After a long drive and hotel, we arrived in Granjean early afternoon Saturday. We checked out the Granjean Lodge and plotted for showers and food when we finished. During the time we were on the trail, we probably saw less than 20 people. We followed Douglas Lorain's, "Bakpacking Idaho" description and ended up passing the pages on to other hikers. Thanks to Burnside Bob and everyone that gave advice when we asked viewtopic.php?f=9&t=21534.
DISCLAIMER: We may be banned from Oregon Hikers because our new OH button was lost somewhere in the Sawtooths. We are a disgrace to the forum
Day One: 6 miles and 2,788' elevation (Granjean Trailhead to Camp Lakes)
Day Two: 15 miles and 2,324' elevation (Camp Lakes to Baron Creek)
This day started with a punctured beer can in the bear bag. Beer and oatmeal for breakfast.
Coming down from Trail Lakes in the early morning, smoke was in the air.
Onto Sawtooth Lake
Day Three: 15 miles and 4,102' elevation (Baron Creek to Lower Cramer Lake)
Upper Baron and Baron Lake
Baron Lake panto
The trails were very clear and this is the only time we crawled under a tree.
Lower Cramer Lake
Water was nearly always available in streams and we only used a lake once.
Day Four: 11.25 miles and 2,370' elevation (Lower Cramer Lake to Ardeth Lake)
First thing in the morning, Ann was heading up the hill and found this!
Great water source
Cramer Divide ~~ This has to be our favorite part of the trail.
Lunch time at Hidden Lake
Ardeth Lake log crossing
Tortellini is a new favorite trail meal.
Day Five: 14.3 miles and 1,349' elevation (Ardeth Lake to Elk Lake)
Early in the day, Swag came across this bridge just like in Three Billy Goats Gruff
Pink rocks that are so famous in the Sawtooth Range
Spangle Lake panto
We crossed over many of these bridges. This time, Swag just needed a photo shoot...
Day Six: 12.5 miles and 577' elevation (Elk Lake to Trailhead) We were thinking of showers and food, so our pace increased significantly.
Fern Falls
Showers and food time at the Sawtooth Lodge then we headed to Stanley to visit the Redfish Lodge.
Wanting to spend a little time over in the White Cloud Range, we drove over and backpacked 1.25 miles up to Fourth of July Lake (8,800' to 9,400') for the night.
Cold crisp Outlaw beer to quench two thirsty desperadoes.
We watched the moon rise over the lake.
Now, back to Oregon with 74.18 miles on the Grand Sawtooth Loop and 13,393' of elevation plus our little jaunt up to Fourth of July Lake.
http://gpsfly.org/g/4754
