magicdufflepud - Jan 3, 2008 3:31 am - Voted 10/10
IncredibleMy friend and I drove 1300 miles last August to the Wyoming Range partly (or purely?) because of your description of the area, which was spot-on I might add. I think this picture has the possibility of drawing us back to the Beartooths next summer. How does this range stack up against the Wyomings and the Absarokas in terms of solitude -- it would seem the beauty is self-evident.
Bob Sihler - Jan 3, 2008 12:59 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: IncredibleFirst, thanks a lot for the feedback on my description of the Wyoming Range. I hope you enjoyed those beautiful, quiet, remote mountains.
As far as the Beartooths compare, it depends what you want. Most people would probably say the Beartooths are more visually spectacular; they are higher than the Wyoming Range and have more snow, even some real glaciers. They are not as remote as the Wyoming Range and see much more use, but the range is extensive, and it is not hard to find yourself alone just a few miles from a trailhead. Huge swaths of the Beartooths feature alpine tundra, and the Beartooths have grizzlies whereas the Wyoming Range doesn't.
The Beartooth Highway between Red Lodge and northeastern Yellowstone is one of America's great drives, but be prepared for lots of company. The picture here is from a few miles back into the High Lakes Wilderness Study Area, accessible from Beartooth Lake (http://www.summitpost.org/view_object.php?object_id=230927) or Island Lake (campgrounds at both, too). A nice trail heads down to Gardner Lake (http://www.summitpost.org/view_object.php?object_id=230932) and beyond from Beartooth Pass and does a loop through a lot of alpine and subalpine country. Those make nice day hikes, and guidebooks will recommend others, like Aero Lakes. If you backpack in, I suggest either the environs of Granite Peak or Sundance Pass if you're a first-time visitor looking to sample the best of the range. Actually, Sundance Pass is probably better unless your aim is to climb Granite. The Sundance Pass route takes you by or near several nice lakes and has plenty of interesting side trips-- don't miss Black Canyon Lake (http://www.summitpost.org/view_object.php?object_id=230929). From the pass, you can climb Whitetail Peak (not difficult-- http://www.summitpost.org/view_object.php?object_id=230936) or wander the ridgetops.
You really can't go wrong in the Yellowstone area. I personally favor the Wyoming Range and the Absarokas, but all the ranges are great and have their own assets. In fact, I'll be doing some time out in the Gallatins and probably the Beartooths myself in July.
magicdufflepud - Jan 3, 2008 1:31 pm - Voted 10/10
Re: IncredibleGreat, thanks for the information. I continue to be pleasantly surprised by just how friendly and helpful the Summitpost community has been.
Comments
Post a Comment