As of July 2009 the Slate Creek road is in good shape and easily passable by passenger cars.
Be aware that the trail up Slate Creek to Ocalkens Lake has been deliberately blocked and / or obscured at its junction with the trail to Hoodoo Lake. Someone has dropped a bunch of small to medium sized trees across it. At first, we thought that is was an indication that the trail was rerouted or something and went too far up the road. We found the trail by dropping down from the Hoodoo Lake trail toward Slate Creek. We suspect that this may have been done to keep motor bikes out?? Or....?
When climbing the buttress on WCP-9, if you go as high as the obvious rock tower there is a very good sheep trail from just above the tower to a point a little above the saddle between 9 & Lee.
We approached the buttress through Bighorn Basin by taking the trail toward Iron Basin as far as the switchback just before the long traverse to the saddle between 6 & 7. From there it is an easy traverse into Bighorn Basin. This is a little longer approach than going directly from the lake, but it is really beautiful...and still only 1 hour from the lake to the base of the buttress.
Fred Spicker - Aug 2, 2009 6:30 pm - Hasn't voted
Ocalkens side approachAs of July 2009 the Slate Creek road is in good shape and easily passable by passenger cars.
Be aware that the trail up Slate Creek to Ocalkens Lake has been deliberately blocked and / or obscured at its junction with the trail to Hoodoo Lake. Someone has dropped a bunch of small to medium sized trees across it. At first, we thought that is was an indication that the trail was rerouted or something and went too far up the road. We found the trail by dropping down from the Hoodoo Lake trail toward Slate Creek. We suspect that this may have been done to keep motor bikes out?? Or....?
When climbing the buttress on WCP-9, if you go as high as the obvious rock tower there is a very good sheep trail from just above the tower to a point a little above the saddle between 9 & Lee.
We approached the buttress through Bighorn Basin by taking the trail toward Iron Basin as far as the switchback just before the long traverse to the saddle between 6 & 7. From there it is an easy traverse into Bighorn Basin. This is a little longer approach than going directly from the lake, but it is really beautiful...and still only 1 hour from the lake to the base of the buttress.