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| Hiking | 10.90 Miles |
4,605 AEG |
| | Hiking | 10.90 Miles | 8 Hrs | | 1.36 mph |
| 4,605 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | My wife and I are getting ready to move from Flagstaff and wanted to do something new and adventurous before leaving. So we decided to climb Fremont Peak via the Inner Basin Trail on our anniversary. This was fitting because I proposed to my wife in the Lockett Meadow area.
We followed the trail from Lockett Meadow up across the basin. Based on a report we read on this website, we wanted to climb the east ridge of Fremont but weren't sure the best way to get there. It appeared like we could leave the Inner Basin Trail and bear left up a reasonably friendly scree shoot. We opted to stay on the trail which headed towards the West and the western ridge of Fremont. The trail made a few switchbacks up through tree cover. We had minor difficulty staying on the trail because of snow cover but it was obvious that "up" was the direction to go. We maintained the trail and intersected the Weatherford Trail, which runs across the north face of Fremont, on the west side of Fremont and what appeared to be east of the Fremont/Agassiz saddle.
We decided to start heading up the west ridge of Fremont but turned back because we were unsure if this was a good location to try from. So we headed back down to Weatherford and followed it to the east until we hit the saddle between Doyle and Fremont. From this location it seemed easier to judge where to approach the summit from. We headed up the east ridge a short distance and stopped for lunch at some great looking campsites which, apparently, are legal.
After lunch we stayed as close as we could to the ridge and followed it upwards. This was exciting and a bit nerve-wracking since we have never hiked off trail before. There doesn't seem to be any established trail to the top of Fremont. We carefully picked our way over large rocks, scree, a few piles of snow and a variety of vegetation while enjoying spectacular views in all directions. To our surprise, we reached the summit without being worn out and discovered the "logbook", a glass jar w/notepaper and a pencil. After chatting with another hiker, who had walked straight up the south face, we snapped some photos and then headed back down the ridge.
Descending was much more difficult than ascending and hiking poles were INVALUABLE - especially on scree. We took our time and motivated ourselves with discussion of dinner options. After stopping for a snack at the Doyle Saddle we headed back east on Weatherford. I believe we passed two scree slopes and then descended down the third which looked gradual and terminated in a group of stunted, scrubby trees. Just beyond the trees lay the Inner Basin Trail. This appeared to be the slope we looked at on the way up.
The first 2/3rds of the slope was actually easy and fun. We made great time and descended in elevation significantly. The last 1/3rd of the slope was not so easy and we made a poor decision by bearing to the left, following a steeper ravine. Retrospectively, we should have angled right until we hit the leafless, scrubby, impassable trees at the bottom of the scree and then turned left, heading to the bottom of the ravine finally bearing right. I'm sure that makes no sense so just stay on the Weatherford Trail in the first place!
The rest of the hike was smooth sailing to the Locket Meadow trailhead. We only saw one other couple along the way, ahead of us, and they left us behind when we stopped to get rocks out of our shoes and attend to nature's call (hydration is good!). Upon arriving at the parking lot, this couple was just leaving in their vehicle. The rolled down a window and asked us, wide-eyed, if we saw the bear. We said no and they seemed surprised. They described seeing a "huge" bear about five minutes ago and 100 yards from the trailhead. Apparently it wasn't very intimidated by them and it took screaming and hollering to make it leave. I was simultaneously relieved and disappointed that we had missed the bear. This was right around dinnertime and the campground was smelling great with all of the cooking going on. So it appears like bear bagging could be a wise decision at Lockett Meadow!
Fremont was a great hike, I'd do it again but wouldn't suggest it for those who have bad knees - all of the loose rocks would be a nightmare along the ridge. |
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