19 replies to this topic

[ScottO]

Hi All,

Here's another trip report from August 2010.

On this hike, Kristin and I dropped Sandy off at the Fern Lake TH and continued on to the Bear Lake TH. The plan was to meet Sandy at Gabletop Mountain. Her route was up through Spruce Canyon and ours was via Flattop. We would all return to Flattop and down to Bear Lake. And if things went well, Kristin and I would also add Hallett on the way back. We got started at about 6:50AM.

We needed to keep a reasonable pace to meet Sandy, after all she had a head start, but I thought Bear Lake was still worth a quick look. I took a couple of shots of Hallett in the morning sun.



We only stopped for a couple of quick photo ops on the way up Flattop. About an hour and a half on, we took a few shots at the Emerald Lake overlook.



A bit farther up the trail, I stopped to take a few photos of some ptarmigans. They were eating a lot of those white flowers.



We reached the summit in a little over 2 hours and spent some time relaxing in the morning sun. Then it was time to head for Gabletop. We started out following the Tonahutu trail past Ptarmigan Point where we turned off-trail across the open tundra. The slopes are all fairly gentle up there so it was pretty easy going, even off-trail.



As usual, there were plenty of opportunities to photograph flowers.



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ScottO

Edited by ScottO, 08 May 2011 - 07:35 AM.

[ScottO]

Several summits line the western side of the Odessa Loop gorge. North to south they include Gabletop Mountain, Knobtop Mountain and Little Matterhorn, Notchtop Mountain and Ptarmigan Point. From below, they all look rugged and steep and mostly inaccessible. But up top it's much different. The western slopes of those mountains join to form a single broad area called the Bighorn Flats. Here's a view of Knobtop from up top. We hiked up this slope to the small saddle for a look.



In the middle are Lake Helene (closer) and Two Rivers Lake. The Odessa Trail is visible below Joe Mills Mountain on the left middle. And that's part of Notchtop on the right.



In this picture, Fern Lake is in the center, partially blocked by Little Matterhorn. The Gable is left center. Odessa Lake is hidden by Little Matterhorn and below and right of the lower slopes of The Gable, roughly in line with Fern.



More flowers. It was quite lush on the slopes of Knobtop.



A closer look at the snowfields below Notchtop. And Two Rivers Lake again.



Then we hiked around to the other side of Knobtop and got our first view of Gabletop. It was 11AM – we had started just a few minutes before 7AM – and we decided not to continue down to Gabletop. It wasn't that far, but we didn't want to lose 300ft more of elevation since Hallett was still on our list of objectives. And we were pretty sure Sandy was already on her way up that slope.



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ScottO

[ScottO]

We wanted a more direct route on the way back and to meet up with Sandy as soon as possible. So we headed directly for the Tonahutu trail. Sure enough, we met Sandy soon after reaching the trail. Here's a view of Hallett with Longs looking like Darth Vader.



This shot is not far from Flattop. Odessa Lake is far left and Lake Helene and Two Rivers Lake are on the right separated from Odessa by Joe Mills Mountain. In the foreground are two unnamed tarns of Ptarmigan Glacier. Filling the left side is Notchtop. You can see that the true summit is actually flat tundra. The notch spire is lower and a class 4 effort.



A closer look at Notchtop's spire with Odessa Lake below.



Once we reached the trail junction on Flattop, we took a brief break. While Kristin and I headed over to Hallett, Sandy stayed behind with our packs. It was a great afternoon to be on Hallett; it took us about 20 minutes to summit from Flattop. The clouds made for good picture taking and a wary eye.



The is the top of the east ridge below Hallett's summit. The big, blocky face we see from Bear Lake, and many other locations, is at the far end of this ridge and is quite a bit lower than the summit. You can see the corners of it at the end of the left edge.



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ScottO

[ScottO]

Kristin surveying the scene. The clouds continued to build, blocking out the Mummy Range.



Looking the other way from the summit, there's Snowdrift Peak out in the sun and the top of Tyndall Glacier up close in the shade. Middle right is part of the Tonahutu trail we were on.



The clouds were darkening as we headed down from Flattop. We did get a light sprinkle and a bit of very fine hail before reaching tree line but not enough to get wet.



One last look at Longs.



The view from the Dream Lake overlook. I believe that's Knob #1 (per Ed's numbering system) above the lake on the other side. Far across is Mills Lake.



The last picture of the day a bit below tree line. It was cloudy and breezy the rest of the way which was nice, as a return from Flattop can be quite hot on a sunny day.



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ScottO

Edited by ScottO, 08 May 2011 - 12:01 PM.

[Igloo Ed]

What a great day for you guys. Nice when the weather cooperates.

[jflo]

Looks like it was a super awesome day. Thanks for describing all the lakes and peaks for us. I almost felt like I was with you!!

[dianeh85]

"Oh what a beautiful mooorning, Oh what a beauiful Day, I've got a wonderful feeeeeling, everythings going my waaay!" As long as you get off that mountain before the Deluge! What a fabulous set of pictures. I had a hard time with the first one of Fern, partially hidden by Little Matterhorn. Was there any wind on Flattop. Everytime i have hiked up there we are hiking parallel to the ground!

[HighPlainsMedic]

Was there any wind on Flattop. Everytime i have hiked up there we are hiking parallel to the ground!

I think wind on Flattop is the rule, rather than the exception..

Loved the views and the report, it's a great time to play and sight see in and around the divide..

[ScottO]

Was there any wind on Flattop. Everytime i have hiked up there we are hiking parallel to the ground!

My recollection is the wind was moderate that day. Not the knock-you-down kind I've experienced up there before. A lucky day for us; we able to take our time and enjoy climbing Hallett.

Loved the views and the report, it's a great time to play and sight see in and around the divide..

Definitely agree; I recommend to anyone that climbs Flattop, if you've got the time and good weather, head over towards Ptarmigan Point or along the Tonahutu.

[iceberg]

That day was so awesome. I loved this hike. It's so much fun to mosey along the divide & take it all in.

[John]

You do the best trip reports. Thinking of doing Chiefs Head next month....where can I find your report on that one?

[soatley]

You do the best trip reports. Thinking of doing Chiefs Head next month....where can I find your report on that one?

Check his trip reports 2005. Click his Oatley Family Vacations link.

Edited by soatley, 08 May 2011 - 08:06 PM.

[John]

Wow, that gets me excited! I wonder how much snow I'll have to get through at the end of June.

[Igloo Ed]

Wow, that gets me excited! I wonder how much snow I'll have to get through at the end of June.

I checked out Scott's page. Wow, that's some great photography and easily understood route description.
There should be bare areas if you're afraid of the snow, John.

[Grannyheart]

WOW! What a great report and pics!!! That was an awful lot of hiking you guys did!! I loved seeing places I've been from a perspective I've never seen. Thanks so much for sharing your VERY cool adventure!!