And the hikes continue

I've been hiking as much as I can in the Gallatin National Forest. It is all mountain hiking around here so it is about hiking up a mountain and then back down. I'm doing longer and longer hikes building up my endurance for a big finale before we leave.

My next hike was up the Watkins Creek trail to Coffin Lake with a side jaunt up the West Fork trail. About 13 miles round trip with about 2600 foot elevation change.

Watkins Creek trail near trail head.
Hebgen Lake in the distance.

Wild flowers

Wild flowers

Coffin Lake

Coffin Lake

Next we went into Yellowstone for a couple of hikes in one day. First we did a short one that was only about 2 miles round trip to Ice Lake and then another 2.25 miles round trip to the Monument Geyser Basin.

The Ice Lake hike was through a burn area and there were no real good views of the lake so it wasn't very interesting.

The Monument Geyser Basin hike was very difficult. It was only a little over a mile one way but most of it was up a very steep trail. The geyser basin isn't all that interesting but the view in the distance was nice.

View from Monument Geyser Basin
looking southeast

Monument Geyser Basin

Monument Geyser Basin

View to north from trail to Monument
Geyser Basin

More hikes

Sheep Creek trail

My next hike was about 13 miles and another 2600 foot elevation gain to an alpine lake. The trail was up through a very long valley all along Sheep Creek to Sheep Lake. This was another one in the Gallatin National Forest northwest of West Yellowstone Montana. The hike was another real nice one especially once it broke into the alpine meadow and the rest of the way up.

View up Sheep Creek trail. The lake
is over ridge in the foreground but
this side of the snow peak

View back down the valley from around
the five mile point

Sheep Lake - elevation 9150

A couple days later we drove down to Jackson, WY for the weekend.  We had one three mile round trip hike to Phelps Lake at the foot of the Teton Mountains. The hike was along a roaring stream and ended in an amazing view of the lake and Tetons.

Phelps Lake at base of Grand Tetons

Some recent hikes and Mesa Falls

Glacier Lilys

I thought I would post a hiking update. I think I've done about 60 miles so far. Some trails near town aren't too exciting but they accomplish being outside and getting exercise.

Here are some pictures from various hikes.

Upper Whits Lake

Western Tanager

Had a beautiful 5 mile hike round trip to Lone Star geyser. The whole thing was along the Firehole River.

Lone Star geyser

Hebgen Lake way down below from
9700 feet

I hiked up Red Canyon to the top of a mountain range. It was 6 miles up, 2600 foot elevation gain topping out at 9700 feet.  I had the following fabulous views. One of my all time best hikes.

Cabin Creek valley from above

Looking east. Yellowstone National
Park way off in distance.

We drove into Idaho to Mesa Falls.  It wasn't a hike, only a walk of the road maybe a total of a quarter mile.  Thought I would include the pictures in this posting.

Upper Mesa Falls

Big Falls Inn

Lower Mesa Falls from overlook