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| Backpack | 47.48 Miles |
8,951 AEG |
| | Backpack | 47.48 Miles | 3 Days | | |
| 8,951 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | This backpack was the culminating event of our time in the Sawtooths and our hiking and backpacking tour of Montana and Idaho. We completed the loop in a counterclockwise direction. We started at the Lower Hells Roaring Creek Trailhead and then continued on to Hells Roaring Lake and then on to Imogene for our first night. On day two we hung our packs at Sandy Mountain Pass and I day hiked to Ardeth Lake while Carrie and Chloe turned around at Vernon Lake. We met up later on and camped at Alice Lake for our second night. Day three was suppose to be easy, but the final connector trail we chose to complete our loop turned out to be a most likely decomissioned trail and it was a bit of a deadfall nightmare. This backpack was pretty amazing and was an awesome way to finish our time on the road up there.
Day one was a pretty easy day. We really took our time getting to Imogene Lake and then after setting up camp, set off for a hike around the lake via the Imogene Lake Trail. The trail looks to no longer be receiving maintenance and there was no longer a trail sign for it, so this leads me to believe the forest service is no longer promoting its use, probably in an attempt to lessen the human impact on the heavily visited lake. After our hike around the lake, it was a quick swim, some camp chores and then just enjoying our premier spot on the lake.
Day two began with the climb to the pass guarding Imogene Lake and then the climb to Sand Mountain Pass. We hung our packs there and grabbed our day packs for a detour to Edna and Vernon Lakes, which we both found to be relatively scenic. At Vernon, Carrie turned around and headed back to the pass and on to Alice Lake with Chloe, while I continued on to Ardeth Lake. The hike to Ardeth was nice, in particular, the unnamed lake above Vernon provides a very scenic setting. The drop down into Ardeth was more than I wanted to do, but I did it anyways. Ardeth was a pretty large scenic lake, but it would not compare to the lakes that I would run across later in my day. After a quick look at the lake, I returned the way I came and put the heavy pack back on. The hike down to Toxaway Lake was simply spectacular and was certainly the highlight of the backpack for me and possible the trip. There were wildflower meadows and great view after great view of the very scenic lake. From Toxaway, I began the climb up to the pass above the Twin Lakes and Alice Lake. The climb became a bit of a slog for me, but I eventually made it. The views from the pass were absolutely superb with the best view being towards the Twin Lakes with their nice backdrop of ragged snow patched mountains. The hike to Alice went pretty quickly and after walking by them a few times, I was reunited with Carrie and Chloe. Carrie had snagged us a pretty amazing site right on the lake.
Day three was suppose to be a pretty standard easy hike out and it was going that way until we got to our final connector trail to complete our ambitious loop. The May Creek Trail ended up being a bit of a deadfall nightmare, especially, for Carrie and her shorter legs. We should have known from the deadfall we encountered in the first 20 feet of this trail that it was going to be bad, as all of the other trails in the area are in immaculate condition. We spent so much time researching all of the other trails that we did not think to wonder if a 3 mile connector trail was going to be nearly impassable. My guess is the trail is on its way to being decommissioned and does not see much use anymore. If completing this loop in the future, I would rely on a prearranged shuttle, or take your chances with hitching or bumming a ride to complete this loop. That is unless you get confirmation that the trail has been cleared, then its a perfect ending trail to complete the loop for this backpack.
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Wildflowers Observation Light
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