da big hills
iMTB Rockstah
I did some HAB up Eye of the Wicked. Does that count
Sometimes we hike
- Thread starter evdog
- Start date
Grego
iMTB Addict
Tin Mine. One of my favorite little out and back hikes. Previous pic was just before the designated trail end. More adventurist hikers will go beyond, up rocks where the trail disappears and reappears several times. I've yet to find the rope sessions to get to Beeks, or so I've heard.
Beware of Newts
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Redman
iMTB Rockstah
Spent yesterday exploring some of Valley of Fire State Park. Short hikes from the road to some kick ass gems. We’ll be back soon to get some longer hikes. Really cool place worth checking out.
Elephant Rock
Caves near Elephant Rock
Cabins built by Conservation Corps in early 1900's.
Fire Wave area
Fire Wave
Fire Wave
Fire Wave, my wife & 8 yr old that still likes to cuddle and my 13 yr old off in the corner being a teen.
Elephant Rock
Caves near Elephant Rock
Cabins built by Conservation Corps in early 1900's.
Fire Wave area
Fire Wave
Fire Wave
Fire Wave, my wife & 8 yr old that still likes to cuddle and my 13 yr old off in the corner being a teen.
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mountaingirl sara
iMTB Hooligan
tick
Well-Known Member
If you’re intending to get into the Sierras before August 11, you’re already too late for a permit reservation.
I logged in at 7:00 today, on the dot, as the spots for 8/11 were posted. The website showed 18 spots available for Piute Pass. Clicked to reserve. All gone. By 7:00:30, any trailhead that can get you to the JMT was reserved.
it’s been bad in years past. But not this bad.
We’re intending to to Four Pass Loop in Aspen in July. Which doesn’t set a quota. I was expecting a crowd. But now I’m expecting a total $#!+show.
hopefully the bars and honky tonks will be open in Texas by July. Otherwise it’ll be like the 405/105 interchange at 8:00 on a Monday.
I logged in at 7:00 today, on the dot, as the spots for 8/11 were posted. The website showed 18 spots available for Piute Pass. Clicked to reserve. All gone. By 7:00:30, any trailhead that can get you to the JMT was reserved.
it’s been bad in years past. But not this bad.
We’re intending to to Four Pass Loop in Aspen in July. Which doesn’t set a quota. I was expecting a crowd. But now I’m expecting a total $#!+show.
hopefully the bars and honky tonks will be open in Texas by July. Otherwise it’ll be like the 405/105 interchange at 8:00 on a Monday.
Walleye
Well-Known Member
'Haven't tried the reservation roulette wheel yet this year, but I've heard stories similar to yours. I'm thinking stealth camping may be the way to go, staying far away from the main trails. Piute Pass being one, have you tried Lamarck Col? It's beautiful, challenging, & would be a quick way to access Evolution Basin, if that's your goal (though there is a ranger hut there). The Four Pass Loop is off-the-hook gorgeous, but you're right -it'll be crazily packed in July. Have you considered the Weiminuche, or maybe the Wetterhorn -Uncompahgre area as less-traveled alternatives?
tick
Well-Known Member
My wife hiked the Maroon Bells back in high school, it’s a trip she’s wanted to do again.
We are looking to put a loop together, which means we have to touch the JMT at some point. Today was the first time I went through the motions to get a permit, I’ll try for August 12 tomorrow. We ideally want to start after August 17, and I’d be ok with start dates into September. I think I’ll just keep trying. My backup itinerary took 15 minutes to fill up. So I’ll try for the primary until March, and then take what I can get on the backup.
I’ve had enough Ranger encounters that I’m sticking with the permit process. Even going over Lamarck, the permit slots were full. I’ll probably drop in a couple of “walk up” short trips as well, but for a 3-5 night loop I need to be able to plan ahead.
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tick
Well-Known Member
Just got back today from doing Piute Pass-Muir Pass-Bishop Pass on the North Lake-South Lake Loop. Other than the smoke, a perfect trip. The only bummer was that our required pace left us walking past primo campsites, and settling for lesser spots that ticked the mileage box.
Preparing for this trip with the wife consumed a lot of weekend hours that typically go to saddle time. But we were able to cover 55 miles and 9000 feet in 5 days, and are still married…
Preparing for this trip with the wife consumed a lot of weekend hours that typically go to saddle time. But we were able to cover 55 miles and 9000 feet in 5 days, and are still married…
buggravy
iMTB Addict
Very very nice! I love that area, though you covered some parts I haven't seen. I need to get back up there. I need to get to a lot of places, really.
And a face to go with the name!
Agent Orange
Member
It would take me at least a year to write reports for the 100+ trips I've done in the last 20 years, so here's a few photos I liked.
Buttermilk country around Bishop.
Somewhere in the Sierras west of Olancha.
More Sierras.
Some huge boulders came down this chute and it sounded like thunder, which I thought it was at first. Someone else got it on video.
