2012-09-20 Mt Minnie – Mt Margaret Backcountry
2012-09-20 Mt Minnie – Mt Margaret Backcountry
I saw where Chase and I went wrong in July: There was a washout and we took the trail “around” the washout; in reality this by-pass was one of the elks’ many trails up toward Heart Lake. Had we just crossed the washout (a little tricky at present – but the elk trail has been blocked off with branches), we could have continued on trail and saved ourselves a lot of bushwhacking! I left the Lakes Trail at the second hairpin and mostly followed elk trails up. These trails are not overly obvious and can be difficult to spot. Here I should have followed the ridge across (as was my plan). Instead I followed a large elk trail into the flank expecting to pop out rapidly, there I encountered a few cliffs and other stuff that was not visible through the trees. Once back out in the open there were once again elk highways!
I will continue with a second post.
Some people are really fit at eighty; thankfully I still have many years to get into shape…
Re: 2012-09-20 Mt Minnie – Mt Margaret Backcountry
two minute video of the elk.
18 miles; 4,800' EG
I was getting less keen to descending my planned ridge, as it was hard to get to and perhaps the return would also be a challenge. So when I saw a bull elk some ways below me, I decided that perhaps it was more fun to chase elk. So I continued down hill and started following elk trails with my camera ready and zoomed. I was walking into the wind when I met a small herd.
Here is a 18 miles; 4,800' EG
Last edited by Peder on September 21st, 2012, 8:08 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Some people are really fit at eighty; thankfully I still have many years to get into shape…
Re: 2012-09-20 Mt Minnie – Mt Margaret Backcountry
That is quite a trek!! I loved reading your TR though. Every time I hike out in the vicinity of MSH (not like I've been there a whole heck of a lot) I love it more and more, and I am already wondering when I can go there next.
We were there on Monday, but it was pretty smoky so a little disappointing, but still a great hike! I managed to not fall on my face, which was good.
I don't know a whole heck of a lot about elk, but weren't your worried they would come at you, instead of running away from you?
We were there on Monday, but it was pretty smoky so a little disappointing, but still a great hike! I managed to not fall on my face, which was good.
I don't know a whole heck of a lot about elk, but weren't your worried they would come at you, instead of running away from you?
Hannah
Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go.
-- T.S. Eliot
Re: 2012-09-20 Mt Minnie – Mt Margaret Backcountry
Great!! but Elk are herd animals. Birds are flocks. Goats have Kids. Deer have fawns. Elk have calfs.Beavers have kits.
Forgot my point! Just ramblin' on.
Very funny though, we do think of Elk as Forest dwellrs but there sure are a lot of them on the plains here.
Hlee, they most likely will always run or just ignore you. But if you happen to be in the wrong spot they will run right over the top of you.
Forgot my point! Just ramblin' on.
Very funny though, we do think of Elk as Forest dwellrs but there sure are a lot of them on the plains here.
Hlee, they most likely will always run or just ignore you. But if you happen to be in the wrong spot they will run right over the top of you.
Re: 2012-09-20 Mt Minnie – Mt Margaret Backcountry
Peder knows the best hikes!
Re: 2012-09-20 Mt Minnie – Mt Margaret Backcountry
Hi Peder,
Great report, route, and pictures. Got a map of your GPS track? What prevented you from doing the complete loop back to the TH along the ridge - MSHM restrictions?
You might have been following old trail on the way to Minnie Peak as before the eruption there was trail along the ridge (I've never been on it and have no direct knowledge of what the trail was like). From the 1963 GPF map it used to be the 211 Lakes Trail which was re-routed after the eruption.
Thx,
--Paul
The 63 GPNF map with the patchwork of public and private land showing the old alignment of the and numbering of the 211.
Great report, route, and pictures. Got a map of your GPS track? What prevented you from doing the complete loop back to the TH along the ridge - MSHM restrictions?
You might have been following old trail on the way to Minnie Peak as before the eruption there was trail along the ridge (I've never been on it and have no direct knowledge of what the trail was like). From the 1963 GPF map it used to be the 211 Lakes Trail which was re-routed after the eruption.
Thx,
--Paul
The 63 GPNF map with the patchwork of public and private land showing the old alignment of the and numbering of the 211.
The future's uncertain and the end is always near.
Re: 2012-09-20 Mt Minnie – Mt Margaret Backcountry
Well said, Chase. So much to see around the Mt Margaret backcounry. Great pics, Peder. Did you go alone on this one?Chase wrote:Peder knows the best hikes!
This is my kind of hike: less than 20 miles & less than 5000' EG.
Re: 2012-09-20 Mt Minnie – Mt Margaret Backcountry
Money!! I watched your Elk movie that you did not post . You must have done the Kwai Chang Cain walk or he Master Po shuffle? Dang cool!
Well you posted but did not embed it )
Well you posted but did not embed it )
Shoe Shine Boy Has Left The Building!
Re: 2012-09-20 Mt Minnie – Mt Margaret Backcountry
Mayhem - Only you can do that for me! I'm not tech savvy....mayhem wrote:Well you posted but did not embed it )
Some people are really fit at eighty; thankfully I still have many years to get into shape…
Re: 2012-09-20 Mt Minnie – Mt Margaret Backcountry
I don’t think they would ever charge anyone. Not that I’m not careful: I met the same herd about 200 yards further down the elk trail and they were hidden in some thick vegetation. It sounded as if they were 10 yards from the trail; I made a wide detour around that area, as I did not wish to be hit by a scared elk popping out of the shrubbery.I don't know a whole heck of a lot about elk, but weren't your worried they would come at you, instead of running away from you?
I know your point Rick: I termed my group of elk a “herd” and later called them a “flock.” I Danish a “flock” (flok) would normally be used for winged creatures, but you can also use it for other animals, such as cows or elk. This is not the case with English!Great!! but Elk are herd animals. Birds are flocks. Goats have Kids. Deer have fawns. Elk have calfs.Beavers have kits.
Forgot my point! Just ramblin' on.
Ha Chase! After looking at Pablo’s maps (see his post below yours), I may have a killer hike for next year: Coldwater Lake – Snow Lake – Heart Lake – Mt Minnie north ridge and a descent using my route from Thursday. I may need a tarp…Peder knows the best hikes!
A GPS track will follow. I had hoped to follow the ridge north of Coldwater Lake from the (closed – to reopen in 2013) Coldwater Ridge Visitor Center up to Mt Minnie and return over Heart Lake and the Lakes Trail. As I recall from earlier research the land on the north side of the ridge belongs to a forestry company and the MSHNVM forbids all access to the area north of the Coldwater Lake, as it is in the restricted area where you must remain on the trails. If this was not the case, there are two forestry roads close to the ridge on the north side of Coldwater Lake that would seemingly offer an easy approach to Mt Minnie.Got a map of your GPS track? What prevented you from doing the complete loop back to the TH along the ridge - MSHM restrictions?
Paul – The trail on your map seems to pass on the north side of the peak. As far as I can tell, the trail on the map roughly follows where there is now a disused dirt road on the western end. That trail is approximately the route I was planning to follow back to Heart Lake.You might have been following old trail on the way to Minnie Peak as before the eruption there was trail along the ridge
I love your old maps – pretty much all the trails have changed since then!
This is my kind of hike: less than 20 miles & less than 5000' EG.
Sure is – it is also my kind of hike!
Some people are really fit at eighty; thankfully I still have many years to get into shape…