After months of planning, date picking and very uncooperative weather and schedules, we finally decided on a date and picked two possible destinations for the first hike of the year. We were still unable to get the entire group together due to conflicting schedules, but we were able to get a majority of the main players and the rest were going to hike next weekend with whoever could make both having twice the fun.
First Hike of 2009
Although Renshaw Lake was the more appealing of the two locations, the constantly changing (for the worse) weather forecast and the difference in elevation (because of the snow level) made Webb Lake the final choice for the trip. Although we had day hiked to Webb Lake once before, we had never actually camped in that area and day hiked further into the Scapegoat Wilderness. The weather forecast continued to get worse as the week progressed and finally caused a last minute change in schedule so instead of going in on Friday afternoon, we left a day early to try and get at least a day and a half of decent weather before the snow and cold temps hit.
After completing our mandatory half day at work to wrap things up, we grabbed lunch and then drove over the pass to the Indian Meadows trailhead. The weather was great with temps in the 70s and just a light breeze. The hike in to the junction with the Main Line trail and the trail to Heart Lake was just like it has been the last two years, although the trail was very dry and dusty considering the amount of moisture we have been receiving. At the junction we took the Main Line, left fork, for the first time and were treated to a fairly steep and what seemed lengthy uphill climb before dropping down into the drainage for Webb Lake. The trail had been cleared of all deadfall and, besides the elevation gain, it was a fairly easy hike. After dropping down to the North Fork of the Blackfoot River, we crossed it using a rather bouncy foot bridge of sorts. We then continued to Webb Lake where we found the Forest Service cabin occupied.
The ranger came out and advised us that the area around the cabin was “administrative” and was not available for camping. He advised us that we could camp in the meadow to the west of the lake and advised us that we would have to carry water from the lake. He also advised us that Webb Lake had no fish in it but that Parker Lake had good fishing and was 40 minutes further down the trail. As our group was already split into two smaller groups and I was beginning to think that the second group might be having problems with the distance to this point, Parker Lake was ruled out and the meadow did not sound very appealing. Because of these considerations, we decided to backtrack to the Blackfoot River crossing were there were a number of nice camp sites. Prior to leaving, the ranger reminded us of the food storage rules.
As we were going back, we came to the rest of the group and after explaining the situation, they agreed that the crossing sites were probably the best option. We then returned to the crossing and found a site with enough room for all the tents, great fire wood and right next to the river. We then got camp set up, collected firewood and relaxed. The weather continued to stay nice and between the slight breeze and the smoke from the fire the millions of mosquitoes were made manageable.
Camp Site next to North Fork of the Blackfoot River.
Friday dawned clear and sunny (despite the NWS forecast calling for mid 40 temps, overcast and precip) and looked to be a great day. After everyone got up and had their various breakfasts, we began discussing the plans for the day. Back tracking to Heart Lake and looking for a new campsite by some of the smaller, surrounding lakes was ruled out and we then decided to try a day hike past Webb Lake to Two Point Lake.
The trip was an easy hike through mostly new growth forest. The amount of deadfall off the trail was staggering and, although it would make great fire wood, trying to get through it looked like 50 yards an hour would be an exceptional pace. When we reached the trail to Two Point Lake we found it was clearly marked for Landers which according to the map was a stream to the north of the lake. We started up the trail and found that it had not been cleared for the season. Even so, there were less than 10 points where one or more trees were down across the trail and they were all fairly easy to navigate. As we got close to the lake, the trail began to be wet and muddy. We also began to see Grizzly tracks in the mud. We made our way down to the edge of the lake and took some pictures and had a snack. We also watched some ducks having a debate about the local female. The looser, after being chased repeatedly around the lake, finally left and we decided that we would be leaving as well. We could hear something large moving around to the west of the lake but due to the thick undergrowth and trees, we couldn’t see what it was. Although it was most likely an elk or moose, it could have been a bear, there were certainly enough tracks in the area.
View to the south from the west shore of Two Point Lake.
We went back down the trail and although we could see Parker Lake to the west we decided to return to camp. The trip back was uneventful and despite the mostly uphill trail it seemed to take about half the time as the trip out.
Since it was still early when we got back to camp, we ate and then began collecting firewood. We managed to collect a pile of wood about 6′ x 4′ x 2′ ranging from small twigs to large logs. We then rebuilt the fire ring which hadn’t been very well constructed when we found it and started a fire about 6pm. We then concentrated on burning the collected wood and managed to create a bed of glowing red coals that completely filled the fire ring and were about 4″ to 5″ deep. At about 12:30 we decided that it had been an impressive fire but it was time for bed. We then extinguished the fire pouring a few buckets of water on the coals and hit the tents. Despite the cold and wet forecast, the temps were still very reasonable and no precip had been seen.
The fire after a few hours.
At 6am, I awoke to the sound of snow hitting the outside of the tent. After listening to it for a while I went back to sleep. A short time later I heard the zips and rustles of people breaking camp. I assumed this was the part of our group that needed to get an early start due to having to work that evening, and tried to ignore them and go back to sleep. I did ask if it was really snowing and they said it was but that it wasn’t really sticking. Since I kept waking up, I decided to get up about 7:30 and start getting things ready for the trip out. When I got up I found that there wasn’t any snow on the ground and the tents were just slightly wet from the melting snow. I made breakfast and the rest of the group also got up (although it was pretty early for some of them) and began to get things together for the hike out. As everyone began to get the tents pulled down and stuff put back in the packs, the snow began again. It was more snow pellets than flakes and they didn’t seem to have much moisture in them. After policing the camp to make sure nothing had been left behind, we hit the trail as the snow began to pick up the pace.
The snow was sticking to the ground and trees as we began to climb up towards Heart Lake. Despite the constant uphill grade, we covered the trail fairly rapidly and before I knew it we were at the top of the grade and started down. The snow was still falling heavily and I had collected about an inch on my hat and pack which every now and then would fall down between my back and the pack. I had decided to just stick with the t-shirt to hike in trusting that the grade would keep me warm and it worked out well. We again saw some grizzly tracks on the trail but they didn’t look recent. We didn’t see any other animals until about 500 yards from the trail head where we came to a young bull moose about 20 yards off the trail. It didn’t seem too concerned about us, so after taking some photos, we continued on to the trail head.
A young bull moose to the side of the trail by the trail head.
We changed, jumped into the truck and headed for town. It had been a great trip despite the doom and gloom forecast and the snow on everything coming out helped make the too-familiar trail look like a different place. We made the trip back without incident and stopped into Big Horn Wilderness Equipment to look at a new pack for one of our group whose pack worked but was too small for a good fit. Then it was home and back to the real world.