Multiple Adventures from the Same Trailhead

Don't let the title of this activity fool you. Our first 2 hikes of the day will launch from the same trailhead, but the group may opt to scrap the planned second hike and move down the road to any of a number of other potential trailheads. We will gather at a prime meeting place before we even move to the first trailhead of the day. Depending on who signs up for this offbeat adventure, the size of the group, and individual preferences, our eventual plan could look something like a "Yellowstone Backcountry Kaleidoscope".

The promotional photo shows a lone hiker on the lower shoulder of Specimen Peak. That is our first objective of the day. You can't tell this from the photo, but there is a VERY large petrified wood log buried somewhere down the slope behind that lone hiker, and probably a bit to the left. Al Jones discovered it on a Meetup hike in late May of 2021. Folks have been back up there since then looking for it, but they haven't found it. We will attempt to locate that subsurface behemoth. In 2021, a large portion of that log was covered by a quite thin layer of compacted dirt, but there was a large enough area where the log was exposed; and Al noticed it. The hiker in the photo was a Member of our group, but I am not sure who it was. This is the only short hike I am locking down on the itinerary for this day. It will only be 2 or 3 miles in total, so we will be able to work in another couple wanders afterward. Before I offer up a sampling of potential additional on or off-trail treks I want to point out a few geographic features in the promotional photo. First, if you look a ways above the lone hiker you will see Junction Butte. Just behind it there is a swimming hole on the Lamar River. Anyone interested in sampling the aquatic recreation there might want to come equipped with a swimsuit and river shoes. The Specimen Ridge trail and the off-trail route (one of several) to the swimming hole both depart from the Specimen Ridge trailhead.

Now, for some of the other possible off-road objectives further down the Northeast Entrance Road, we have another pair of potential wanders from the same trailhead, i.e. the Lamar River trailhead, known by many wolf watchers as the "Footbridge Pullout". We could go up the slope that ascends the ridge that the traditional Druid Peak Wolf Pack den resided on. There are multiple unique features beyond that den site back there, one involving water and another involving archaeology. I will reveal what those are to those who join us on Sunday when we have our planning session in the a.m. The other possible jaunt from the Lamar River trailhead is to take the trail for maybe 50 or 100 yards, just long enough to cross Soda Butte Creek and leave the Lamar River trail. We would head over to an area of aspen groves at the base of Mt. Norris. I will include a photo taken in this area in the Fall of 2020 in the "additional photos".

The third trailhead would be one of several possible places to park at or in close proximity to the Trout Lake trailhead. If we were to be real lucky, we might be able to grab a couple spots at the actual Trout Lake trailhead. If there was "no room at the Inn", we could proceed up the road a short ways to an alternative parking area. I know a route from that spot to Buck Lake, one of Trout Lake's two "companion lakes" that many of you have not likely seen. This third option of the day would be to visit both Buck Lake and Shrimp Lake in addition to Trout Lake, or concentrate on just Trout Lake and one of the two others. (Buck Lake is much prettier than Shrimp Lake.)

So, we already have our first activity of the day pegged. We have 5 others to choose from for additional short hikes. Each one is likely to be between 2 and 4 miles in length. Two have minimal elevation gain, while the other 3 include some uphill and subsequent downhill. The idea is to get some exercise while also seeing exotic parts of Yellowstone that most visitors never lay eyes on.

The weather forecast for where we will be reads "A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 79." Sunday is 5 days from this writing. The weather reality could be markedly different than what Tuesday night's prediction says. Come prepared!

As always in Yellowstone, carry bear spray where it is easily accessible when going into the backcountry. Use sun protection, including a head covering, sunglasses, and sunscreen. I suggest that all hikers use hiking poles, but you are free to exercise your right not to use them. Quite often, we bring lightweight camp chairs to provide convenient resting places on the longer itineraries, but since we will be in and out of the vehicles several times, we can go light. Bring your trail food of choice and an adequate supply of liquid. Water works fine, but you are welcome to use an H20 alternative.

By all means, bring binoculars and whatever "workhorse camera" you prefer, be that a cell phone or a digital SLR.

Remember, you will receive bona fide meet point and meet time information after you RSVP "Yes" to this Meetup, and the Organizer needs to swap cell phone number information with you.

See you Adventurers Sunday!

Ballpark