We're Back And The Mountains Are Calling!

     It's been a long time since we posted on this blog. I broke my leg in January 2021 which caused a bit of a setback to our hiking adventures last year. Oh, we went but more local short hikes. This year is going to be bigger and better. I for one can't wait! We have been on a few short hikes near our home. Oh yes, we moved to the mountains last spring as well. It has been the best move for our kids. It has brought solitude and relaxation. 

    We went on our favorite little trail yesterday, an old railroad bed. We have been hiking this trail for 25 years. It is an easy hike for kids or if you are carrying your kids in a pack. Because it is an old railroad bed it is a wide, graveled trail, that follows the Warm River. It is an absolutely beautiful hike. This trail is used for hiking, biking, and ATVs. We started at the Bear Gulch parking lot on the scenic byway on highway 47. From the parking lot head northeast, under the highway through a tunnel. There is no trail sign but the trail is clearly blazed. There is an old dilapidated railroad tunnel not far into the trail. That is clearly blocked off. I would never be tempted to go in there, I am sure it is bat heaven. Ewe! The trail continues around the outside of the tunnel. All along this trail, there is a beautiful view of the river. At certain points, you can hear the rushing water below. 



    This trail goes for miles and miles. We have never hiked the entire trail but we have hiked various sections of the trail. This trail goes from the Warm River Campground to West Yellowstone a 34-mile trek. I have wanted to hike it over a two-day period camping along the trail with a shuttle once we get to West. We haven't done it yet but it's on my list. 

    On last night's hike, we saw a deer dashing through the river and one on the trail. A few nights previous Andy and our son went hiking, stopping to look at the water when they saw a mountain lion in a cave in the cliffy rocks. Again, this is bear country! Always carry bear spray, make noise, and be aware of your surroundings.  We hiked about 5 miles last night total but like I said you can make this hike as long as you want or as short as you want. It does get hot along this trail with limited shade so if you are going in the heat of the day in summer take plenty of water.

        

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Webber Creek Trail

Image
Webber Creek Trail A backpacking adventure with the boys! We left the Webber Creek Campground at 11:00 am.  Yes, a little later in the day than we had planned.  Andy knows after being married to me for this long, that I am always just about ready.  It is a hike I have wanted to do for awhile now. Andy and I have taken the kids a little ways along the creek many times fishing but have never really made it very far. It is a rocky, steady incline, moderate difficult hike.   The weather was perfect for hiking, with temperatures being close to 70 degrees.  The hike was a little over 7 miles to the lake. In this picture to the side you can see that I am carrying a FULL, HEAVY, pack.  Yes, a few times I thought I might die! We made it though and it was completely worth it and w e arrived at 5 pm.   The lake had receded from what it once was and you can see this in the  above photo.  It was still beautiful! We did have a bit of worry as the water source is not quite what
Read more

Petit, Toxaway, Twin, and Alice Lake Loop/Sawtooth Mountains

Image
  Hike in the Sawtooth Mountains Friday, August 14, 2020 We set out for a weekend hike in the gorgeous Sawtooth Mountain Range for Andy’s birthday weekend.  We couldn’t have asked for more perfect weather. We got up early because the Sawtooth Mountains is about a 4-hour drive from our house. We did the Pettit Lake to Toxaway Lake then to Alice Lake Loop.  We went counterclockwise of the trail show below, which is the opposite way most people do this hike. Alice Lake is the destination for many hikers.  I can understand why many hikers just go to Alice as an in-and-out,  it is a beautiful 5-mile hike.  The parking lot was VERY CROWDED so, I recommend getting there early.  Parking for this hike is at Pettit Lake campground.  The Tin Cup Trailhead is near the bathroom facilities on the far end of the parking area.  We got there a little later in the day, so we parked outside the campground area.  There is information about the hike at the beginning of the trailhead.  The beginning of the
Read more

Caldera Rim Snowshoe Trail

Image
      What could be better than a day playing in the snow?  A day playing in the snow with family only minutes from home!  The weather man AKA Andy says that there is another big storm coming so we had to get fun in quick. We decided to forgo my plan of going to Noris Hotsprings. I have never been and really want to go. Anybody been? I digress. So, we went snowshoeing close to home on the Caldera Rim Snowshoe Trail.       I have never snowshoed this trail and didn't realize how well-marked it is. There are maps posted and yellow snowshoe markers indicating the trail. It is a beautiful trail with some uphill elevation at the first.      This is the view as we are climbing up, you can see my Jeep in the picture of where we parked. This trail begins right at the top of the Caldera or Ashton Hill. There is a pullout on the west side of Highway 20 and that is where we parked.      The trail leads through the trees, which was great for us as the wind was picking up.  This provided a grea
Read more