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| Hiking | 8.00 Miles |
1,000 AEG |
| | Hiking | 8.00 Miles | 4 Hrs | | 2.00 mph |
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| no partners | | After a full week back at work, I needed a good workout so I chose the trek up to Lockett Meadow/Inner Basin this morning. I haven't been up to Lockett Meadow in 4 years and was curious about the damage from the Shultz fire of 2010 and to find out why the road was closed. I've heard rumors that the road is all washed out from the rain rushing downslope, just like over on the other side of the mountain where homes are being descimated by floodwaters.
I made it to the locked gate by 9:00, with 4 other vehicles parked ahead of me. The sky was clear, but despite the sun beating down on the road, it wasn't too hot for me this early. Up the road I trekked, thinking all the while that there really wasn't a good reason to close this road--until the last mile before Lockett Meadow. There's even parking for cars at the 2 mile point. Beyond here, burned slopes are visible all the way into Lockett Meadow but the road really isn't in bad shape from flooding.
The firefighters did a remarkable job saving Lockett Meadow and the Inner Basin! There are burned slopes, but when you think of what could have been......
It was kind of eerie being up there without the crowds. I kept a look out for bears, but didn't see even bear sign. Everything is green and lush from the monsoon rains. The wildflowers are light/moderate. The mushrooms are abundant. The thunderclouds were building, but I thought I had time to head up the trail to the Inner Basin at least a little way.
At the information sign past the gated road (it goes to the pumphouses and is the way I've always gone up), I noticed a trailhead sign for the Inner Basin Trail. Has this always been here? Is this information sign new? I took the "new" trail which hugs a burned slope for about 1.4 mile. Here the burn ends (thank goodness). It's encouraging to know that new aspen are sprouting up everywhere, despite the elk sign.
I started hearing thunder, so I turned around and headed back,going the correct direction around the loop. The closure for 2 years has allowed the camping areas to rest and regrow. I think I'll come back for some camping--it's going to be fantastic in the fall. |
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Wildflowers Observation Light
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Route Editor
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