Extended Off Trail Trip in Teton Wilderness Area
Posted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 1:51 am
Howdy ya'll. First post here, I've used SP for years and finally signed up.
I'm thinking about a big off trail trip in the Teton/Washakie Wilderness complex and was interested in your opinions. It would be a backpacking trip with an emphasis on non technical routes above treeline.
I'm looking for a 10-12 day trip of about 150 miles with no resupplies, I want to avoid heavily used areas and go off trail whenever it makes sense (i.e. open areas not pointless bushwacks). Just so you know I 'm not crazy, I've done lots of backpacking trips and I'm comfortable with a map and compass.
Here are the ideas I'm considering
1. Follow the Absaroka Divide above treeline from Hwy 20/14 in Yellowstone down to Brooks Lake. I've seen pictures and trip reports of the divide between Bonneville Pass and Younts Peak. That is definitely doable but I'm not as sure about the area to the north. It looks more rugged and a lot steeper. This would be sort of like an Absaroka version of the Sierra High Route.
2. Big Loop through Yellowstone and Teton/Washakie Wilderness Areas - The idea here is to link as many scenic and trailess sections together as possible. I'll stay above treeline as much as possible to minimize bushwacking. There are multiple options but I'm looking at something like this
-Hike down the Thorofare Trail from Yellowstone Lake, pass Hawks Rest and continue up the Yellowstone River.
-Go cross country from Yellowstone River south of Hawks Rest to the Younts Peak area (mostly above treeline rather then in the valley). This might be the crux of the route. Google Earth and topo maps show lots of cliffs and what looks like a burned forest.
-From Younts Peak area follow the continental divide down to Shoshone Pass. This is off trail but easier terrain and people have done it.
-Go east from Shoshone Pass and follow the divide to the Shoshone Plateau stay above treeline as long as possible before dropping down to the Shoshone River. If I can't do it off trail I'll take the trail along the Shoshone River.
-From the Shoshone River head back west either on or off trail and cross back to the headwaters of the Thorofare River. If I can I want to check out an unnamed lake in this area (more off trail).
-From the Thorofare area follow the Trident Plateau (more off trail) to the Glacier Basin area and head out along Fishhook Creek to complete the trip.
I'd be interested in which option would be better and any info on the cross country portions would be appreciated. The areas that I know least about are the following
1. The Absaroka divide between Hwy 20 and Younts Peak.
2. The divide between the headwaters of the Yellowstone and the Thorofare River.
3. The divide leading from Shoshone Pass to the Shoshone Plateau.
4. The divide between the Trident Plateau and Glacier Basin
Any info on these places would be appreciated.
I'm thinking about a big off trail trip in the Teton/Washakie Wilderness complex and was interested in your opinions. It would be a backpacking trip with an emphasis on non technical routes above treeline.
I'm looking for a 10-12 day trip of about 150 miles with no resupplies, I want to avoid heavily used areas and go off trail whenever it makes sense (i.e. open areas not pointless bushwacks). Just so you know I 'm not crazy, I've done lots of backpacking trips and I'm comfortable with a map and compass.
Here are the ideas I'm considering
1. Follow the Absaroka Divide above treeline from Hwy 20/14 in Yellowstone down to Brooks Lake. I've seen pictures and trip reports of the divide between Bonneville Pass and Younts Peak. That is definitely doable but I'm not as sure about the area to the north. It looks more rugged and a lot steeper. This would be sort of like an Absaroka version of the Sierra High Route.
2. Big Loop through Yellowstone and Teton/Washakie Wilderness Areas - The idea here is to link as many scenic and trailess sections together as possible. I'll stay above treeline as much as possible to minimize bushwacking. There are multiple options but I'm looking at something like this
-Hike down the Thorofare Trail from Yellowstone Lake, pass Hawks Rest and continue up the Yellowstone River.
-Go cross country from Yellowstone River south of Hawks Rest to the Younts Peak area (mostly above treeline rather then in the valley). This might be the crux of the route. Google Earth and topo maps show lots of cliffs and what looks like a burned forest.
-From Younts Peak area follow the continental divide down to Shoshone Pass. This is off trail but easier terrain and people have done it.
-Go east from Shoshone Pass and follow the divide to the Shoshone Plateau stay above treeline as long as possible before dropping down to the Shoshone River. If I can't do it off trail I'll take the trail along the Shoshone River.
-From the Shoshone River head back west either on or off trail and cross back to the headwaters of the Thorofare River. If I can I want to check out an unnamed lake in this area (more off trail).
-From the Thorofare area follow the Trident Plateau (more off trail) to the Glacier Basin area and head out along Fishhook Creek to complete the trip.
I'd be interested in which option would be better and any info on the cross country portions would be appreciated. The areas that I know least about are the following
1. The Absaroka divide between Hwy 20 and Younts Peak.
2. The divide between the headwaters of the Yellowstone and the Thorofare River.
3. The divide leading from Shoshone Pass to the Shoshone Plateau.
4. The divide between the Trident Plateau and Glacier Basin
Any info on these places would be appreciated.