29 replies to this topic

[foxfire]

Great report / pix! Thinking of doing this fall if we could get a ride up. Prolly easier with less or no snow last week Sept.

Fox

[iceberg]

Most exciting report EVER! I loved it. The views, the drama, you had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I could picture the postholing up to your waist, & I know it was a definite "freak out" moment, but I was laughing at the image of you digging yourself out. I'll be doing this hike in the next week or so, only a round trip starting at the bottom. I don't think I've ever seen pictures of the whole hike before- very well documented my friend. Congrats on trudging your way through the snow & finally finding the trail. I probably would have turned around by that point, because snow in the woods really freaks me out. Way to persevere dude!

[Brent D]

Awesome, awesome, awesome report! (yeah, I kinda liked it!)

Well done Aaron, great pics too. Man, you aren't kidding about that valley you came to, with that view of Longs. I WOULD have stayed for hours! :) And I absolutely love that next to last image where the girls are running your way! Priceless!

[Bill 007]

Uhhhhhhmmm...can I have my hat back????

Bill
(Truly amazing report Coop!!! I had never thunked about trying that, but maybe now....in a drier season, of course. Well done Amigo!)

[Qbert]

That's a great report. Never seen it detailed so completely before.
You got me interested in this one.

Say, where exactly does the trail end in Beaver Meadows? I'll have someone to pick me up, but where exactly do I tell them to go?

[DrCloud]

Rhonda, on 22 July 2011 - 03:23 PM, said:

Laughed my head off at your report and loved your awesome pictures.

Explain the sign that says Beaver Meadows Trailhead 1.5 Miles one way and 3.5 Miles another way. Is that to the same trailhead, one just meanders a lot? And I guess you took the 1.5 mile one?

If you park at the Beaver Meadows Trailhead and start up the loop clockwise, that sign is 1.5 miles up, and there 3.5 more for the rest of the loop. That's where the Ute Trail joins that loop trail. HPH

[Rhonda]

Qbert, on 22 July 2011 - 10:43 PM, said:

That's a great report. Never seen it detailed so completely before.
You got me interested in this one.

Say, where exactly does the trail end in Beaver Meadows? I'll have someone to pick me up, but where exactly do I tell them to go?

Qbert, you go as far down the Beaver Meadows road as you can go until you reach the restrooms and turnaround, it's the place where many pictures are taken of Longs through the V of the leaning aspen trees and a little wooden footbridge over a babbling brook.

[zzcoop]

Wow, thanks everyone! This one was a whole lot of fun.

soatley, on 22 July 2011 - 12:39 PM, said:

We did that hike in reverse, but it was a lot drier and way less exciting. Way to conquer the streams.

Fortunately, I was able to locate the spots that were no more than ankle-deep. Otherwise, I'd have been screwed. (I can't swim, Clark.)

Rhonda, on 22 July 2011 - 03:23 PM, said:

Laughed my head off at your report and loved your awesome pictures.

Explain the sign that says Beaver Meadows Trailhead 1.5 Miles one way and 3.5 Miles another way. Is that to the same trailhead, one just meanders a lot? And I guess you took the 1.5 mile one?

DrCloud explained it pretty well below, I guess. But yeah… I'd say the longer one is just an alternate route that meanders more.

iceberg, on 22 July 2011 - 09:31 PM, said:

I'll be doing this hike in the next week or so, only a round trip starting at the bottom.

I wondered if anyone here had ever attempted that. When I start taking solo trips out next year (hopefully) that's something I'd definitely like to try.

Rhonda, on 22 July 2011 - 03:23 PM, said:

My son did this hike solo many years back, 2002 I think, and I was not exactly sure where the trail ended up in Beaver Meadows but I guessed right. He said at one point in the forest he had a feeling something was watching him, the hairs stood up on his neck and he just kept booking it through without looking around.

Was there a mysterious scent of Old Spice hanging over the forest? If so, it was probably the ghost of the hatless man, roaming the trail for all eternity.

Bill 007, on 22 July 2011 - 10:14 PM, said:

Uhhhhhhmmm...can I have my hat back????

OMG Bill's a GHOST!!!

(Guess that would explain those legs.)

Edited by zzcoop, 23 July 2011 - 09:54 AM.

[mistylady]

Once again, you succeeded in getting me to roll on the floor laughing. So glad you were able to safely make it through all the obstacles that left-over winter handed you. If you made it through that, you can surely make it at the STOMP next year! That is a great hike. The views on top are amazing.

[DrCloud]

Quote

Quote

Explain the sign that says Beaver Meadows Trailhead 1.5 Miles one way and 3.5 Miles another way. Is that to the same trailhead, one just meanders a lot? And I guess you took the 1.5 mile one?

DrCloud explained it pretty well below, I guess. But yeah… I'd say the longer one is just an alternate route that meanders more.

Well, that upper trail is the Beaver Mountain Trail, and just up from that sign is truly UP -- a serious grind to the high point of the 3.5 miles. It affords some remarkable views of both Moraine Park and Upper Beaver Meadows, as well as everything east and south. The 5-mile loop makes for a nice couple of hours (we did it this afternoon -- counter-clockwise, which has a more steady and therefore gentle grade). It climbs across the contours through mixed lodgepole and aspen with both relatively wet and dry habitats. The trail itself is completely dry except for a soggy spot on the way up to the Deer Mountain Trail. All of these are horse trails, though, so watch your step. HPH

[AtHomeUpHigh]

Nice post without a doubt! I love the fact that I was also on the "edge of my seat" about what was going to happen next while, at the same time, laughing out loud at your humor!!!

Question: What camera/lens/filter combo are you using? (I apologize in advance if that's posted on here somewhere)

[zzcoop]

Thanks! No problem, I'm sure it's been asked as well, but since I never remember what was said and where, I'll answer it for you anyway.

I shoot a Nikon D7000 (stepped up from a D40 earlier this year) and my go-to workhorse lens is my 18-200mm VR. Most of these were shot with that combo, and I slapped a circular polarizer on for the waterfall shots. Everything from the "overlook" pics onward were taken with the 10-24mm, with the occasional use of a 2-stop (.6) ND grad.

[DeeCeeM]

I missed this while I was on vacation, so I'm glad it popped up at the top of the list again. I think this is one of the best reports EVER!

(Great pics, too.)

[rcw]

We get so many great ideas for hikes here on the forum. I can't fit them all in.

[dianeh85]

Bravo!!!



Good thing you didn't bring your llamas!