Elbow Lake Backpack Aug08

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The hike starts at the public end of the East Fork of Mill Creek Road. Avoiding a private ranch requires both extra climbing and about 1.5 miles. Here, Susie arrives at the Wilderness Boundary sign.

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Roger, barely visible in deep shawdows, looks at the cliffs which form the ramparts of Sage Creek. At this point, we have probably gained a net 700 feet, but climbed 1000 feet to do it. Most of the needless up and down is on the ranch bypass.

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Ah, the switchbacks. You climb over 1000 feet, and much of it is exposed to morning and mid-day sun. We had gotten an early (8:15 am) start to the hike, so the switchbacks were not as brutal as they might have been.

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Looking south toward the southern peaks of the Absaroka Range.

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Roger takes a much needed breather after the switchbacks change to a long slug up the mountain ridge.

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Perhaps the most frustrating part of the hike, a bit over 8 miles, is that you have to lose 500 feet and regain it (and more) as you go the final 2.5 miles to Elbow Lake. Here, we are coming into the meadows along the outlet stream of Elbow Lake. We still have 0.4 miles and 200 feet of climbing to go.

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The south face of the massif that forms the Mt. Cowen ridgeline.

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At last!! We pulled into the south shore of Elbow Lake, 6.5 hours after we started. This being a Friday night, we would have the place to ourselves. The campsites were definitely well used, understandably.

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All bathed, Roger relaxes on the rocks, while looking up the valley that climbers use to ascend Mt Cowen.

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Susie, the original Happy Camper.

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The next morning, Susie attempts some difficult highlight photography of the surrounding peaks.

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Unless you are a peak bagger, THE side trip to make is the hanging valley that is northeast of Elbow Lake. There is no real trail, so just follow your nose up the left side of the outlet creek of the lake that sits 600 feet about Elbow Lake.

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Nothing like some good off trail blowdowns to work out the soreness of yesterday's trail climb.

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The larger of the two lakes that sit in the hanging valley.

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Looking south across the smaller of the two lakes.

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The beauty of the hanging valley made the total of 4300 feet of climbing over two days well worth it.

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Even at the end of August, flower fields cover the landscape.

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Pink monkeyflowers and paintbrush.

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Flowers, flowers and more flowers.

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The south end of the Mt Cowen massif is formed by Eeny, Meeny, Miny, and Mo. The high point of Mt Cowen is not visible from this, or most other valley angles.

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Roger climbing up to join Susie for an early lunch. And some MAJOR scenery gawking.