Sequoia Nat'l Forest.
You can see that two were scanned from negatives. It'd take me another year to scan all the film I shot before going digital.
Buttermilk country around Bishop.
Somewhere in the Sierras west of Olancha.
More Sierras.
Some huge boulders came down this chute and it sounded like thunder, which I thought it was at first. Someone else got it on video.
Sequoia Nat'l Forest.
You can see that two were scanned from negatives. It'd take me another year to scan all the film I shot before going digital.
mountaingirl sara
iMTB Hooligan
Yeah, what he said! Wow! That is some amazing territory!!
Walleye
Well-Known Member
Chris, ha! I had the same thought - no one's hucking Dettifoss or Selfoss any time soon!
mike
iMTB Hooligan
mtnbikej
J-Zilla
Lost Kiwi
Well-Known Member
Very jealous! Always wanted to do Iceland in the summertime, friends have done the the same trip and said it was awesome. Such a cool place, the people are so friendly and nuts - in a good way. We went in winter time, whilst the skiing wasn't anything to write home about the experience of looking out at the landscape with steam coming out through the snow was almost surreal at times.
evdog
iMTB Rockstah
Did a bit of hiking a couple weeks ago... an exploration of sorts. I'll post more details in the AT/Gleason thread. https://www.imtbtrails.com/forum/threads/rr-mt-gleason-and-the-at.6959/
Where better to hike than P C T. Goal was Mt Gleason from the Nike site.
Really nice singletrack. Passed a few thru hikers on the way up.
The summit and pass wasn't the objective. I'd be getting off trail. Started following an old jeep road across the ridge
Eventually it turns right and drops east down the ridge on a fire break
The jeep road splits off left and goes down another ridge to the north. I continued down the fire break towards the AT saddle. There were fairly recent footprints and what at times looked like a path through the brush
Made it down a ways and tried to bushwack across off the ridge and meet up with the jeep road I explored last year. Took a couple tries but I found it. Knowing the route from there it was pretty easy hiking down. Decrepit camper is still there
The goal was to complete a loop by continuing on the jeep road past where it connects to the AT saddle all the way back to the Mt Gleason road. It started off fairly nice. As with the fire break there was evidence of use. When it became overgrown there were plenty of cut branches to help with progress.
The hardest part in the first half were spots with big downed trees. For some paths had been busted through the lower branches to get through. For a couple I found it easier to bushwack around them.
A lot of it looked like this. Very overgrown, but you could push through it with some effort. It was getting hot early afternoon and this got kinda miserable. There was one section right in the middle where the jeep road crossed to the other side of the gully and I missed it due to heavy growth and a bunch of downed trees. Maybe 150 yards of very tough going, and too late I realized also infested with PO. Couldn't avoid it. Thorough scrub down back at the truck hoping to avoid later consequences. As I found out once home I didn't do a good enough job...still got PO rash all over my forehead from wiping sweat off with my sleeve.
Took a rest and had a nap. Then went back out for more a couple hours before sunset.
This time I hiked out an old jeep road off that splits off the switchback on the Mt Gleason Rd not far below the summit. I'd crossed over it on the P C T earlier in the day
It's still a distinct roadbed with some downed trees and debris on it. Pretty clear hiking though.
A few hundred feet after crossing P C T it fades out. Thought I could spot remnants of a bench cut searching around but nothing continuous. So I poked around. There is a nice bowl below the ridge with sparse brush and timber. Not far below thick brush begins. I was tempted to try and connect to the jeep road below again but it was around .4 miles which can get very time consuming as a bushwack, and I didn't have a lot of light left.
Hiked back up to the ridge and followed the old jeep trail back to the SOT. Thought there might be hikers up there but it was deserted. Guess they were all down at Messenger Flat.
Awesome views up top, and really nice trail up there.
Retreated back to camp at the Nike site. Building remnants provided a nice wind break until the wind kicked up and changed direction around bed time.
Where better to hike than P C T. Goal was Mt Gleason from the Nike site.
Really nice singletrack. Passed a few thru hikers on the way up.
The summit and pass wasn't the objective. I'd be getting off trail. Started following an old jeep road across the ridge
Eventually it turns right and drops east down the ridge on a fire break
The jeep road splits off left and goes down another ridge to the north. I continued down the fire break towards the AT saddle. There were fairly recent footprints and what at times looked like a path through the brush
Made it down a ways and tried to bushwack across off the ridge and meet up with the jeep road I explored last year. Took a couple tries but I found it. Knowing the route from there it was pretty easy hiking down. Decrepit camper is still there
The goal was to complete a loop by continuing on the jeep road past where it connects to the AT saddle all the way back to the Mt Gleason road. It started off fairly nice. As with the fire break there was evidence of use. When it became overgrown there were plenty of cut branches to help with progress.
