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Yellowstone National Park, WY

Two Week Trip

Aug 10 - Aug 22, 2015 -- $1800 ★★★★

This is the section of the website that attempts to describe the magnitude of Yellowstone National Park in order to convince you that it's a destination you should visit with us. Really, just Google it and you will be overwhelmed by videos, websites and images about the Park, its geysers, grizzly bears, thundering rivers, big skies and ubiquitous bison.


Our trek will traverse the Southeast Section of the park, one of the most remote parts of the Continental United States, starting by Yellowstone Lake and ending near the South entrance of the park.



Weather

Weather is always an important concern when hiking. Expect daytime hiking temperatures in the 60s & 70s and nighttime temperatures in the 40s & 50s. While there is typically not much rain, it can happen at any time along with violent thunder and lightning. Here is the historical July weather.



Trip Leaders

Steve Silberberg
Beau Devlin

Cost

$1800 per person double occupancy. Here, double occupancy means that you will share a room with another participant during the hotel nights. You will also be responsible for transportation to and from Jackson Hole, personal equipment and any restaurant meals eaten off the trail (although breakfasts are included).


Covered expenses include 2 hotel nights, campground fees, 11 days of trail meals, ground transportation, National Park Permits, insurance, and 2 awesome guides.



Important Notes

Yellowstone NP requires us to obtain backcountry permits (in addition to our commercial permit) to hike in the backcountry. We submit our proposed route (below) with route alternatives, as well alternate acceptable dates and they let us know on April 1st, 2015 which itinerary we are approved for. All this to say that the itinerary below is subject to change based upon the backcountry office of the park.


The trails through Yellowstone National Park are well groomed with good footing and moderate elevation gain and loss (although it may not seem like that while hiking). Difficulties arise because of the amount of supplies we will be carrying at the outset (9 nights worth of food). To mitigate this, daily mileages at the outset are quite moderate but will increase as the supplies we are carrying dwindle and as we develop "hiking legs". The will be plenty of daylight, generally giving us plenty of time to complete our daily mileage and relax in camp. However, there will be one extremely long day in the middle of the trip that we will get you through.


Fitpacking prohibits firearms on this (and all) trips. This is not only our requirement for this trip, but also a requirement of Yellowstone National Park. However, you may bring bear spray (pepper spray) on your trip. You will probably not be able to fly with it however.


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Packing List
Itinerary
Weather
Guides for this trip
Cost
Important Note
Difficulty (Please Read)
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Itinerary


Monday, August 10, 2015

Drive or fly into Jackson Hole Airport (JAC). The best time to arrive is between around Noon-3PM. However, if you can save a substantial amount on your flight by arriving at say, 11AM or 5PM, then do so.

Text or Call us and we will pick you up at the airport and bring you to The Painted Buffalo Inn, 400 W Broadway, Jackson, WY, 83001, 307-733-4340

Equipment shakedown

Trail mix distribution

"Before" measurements taken

Go to Teton Mountaineering, 170 N Cache Dr, Jackson, WY 83001, (307) 733-3595 for last minute or forgotten equipment. Please note, there are several other fine options in town to buy or rent gear.

Go out for a group dinner (not included in trip cost)



Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Second set of "before" measurements taken

All the items that you won't bring on the trail will be set aside and put in storage.

Free Hotel Breakfast

Shuttle to Yellowstone National Park (about 1.5 hours)

Shuttle to Old Faithful Geyser. Tour around the area until geyser does its thing.

Pickup backcountry permits at Ranger Station

Shuttle to Grand Loop Road, one mile south of Midway Geyser

Begin Day-Hiking, elevation 7500'.

Day-Hike 1.0 miles the Fairy Falls Trail

Day-Hike 0.9 miles the Feather Lake

Day-Hike 2.1 miles on the Fairy Creek Trail to Spray Geyser / Imperial Geyser, which sprays regularly

Day-Hike 0.6 miles to Fairy Falls

Day-Hike 2.2 miles back to the vehicle(s)

Shuttle to Bridge Bay Frontcountry Campground

Camp at Bridge Bay Campground either in Hiker / Biker site or full site (Site numbers TBD)

Miles today: 6.8. Total miles: 6.8


Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Shuttle to Nine Mile Trailhead on East Entrance Road, elevation 7800'

Hike 6.1 flat miles on the Thorofare Trail to Campsite 5E8

Today's hike will pass a section of forest that burned in September, 2011. We will ford Cub Creek and Clear Creek (easy fords)

Camp at campsite 5E8, elevation 7800'.

