mountain.
Electric Peak way off in the distance.
The old fire lookout at the summit. It was hit by lightning a few years ago and
burnt up.
The pit toilet near the summit with Trilobite Point beyond
The foundation is pretty much all that is left of the old fire lookout
Making our way back to camp, with unnamed peak 8,932 in the distance.
Back at the Winter Creek Patrol Cabin
Campsite up ahead in the Straight Creek Drainage
Day 4 -
Another foggy, cold morning at camp.
A bison near Winter Creek on our way out.
One more meadow to cross to reach the trailhead.
The End.
Day 1 -
The Mount Holmes Trailhead
Electric Peak in the distance
Winter Creek
More Winter Creek
Arriving at campsite 1C2
Looking north along Straight Creek from our campsite
Looking south along Straight Creek from our campsite
My tent at 1C2
Day 2 -
Arriving at Grizzly Lake
Bushwhacking down the west side of the lake
Nearing the southern end of the lake
View north from the south end of Grizzly Lake
Fording the inlet, which was very silty. We got poured on just after this ford -
quite the thunder and lightning show heading across the marshy area at the
south end of the lake.
A wet kilt after the deluge.
Heading back north, up the east side of the lake
Log jam at the Grizzly Lake outlet
On trail now, heading back to camp
Our campsite up ahead on Straight Creek
Day 3 -
Woke up to cold temperatures and fog on Straight Creek
Heading up Winter Creek towards Mount Holmes
Winter Creek heads underground at this point along the trail
Large meadow just south of campsite 1C4. At the west end of this meadow is
where the old Cougar Creek Trail is located. It ran from the patrol cabin on Winter
Creek to the patrol cabin on Cougar Creek, sixteen miles to the south.
Passing the Winter Creek Patrol Cabin
Trilobite Point up ahead
Approaching the White Peaks
Bear scat on the trail
Heading to the saddle between the White Peaks and Mount Holmes
Mount Holmes above
Looking north into the Gallatin Bear management area, towards Echo and Three
Rivers Peaks
Looking north towards Antler Peak and Dome Mountain
Heading up Mount Holmes
Visitor on the trail above
Pauses for a moment. The grizzly then began eating white bark pine nuts right
by the trail.
It then climbed a white bark pine tree to shake more cones to the ground. I
considered myself very lucky to watch this unfold in front of me.
The bear eventually broke of an upper limb and brought it back to the ground with
it.
Amazing! While I always feel fortunate to see a grizzly in the backcountry,
this was a special encounter, getting to see the bear break apart the cones for
the nuts, and then get to see it climb a tree to get more. A good day indeed.
Back on the ground now. It continued to eat the pine nuts, but eventually wondered
down the slope and out of view.
Back to the job of summiting the mountain.
Electric Peak way off in the distance.The old fire lookout at the summit. It was hit by lightning a few years ago and
burnt up.
The pit toilet near the summit with Trilobite Point beyond
The foundation is pretty much all that is left of the old fire lookout
Making our way back to camp, with unnamed peak 8,932 in the distance.
Back at the Winter Creek Patrol Cabin
Campsite up ahead in the Straight Creek Drainage
Day 4 -
Another foggy, cold morning at camp.
A bison near Winter Creek on our way out.
One more meadow to cross to reach the trailhead.
The End.
