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Yellowstone National Park, WY

Two Week Trip

Aug 15 - Aug 27, 2017 -- $1950 ★★★, Only 1 Spot Left

This is the section of the website that attempts to describe the magnitude of Yellowstone National Park in order to convince you that it's a destination you should visit with us. Really, just Google it and you will be overwhelmed by videos, websites and images about the Park, its geysers, grizzly bears, thundering rivers, big skies and ubiquitous bison.


Our trek will start near Yellowstone Lake and end near the South entrance of the park, traversing the Southeast Section of Yellowstone. This is one of the most remote parts of the Continental United States. In fact, The Thorofare Ranger Station is the furthest building from any road in the contiguous United States.



Weather

Weather is always an important concern when hiking. Expect daytime hiking temperatures in the 60s & 70s and nighttime temperatures in the 40s & 50s. While there is typically not much rain, it can happen at any time along with violent thunder and lightning. Here is the historical July weather.



Trip Leaders

Steve Silberberg
Danielle Piscatelli


Cost

$1950 per person double occupancy. Here, double occupancy means that you will share a room with another participant during the hotel nights. You will also be responsible for transportation to and from Jackson Hole, personal equipment, restaurant meals eaten off the trail and any gratuities.


Covered expenses include 2 hotel nights, campground fees, 11 days of trail meals, ground transportation, National Park Permits, insurance, and 2 awesome guides.



Difficulty

The trails through Yellowstone National Park are well groomed with good footing and moderate elevation gain and loss (although it may not seem like that while hiking). Difficulties arise because of the amount of supplies we will be carrying at the outset (9 nights worth of food). To mitigate this, daily mileages at the outset are quite moderate but will increase as the supplies we are carrying dwindle and as we develop "hiking legs". The will be plenty of daylight, generally giving us plenty of time to complete our daily mileage and relax in camp. However, there will be one extremely long day in the middle of the trip that we will get you through.



Important Notes

On August 21st around 4:15PM Universal Time (10:15AM MDT local time, totality is around 11:35AM for 2+ minutes), a total solar eclipse begins, ending around 7PM. See Map.


Because of the limited availability and high cost of hotel rooms in Jackson, a single supplement is not available for this trip. You will be sharing a hotel room with 1 or 2 others.


Yellowstone NP requires us to obtain backcountry permits (in addition to our commercial permit) to hike in the backcountry. We submit our proposed route (below) with route alternatives and alternate acceptable dates and they let us know on April 1st, 2017 which itinerary we are approved for. All this to say that the itinerary below is subject to change based upon the backcountry office of the park.


Fatpacking prohibits firearms on this (and all) trips. This is not only our requirement but also a requirement of Yellowstone National Park. However, you may bring bear spray (pepper spray) as there are both black bears and grizzly bears in the park. You will not be able to fly with bear spray however.


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Packing List
Itinerary
Weather
Guides for this trip
Cost
Important Note
Difficulty (Please Read)
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Itinerary


Tuesday, August 15, 2017

Drive or fly into Jackson Hole Airport (JAC). The best time to arrive is between around Noon-3PM. However, if you can save a substantial amount on your flight by arriving at say, 11AM or 5PM, then do so.

Text or call us and we will pick you up at the airport and bring you to the Antler Inn, 43 W Pearl Ave, Jackson, WY 83001, (307) 733-2535

Equipment shakedown

Trail mix distribution

"Before" measurements taken

Go to Teton Mountaineering, 170 N Cache Dr, Jackson, WY 83001, (307) 733-3595 for last minute or forgotten equipment. Please note, there are several other fine options in town to buy or rent gear.

Go out for a group dinner (not included in trip cost)



Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Second set of "before" measurements taken

All the items that you won't bring on the trail will be set aside and put in storage.

Free Hotel Breakfast

Shuttle to Yellowstone National Park (about 1.5 hours)

Shuttle to Old Faithful Geyser. Tour around the area until geyser does its thing.

Pickup backcountry permits at Ranger Station

Shuttle to Grand Loop Road, one mile south of Midway Geyser

Begin Day-Hiking, elevation 7500'.

Day-Hike 1.0 miles the Fairy Falls Trail

Day-Hike 0.9 miles the Feather Lake

Day-Hike 2.1 miles on the Fairy Creek Trail to Spray Geyser / Imperial Geyser, which sprays regularly

Day-Hike 0.6 miles to Fairy Falls

Day-Hike 2.2 miles back to the vehicle(s)

Shuttle to Bridge Bay Frontcountry Campground

Camp at Bridge Bay Campground either in Hiker / Biker site or full site (Site numbers TBD)

Miles today: 6.8. Total miles: 6.8


Thursday, August 17, 2017

Shuttle to Nine Mile Trailhead on East Entrance Road, elevation 7800'

Hike 6.1 flat miles on the Thorofare Trail to Campsite 5E8

Today's hike will pass a section of forest that burned in September, 2011. We will ford Cub Creek and Clear Creek (easy fords)

Camp at campsite 5E8 (Park Point South), elevation 7800'.

