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Post by scoey90 on May 8, 2023 8:31:44 GMT -8
Hello! New to this site I am considering a camping trip into cloud peak wilderness in August Thinking about 3 nights/4days camping during the week I have visited the Bughorbs several times but not camped there
I was considering a hike to Old Crow Lake, then on to Firehole lakes and Lame Lake, camping along the way I am not looking for a punishing, long distance hike. Just something I can do and enjoy the scenery, and do some fishing along the way Would be a solo trip
Any info would be greatly appreciated I am planning to improve my physical condition in advance of this trip I do have asthma but it is treated and when I am in good physical condition, it is not a hinderance
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Travis
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Post by Travis on May 8, 2023 9:36:25 GMT -8
I was considering a hike to Old Crow Lake, then on to Firehole lakes and Lame Lake, camping along the way I am not looking for a punishing, long distance hike. Just something I can do and enjoy the scenery, and do some fishing along the way Would be a solo trip If you are planning on parking at Circle Park Trailhead, then most of that route I have done. But it has been several years. But by "Lame Lake," do you mean "Lame Deer Lake"? Here is a topo map centered on Lame Deer Lake. The elevation gain from the trailhead to Lame Deer Lake is about 1600 feet. Your plan sounds feasible to me. But I don't know your details.
Also, keep in mind that Lame Deer Lake is 9600 feet in elevation. That's not extremely high in terms of risk of altitude sickness. But it is still something to be aware of, especially if you live at only 2000 feet or so. It might be a good idea to car camp the first night at Circle Park Campground ( topo map) to see how you fare with the rise in elevation. |
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Travis
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Post by Travis on May 8, 2023 10:11:25 GMT -8
I need to add that I don't know about the fishing opportunities along that route. I have not checked. You might need to call the Forest Service office or Game and Fish Department. I might be able to chase down a little more information on that later.
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Post by scoey90 on May 8, 2023 11:03:51 GMT -8
Sorry—-I meant lame deer lake
Thanks for the info
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Post by trinity on May 8, 2023 14:58:18 GMT -8
I need to add that I don't know about the fishing opportunities along that route. I have not checked. You might need to call the Forest Service office or Game and Fish Department. Or check with swimswithtrout . |
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Post by swimswithtrout on May 8, 2023 15:26:08 GMT -8
I need to add that I don't know about the fishing opportunities along that route. I have not checked. You might need to call the Forest Service office or Game and Fish Department. Or check with swimswithtrout . Can't help with Cloud Peak. Wind's, Beartooths and Colorado are my areas. |
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Post by High Sierra Fan on May 8, 2023 16:55:06 GMT -8
August is great that high. At least for someone like myself who’s not a heat fan.
I’m a long time fan of national forest wilderness areas; have you been to this one previously?
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Post by scoey90 on May 8, 2023 18:32:10 GMT -8
August is great that high. At least for someone like myself who’s not a heat fan. I’m a long time fan of national forest wilderness areas; have you been to this one previously? I have been to the Bighorns several times but not camping in the cloud peak |
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Post by ecocentric on May 11, 2023 17:42:00 GMT -8
I've explored the Cloud Peak Wilderness several times, mostly hiking from the West Ten Sleep Lake. The mountain itself and its surrounds are impressive. I saw lots of wildlife and not that many people.
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rangewalker
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Post by rangewalker on May 14, 2023 9:21:15 GMT -8
Sorry it took me a few days to catch your post on Cloud Peak Wilderness. I live in the area and been a hiker and active advocate for the CPW since 1984. I have also helped a number of forum members enjoy the area. Maps and Guides: Falcon Press has two current guides to the Cloud Peak Wilderness. I prefer Eril Molvar's Wyoming's Cloud Peak Wilderness, as he is a friend and ED of Western Watersheds Project. And last year updated all of his trailhead information to current conditions on the Bighorn NF and surrounding BLM lands. Trails Illustrated (National Geographic #703) map has also been updated and is in print. The loop from Circle Park Trailhead that leads to the lakes you want to see is one of the better moderate hikes of Cloud Peak. Because it is more moderate to strenuous, and has significant water, it does see more human activity. Lame Deer Lake does not have a system trail but the fisherman paths to it are easy to navigate. A good stop for your Wyoming license would be the Sports Lure in Buffalo, WY as the store tracks reports from their clients and Wyoming Game and Fish on the high lakes and streams in the Cloud Peak and waters in the Southern Bighorn Mountains. Trout are not native to the Wilderness but have been stocked for over one hundred years. Aggressively since the 1950's. They naturally reproduce only in few high lakes. My understanding is that the fishing can be very good considering the habitat. The Forest Service Powder River Ranger District office on the west side of Buffalo, off US 16, just before it climbs the mountain, is a good stop to pick up current trail conditions. When you register at the trailhead, please note the permanent fire ban above 9200' and no camping with 100' of water. i personally have only one trip into the Cloud Peak Wilderness this year. A short one. In the north end, Stull Lakes, then abrupt right turn along an abandoned trail to Wilderness and Willet Creek to add some historic camps to this decade's campsite census that got missed last year. Though the trail was dropped from the system, hunting outfitters still use the camps and creeks. One of the ironies of designated Wilderness is that it is the most heavily managed public land to keep it that way. I spend most of my time in area with the BLM Wilderness Study Areas and Bighorn NF roadless.  Geneva Lake 2021 Cloud Peak Wilderness, WY |
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