The hardest part in the first half were spots with big downed trees. For some paths had been busted through the lower branches to get through. For a couple I found it easier to bushwack around them.
A lot of it looked like this. Very overgrown, but you could push through it with some effort. It was getting hot early afternoon and this got kinda miserable. There was one section right in the middle where the jeep road crossed to the other side of the gully and I missed it due to heavy growth and a bunch of downed trees. Maybe 150 yards of very tough going, and too late I realized also infested with PO. Couldn't avoid it. Thorough scrub down back at the truck hoping to avoid later consequences. As I found out once home I didn't do a good enough job...still got PO rash all over my forehead from wiping sweat off with my sleeve.
Took a rest and had a nap. Then went back out for more a couple hours before sunset.
This time I hiked out an old jeep road off that splits off the switchback on the Mt Gleason Rd not far below the summit. I'd crossed over it on the P C T earlier in the day
It's still a distinct roadbed with some downed trees and debris on it. Pretty clear hiking though.
A few hundred feet after crossing P C T it fades out. Thought I could spot remnants of a bench cut searching around but nothing continuous. So I poked around. There is a nice bowl below the ridge with sparse brush and timber. Not far below thick brush begins. I was tempted to try and connect to the jeep road below again but it was around .4 miles which can get very time consuming as a bushwack, and I didn't have a lot of light left.
Hiked back up to the ridge and followed the old jeep trail back to the SOT. Thought there might be hikers up there but it was deserted. Guess they were all down at Messenger Flat.
Awesome views up top, and really nice trail up there.
Retreated back to camp at the Nike site. Building remnants provided a nice wind break until the wind kicked up and changed direction around bed time.
Walleye
Well-Known Member
Had Father's Day weekend all to myself, and chose to hit the Sierras. An open slot for Sawmill Pass called to me, as it's the only one on the east side from Whitney to Mammoth that I haven't done. For good reason, too - it starts in the high desert, at 4.6k, and tops out at 11.3K, in 9 miles of grinding uphill. I cut out of work early on Fri., & started hiking at 5:30pm -a good move, to avoid the heat at the lower elevations. Made it to Sawmill Meadow by 9, sacked out, & hiked over the pass to Woods Lake the next morning.
Woods Lake basin was beautiful, with a handful of lakes of varying size, and virtually no one else in the area (I saw only 2 people the whole trip, on Sunday's exit). It was surprisingly cold & windy, which complicated but did not preclude an afternoon swim!
Sunday morning, it was a quick march back over the pass, & then a looong slog back down, past Sawmill Lake & Meadow & the Hogsback, to the trailhead. If you're up for solitude and a great backpacking workout, Sawmill's the one!
Woods Lake basin was beautiful, with a handful of lakes of varying size, and virtually no one else in the area (I saw only 2 people the whole trip, on Sunday's exit). It was surprisingly cold & windy, which complicated but did not preclude an afternoon swim!
Sunday morning, it was a quick march back over the pass, & then a looong slog back down, past Sawmill Lake & Meadow & the Hogsback, to the trailhead. If you're up for solitude and a great backpacking workout, Sawmill's the one!
Danimal
iMTB Addict
That's a great time. Brings back memories of hiking in the sierras, and as you can atest, the photos don't come close to showing the beauty.
Thanks for posting this!!
Agent Orange
Member
Jealous! The group I went with was already fading before the covid years finished it off. I haven't been even regular camping since last October.
I really want to do the Horton Lakes and Mt Tom.Saw these two and immediately knew where it was.
tick
Well-Known Member
Glacier NP. 5 days 4 nights, 48 miles, out and back from Kintla Lake to Hole in the Wall. HITW is essentially Shangri-La, and on our last night we had Upper Kintla Lake to ourselves. Worth all the bear precautions.
View attachment 83938
View attachment 83938
herzalot
iMTB Hooligan
tick
Well-Known Member
Kinnerly Peak from Upper Kintla Campground. iPhone XR. HDR does amazing things, but the peak is 9944 ft, the lake is 4321 ft, and the lake was glassy…pretty amazing spot to have to ourselves. There were 3 people camping 5 miles up trail at Boulder Pass, and the trailhead was 12 miles away. On our way out we didn’t see another person until we were 2 miles from the trailhead. Glacier is an extreme example of the well known tourist pack mentality in Parks. The really good stuff is in the back.
What a photo!
The Springhill Suites this morning in Kalispell has a (barely) better breakfast but the views aren’t as inspiring as yesterday morning. The hotel wanted >$400 for the night but we had points. Otherwise it would have been one more night in the dirt, and flying home smelly.
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Tom the Bomb
iMTB Rockstah
Agent Orange
Member
After the recent big snow I remembered that I have a brand-new pair of MSR snow shoes yet to be tried. 
Walleye
Well-Known Member
Mine were in the truck, but I foolishly chose not to use them!After the recent big snow I remembered that I have a brand-new pair of MSR snow shoes yet to be tried.