Hilgard Basin Backpack 2005

Essentially, the hike is up the Sentinel Creek trail for most of its way towards Expedition Pass, at the crest of the Madison Range. This being July, thee were lots and lots of wildflowers.

Roger hiking thru sunflowers and lupine.

Susie photographing all the Lupine.

Its hard to go wrong with mountains and wilflowers.

Susie continuing on. It was nice to be able to climb thru some meadows in addition to forest.

Paintbrush

More paintbrush and sunflowers.

Eventually, as the climb continues, the valley opens up. It is a bit over 2700 feet of climbing from the trailhead to the saddle above Hilgard Basin. The hiking guide says you don't feel like you are climbing that much, but I respectfully disagree. Actually, we had carried an extra day's worth of foot in case would could not make it to the basin in one day.

We spotted this horseman going toward the saddle, but never saw him again.

Roger approaching a trail junction. We will take a trail to the left and climb a saddle on the ridge and descend into Hilgard Basin.

Finally, after 5.5 hours of hiking, we are at the saddle. It is mostly downhill from here.

A nice view into Hilgard Basin.

A second view.

We left the trail after descending a bit, and found a nice spot to camp, with views out to the east.

It's 6 pm and so time for dinner. It's Friday night, so time for pizza. We'll make it a little frying pan.

This is how we cook it.

Susie waiting patiently, which is tolerable when you are wearing a bug net. It is late July, in a lake basin, after all.

Pizza is done.

Roger is a happy camper.

Susie is too.

The next morning, time to cook breakfast before we take a nice day hike thru the Basin.

Ok, there are a few buys out this morning.