Miles today: 6.1. Total miles: 12.9

Possible bailout: East Entrance Road


Thursday, August 13, 2015

Hike 2.4 flat, easy miles on the Thorofare Trail, to the Southeastern Arm of Yellowstone Lake. The trail opens up for sweeping views along this portion.

Hike 8.0 miles to Campsite 5E1

Camp at Campsite 5E1, elevation 7800'

Miles today: 10.4. Total miles: 23.3

Possible bailout: East Entrance Rd.


Friday, August 14, 2015

Hike 7.9 miles on the Thorofare Trail to campsite 6D2.

Camp in a big meadow at Campsite 6D2, elevation 7800'

Miles today: 7.9. Total miles: 31.2

Possible bailout: Two days distant from here


Saturday, August 15, 2015

Hike 7.5 relatively easy miles on the Thorofare Trail to Thorofare Ranger Station

The Thorofare Ranger Station is considered to be the farthest dwelling from any road in the Continental United States, 32.5 miles away from East Entrance Road

Hike 1.4 easy miles to campsite 6T2

Camp at campsite 6T2, elevation 7800'

Miles today: 8.9. Total miles: 40.1

Possible bailout: Over 30 miles away.


Sunday, August 16, 2015

Over the next 2 miles, ford Thorofare Creek and Yellowstone River. Extreme Caution: Either or both may be deep and/or swift.

Leave the flat hiking behind and hike 1200' up Lynx Creek (with another ford) 7.6 miles to the South Boundary Trail, elevation 8600'

Camp at Campsite 6M4, elevation 8600'.

Miles today: 9.6. Total miles: 49.7

Possible bailout: Two days distant from here


Monday, August 17, 2015

Hike 3.2 downhill miles (with an easy ford of Plateau Creek) to the Fox Creek Patrol Cabin, elevation 8000'

Join the Continental Divide Trail / Snake River Trail and hike 0.8 miles to the trail junction of the South Boundary Trail

Hike 3.2 miles up the Snake River Trail / Continental Divide Trail to campsite 8C9

Camp at Campsite 8C9, elevation 8200'

Miles today: 6.4. Total miles: 56.1

Possible bailout: Two days distant from here


Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Hike 9.5 miles on the Snake River Trail / Continental Divide Trail fording the Snake River at least once to the Heart River Trail, elevation 7300'

Hike 0.3 miles on the Snake River Trail to Campsite 8C5, elevation 7300'

Camp at Campsite 8C5, elevation 7300'

Miles today: 9.8. Total miles: 65.4

Possible bailout: South Entrance Road


Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Hike 2.5 miles on the Snake River Trail fording the Snake River again to the Basin Creek Cutoff Trail, elevation 7200'

Hike 2.0 miles on the Basin Creek Cutoff Trail to the Heart Lake Trail, elevation 7200'

Hike 3.1 miles on the Heart Lake Trail to Heart Lake, elevation 7455'

Hike 1.7 miles to campsite 8H4

Camp at campsites 8H3 & 8H4 (sites have small capacity, so the group splits) elevation 7500'

Miles today: 9.3. Total miles: 74.7

Possible bailout: South Entrance Road


Thursday, August 20, 2015

Day-Hike 7.2 steep round-trip miles to the summit of Sheridan Mountain, elevation 10,308'.

Camp at campsites 8H3 & 8H4 (sites have small capacity, so the group splits) elevation 7500'

Miles today: 7.2. Total miles: 81.9

Possible bailout: South Entrance Road


Friday, August 21, 2015

Hike 8.1 miles to South Entrance Rd., elevation 7900'

Miles today: 8.1. Total miles: 90.0

Possible bailout: South Entrance Rd.

End of hiking

Shuttle back to Jackson Hole. Check into The Painted Buffalo Inn, 400 W Broadway, Jackson, WY, 83001, 307-733-4340

Your stuff will be transported here around the time you arrive

After measurements taken

Dinner (not included in trip cost) and awards Ceremony

This is the official end of the trip. You are welcome to spend the night at the hotel, however if you drove and would like to get on the road or if you flew and would like to schedule a late flight (or a red-eye if this is a West Coast trip) you can definitely do so.


Saturday, August 22, 2015

Free Hotel Breakfast

We will Shuttle everyone to the airport early in the morning


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