Beartooth Bonanza 2014

Beartooth Bonanza 2014

This is the 31st annual trip into the Beartooth Mountains of Montana. Our entrance and exit trailhead was Initial Creek along the West Fork of the Stillwater River. We traveled to Columbus, MT then Absarokee and along the north front of the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness. Our goal was to revisit Lighting Lake we first saw in 1985 and then again in 1993. Memory fails to remind us of the pain we endured years ago. But we have sworn to never return. Lightening Lake is beautiful and is home to some gorgeous Golden Trout. Trouble is, you just can't get there from here. After a 6 mile hike up the West Fork-Stillwater pack trail, you must ford the creek and begin a 2500' steep bushwhack through down fall. There is no trail and no water. Only things that jump out and poke you, sting you, scrape you, and make you weary. But hey, anyone can do this on flat, even, level trails.
This year's trip including Dave, Jeff, and his son Nate and yours truly.

leaving the trailhead at approximately 6400'

Great year for flowers

Lush meadows

crossing the West Fork-Stillwater

getting mentally prepped for the steep slug up over 2500-3000'

In addition to all the scratches from limbs and rocks,
I was stung three times by bees.
Can't count the number of skeeter bites.

The gang gets more discouraged when they realize
this relatively level spot was the beginning of more
steepness

nearing 10,000' we start to clear the forest and gain the ridge above Lightening

we get our first glimpsed of Lightening and need to
drop back down to around 9300'

the gang can be seen in the middle of this scree field
dropping down into our camp

After a long day, our camp is secure and the moon welcomes us

Each morning starts with some coffee and reading. 

The Golden's are a little fickle this year

But we are awed with our surroundings and the gorgeous weather

God's Garden

After a couple of nights, we are rested and head back up to the ridge
and head for the summit of Chalice Pk 

Our last view of Lightening

As young as I've ever been.

The high plateau offers stunning views and easy hiking. 

The West Fork Stillwater lies behind and below us.
Jon, Dave, Nate, Jeff

Four days from now, we will be hiking through that meadow
on our way out. 

gaining elevation on Chalice

Challice summit in the background

we dropped our packs and headed for the summit
and the view on the other side

On the summit of Challice Pk, 11,153'
Jon, Dave, Nate, and Jeff

After our high point we defend the back side and see out destination,
The Lake Plateau below

The back side of Challice and route down 

a path through the flowers

And our camp above Pippet Lake. this is one of our favorite camps
with vistas in all directions.

Always smiling Jeff

restful morning in camp

Morning Coffee

It's been a tough three days and we spend the day near camp
resting, reading, napping. 

Storms surround us, but we miss most of the rain

The tent protects us from the occasional rain drop
and the zillions of mosquitos 

We have a week long Hearts tournament.
 After nearly a dozen games, Jeff is crowned the winner.

A day of hiking and fishing begins

Dave is about to land a whopper! a 5" cut. 

we visited several lakes this day. More lakes than fish caught.

But what an awesome day it was. 

Dropping down into Squeeze Lake 

Getting around Squeeze required some class 4 scrambling.

and then we defended to Narrow Escape. We first came hear 1986
This is the lake I learned to fly fish 

but flies weren't working. 

I had to sling some hardware before I finally caught my first
and only fish; a 15" cutthroat. 

Then it was time to climb back out and head towards camp. 

Weather looms. 

The West Fork Stillwater canyon lies below

and we begin the two day, 16+ mile hike out

This is the meadow we saw a few days ago from 4,000' above

The upper river is much easier to cross

Nearing our last camp, we cross on a pack bridge
and filter some water

The side canyon creeks still require some log crossings

Break Neck Meadows. 

Our final camp

The tent was pitched just in time for a down pour

Jeff needed a drink and left his water bottle outside.
"Since you are out Jeff, can you fetch my water bottle?"

The storm passes and we explore the meadow

One last try to beat the 15" record

The last day of foot pounding trail work. 

8 miles later and we are home. 

 I've already forgotten the heat, bee stings, mosquitos and long days of hiking. What a grand tradition with friends closer than brothers. Maybe we'll have to go back to Lightening again....in a few years.