Miles today: 6.1. Total miles: 12.9

Possible bailout: East Entrance Road


Friday, August 18, 2017

Hike 2.4 flat, easy miles on the Thorofare Trail, to the Southeastern Arm of Yellowstone Lake. The trail opens up for sweeping views along this portion.

Hike 8.0 miles to Campsite 5E1

Camp at Campsite 5E1 (Beaverdam Trail), elevation 7800'

Miles today: 10.4. Total miles: 23.3

Possible bailout: East Entrance Rd.


Saturday, August 19, 2017

Hike 8.7 miles on the Thorofare Trail to spur trail.

Hike 1.1 miles on a spur trail to campsite 6D1.

Camp at Campsite 6D1, elevation 7750'

Miles today: 9.8. Total miles: 33.1

Possible bailout: Two days distant from here


Sunday, August 20, 2017

Hike 1.1 miles back to the Thorofare Trail

Hike 6.0 relatively easy miles on the Thorofare Trail to Thorofare Ranger Station

The Thorofare Ranger Station is considered to be the farthest dwelling from any road in the Continental United States, 32.5 miles away from East Entrance Road

Hike 1.1 easy miles to a cutoff trail

Hike 0.3 easy miles to the Boundary Trail

Hike 1.7 miles to Campsite 6Y4

Camp at campsite 6Y4 (East Confluence), elevation 7800'

Miles today: 10.2. Total miles: 43.3

Possible bailout: Over 33 miles away.


Monday, August 21, 2017

Today around 4:15PM Universal Time (10:15AM MDT local time, totality is around 11:35AM for 2+ minutes), a total solar eclipse begins, ending around 7PM (1PM MDT). The total eclipse only a few minutes long so an hour ahead of time we will find an open spot on the trail and wait for the eclipse. See Map.

Over the next mile, ford the Yellowstone River. Extreme Caution: The river may be deep and/or swift.

Hike 0.4 miles to the Yellowstone River, elevation 7800'

Ford the Yellowstone River

Hike 0.3 miles to the South Boundary Trail intersection, elevation 7800'. This is an open area where we can view the eclipse. The next several miles are mostly wooded.

Leave the flat hiking behind and hike 1200' up Lynx Creek (with another ford) 6.2 miles to campsite 6M4, elevation 8600'

Hike about 4.0 miles to campsite 6M5 (Upper Passage Creek), elevation 8750'

Miles today: 10.9. Total miles: 54.2

Possible bailout: Two days distant from here


Tuesday, August 22, 2017

Hike 5.5 miles (with 2 fords) to the Two Ocean Cutoff Trail, elevation 7800'

Hike 1.5 miles to the Trail Creek Trail, elevation 7750'

Hike 2.7 miles to campsite 7G1

Camp at Campsite 7G1 (Grouse Creek), elevation 7800'

Miles today: 9.7. Total miles: 63.9

Possible bailout: Yellowstone Lake if we can flag down a non-motorized boat


Wednesday, August 23, 2017

Hike 5.8 miles on the Trail Creek Trail to the Continental Divide Trail, elevation 7450'

Hike 2.6 miles on the Trail Creek Trail / Continental Divide Trail to Campsite 8J2, elevation 7300'

Camp at Campsite 8J2 (Beaver Creek Meadow), elevation 7450'

Miles today: 8.4. Total miles: 72.3

Possible bailout: South Entrance Road


Thursday, August 24, 2017

Hike 1.7 miles on the Trail Creek Trail / Continental Divide Trail to the Heart Lake Trail, elevation 7450'

Optional 1.0 mile round trip to hot springs, elevation 7500'

Hike 5.5 miles on the Heart Lake Trail to the Basin Creek Cutoff Trail, elevation 7300'

Hike 0.6 miles on the Heart Lake Trail to Campsite 8B2, elevation 7500'

Camp at campsite 8B2 (Basin Creek Lake) elevation 7500'

Miles today: 8.8. Total miles: 81.1

Possible bailout: South Entrance Road


Friday, August 25, 2017

Hike 4.2 miles on the Heart Lake Trail to the South Boundary Trail, elevation 7000'.

Hike 0.3 miles on the South Boundary Trail to campsite 8C7, elevation 7000'.

Camp at campsite 8C7 (Snake Hot Springs) elevation 7500'

Miles today: 4.5. Total miles: 85.6

Possible bailout: South Entrance Road


Saturday, August 26, 2017

Hike 5.4 downhill miles to South Entrance Rd., elevation 6900'

Miles today: 5.4. Total miles: 91.0

Possible bailout: South Entrance Rd.

End of hiking

Shuttle back to Jackson Hole. Check into the Antler Inn, 43 W Pearl Ave, Jackson, WY 83001, (307) 733-2535

Your stuff will be transported here shortly after we arrive

After measurements taken

Dinner (not included in trip cost) and awards Ceremony

This is the official end of the trip. You are welcome to spend the night at the hotel, however if you drove and would like to get on the road or if you flew and would like to schedule a late flight (or a red-eye if this is a West Coast trip) you can definitely do so.


Sunday, August 27, 2017

We will Shuttle everyone to the airport early in the morning


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