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Troop 24 Kickass Trekkers
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Troop 24 Kickass Trekkers
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Slickhorn Canyon
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Highlights included several Petroglyph panels, ruins, and Canyon hiking. This was the 5th trip to southeastern Utah for our group, and a return to Cedar Mesa after a trip to the Escalante last year.
March 22:
Explore arms of "Point & Look" canyon (East Slickhorn)/ Camp at head of Access No. 4.
March 23:
Head down Access #4 to mouth of Slickhorn. Hike up Slickhorn to mouth
of Access #2 for Camp 2.
March 24:
Dayhike up Slickhorn from Camp 2 to Access #1. Visit Kiva Ruin and
other ruins above 2nd Access. Head down Slickhorn Canyon past
Access #4 to Camp 3 at mouth of Trail Canyon (Access #6).
March 25:
Head down Slickhorn from Trail Canyon to Camp at Mouth of last major
side canyon left above San Jaun River.
March 26:
Head back up Slickhorn to Camp at mouth of Trail Canyon. Day hike up
Trail Canyon to Big Ledge Ruins.
March 27:
Start up Trail Canyon (Access #6) before first light. Follow canyon to
trailhead and start long drive back.
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Seven Devils Wilderness
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Day 1:
This was a scenic and spectacular hike into the heart of Idaho's
Seven Devils Wilderness. After a long drive to the Trailhead, We got
a late start. Finally under way, we headed south and headed up to
Lower Cannon Lake, arriving at about 7 p.m. for our first camp.
Day 2:
Leaving Cannon Lake we continued south along the Boise Trail till we
hit the Dog Lake Trailhead. Heading up to Dog Lake, the trail is vague
because of the 1994 forest fire that has caused many deadfalls over the
trail such that it can no longer be used by horses. The climb wasn't
too bad until the last half a mile when the tread steepened up the last
hill before the lake.
Day 3:
This day was our "Death March" Day. Our destination was Baldy Lake,
which was just over the ridge from Dog Lake as the crow flies. We had
to head far south to Horse Heaven Pass (a long climb) to get to the
west side of the divide. Heading north from Horse Heaven we get wide
views to the west to the deep gorge of Hell's Canyon and in the far
distance, the peaks of the Wallowa's that we had hiked in 2000. The
trip north to the Baldy Lake trail junction was long, hard, and dry
- except for a trickle from a spring near Horse Heaven Pass. We
were all worn out when we got to Baldy Lake.
Day 4:
This was an easy day. After a liesurely morning, we set out for Echo
Lake. We got there in the early afternoon and had ample time for fishing
and relaxing.
Day 5:
Another easy day. Back down to the main trail to head north past the
Hibbs Cow Camp (nice spring), the trail to Dry Diggens Lookout, till
we finally hit the Sheep Lake Trail. We headed up the trail past
Basin Lake and then dropped down to Shell Lake where we camped.
Day 6:
Another short hiking day albeit over an 8300' high pass before
descending to beautiful Sheep Lake.
Day 7:
Up before sunrise, we headed out early over a climbers route over Goat
Pass past Mirror Lake before descenting to Seven Devil's Lake Campground.
It was a short but steep ascent and descent but it saved us many miles
and an extra day on the trail.
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John Muir Wilderness
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Day 1:
Although it was a short hiking day, only 2.6 miles with about 1200'
elevation gain, the hike was on top of a long drive from Susanville with
a stop at Mono Lake Interpretive center to get our bear cannisters. |
Day 2:
We got a late start (as usual on the first morning), but the sun soon
dispelled the chill and we headed out from Barney Lake to head up the
many switchbacks over Duck Pass. |
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Day 3:
We had a big drop from Purple Lake down into Cascade Valley. After
fording Fish Creek, we had to climb back up on the Minnow Creek Trail
to roughly the same elevation as Purple Lake.
We decided to camp at Grassy Lake, which is much nicer than the name
implies. We got into camp early enough to allow swimming and some
fishing. We caught enough small rainbow trout to have a fish fry. As
Grassy Lake was below 10000', we were able to have a campfire, which
was enjoyed by all.
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Day 4:Heading out we continued our climb up to a pass overlooking the Lake of the Lone Indian, where we took a long break. Fred and I left before the others and climbed past Papoose Lake up to the junction with the John Muir Trail over Silver Pass. Roger had caught up to us by then, and we left our packs at the junction and went up the trail towards Silver Pass. Fred and I stopped at Chief Lake, but Roger went all the way up to Silver Pass. |
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We had intended to camp at Squaw Lake, but it was just too barren so
we decided to head on down the John Muir Trail as it descended back
down to Cascade Valley, where we found a campsite near Fish Creek.
Another fair hiking day - 6.2 miles with about 1400' climb.
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Day 5:
Heading north on the John Muir Trail, we went up beautiful Cascade
Valley past the many waterfalls that give it its name. It wasn't
long before we go to beautiful Tully's Hole, a vast meadow surrounded
by ragged peaks.
When I got to Virginia Lake, everyone was wondering where I had been.
We had planned to camp at the lake but everyone was stoked to go on to
Purple Lake (where we could have a campfire) and to head out a day
early.
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Day 6:I was the last man out of our camp at Purple Lake as I had to doctor my feet. First out were Peter and Brian, who were heading on to Las Vegas from the trailhead. They got going at about 6:30 while I was on my way about 20 minutes later. I was lucky in that Danny and Shelby had taken a lot of my weight so I was traveling pretty light. There were a stream of hikers coming in ranging from trail runners, hunters, horsemen, and tourist types. By the time I got was almost at the trail to Arrowhead Lake, Danny came chugging back up the trail to take my backpack. It was a short and nice hike out after that. A pretty long hiking day - 8.2 miles with 1400' climb. |
Shelby & Fred |
It took a while to get all the gear packed up, and after a sumptious lunch in Mammoth, we started out on the long drive back, via a stop in Susanville again.
