Yellowstone National Park, WY

Drive or fly into Jackson Hole Airport (JAC). The best time to arrive is between around Noon-3PM. However, flights are limited so do the best you can.

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)

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 or we will provide a continental breakfast

Shuttle to Yellowstone National Park (about 1.5 hours)

Pickup backcountry permits at Ranger Station and watch a park video required for backcountry travel

Shuttle to Fountain Flat Drive, Trailhead OK6, elevation 7150'.

Begin Hiking, elevation 7150'.

Hike 0.4 miles on the Fairy Falls Trail, elevation 7150'

Turn right and hike 3.0 miles on the Sentinal Meadows Trail and Imperial Meadows Trails, elevation 7150'

Turn right and hike 1.5 miles on the Fairy Falls Trail to campsite OD4, elevation 7200'

Camp at campsite OD4 (Imperial Meadows), elevation 7200'

Miles today: 4.9. Total miles: 4.9

Possible Bailout: Grand Loop Rd.

Hike 0.6 flat miles on the Fairy Falls Trail, elevation 7200'

Hike 2.8 flat miles on the Fairy Falls Trail, past Fairy Falls (we'll stop there of course) to the Fairy Falls Trailhead, OK5, elevation 7250'

Hike 5.2 miles via Mallard Creek Trailhead OK5 to Mallard Lake, elevation 8100'

Camp at 2 campsites OB2 & OB3 (Mallard Lake), elevation 8100'.

Miles today: 8.6. Total miles: 13.5

Possible bailout: Grand Loop Road

Hike 3.1 miles on the Mallard Lake Trail, to Old Faithful, elevation 7400'.

Wait around until Old Faithful does its thing, possibly eat lunch while waiting.

It may be possible to cache food here. If so, we will pick up the rest of our trip's food and put it in our backpacks.

Old Faithful will be packed with people. There are numerous frontcountry distractions including flush toilets, visitor's center, gift shop, restaurants and throngs of people.

Somehow assemble and hike 0.5 miles through the Old Faithful complex to the Howard Eaton Trailhead OK2, elevation 7400'. This will probably be the trip's greatest navigational challenge.

Hike 2.9 miles on the Howard Eaton Trail, campsite OA1, elevation 7650'.

Camp at Campsite OA1 (Lone Star), elevation 7650'

Miles today: 6.5. Total miles: 20.0

Possible bailout: Old Faithful.

Hike 3.8 miles on the Shoshone Lake Trail to the Bechler River trail, elevation 7900'.

Hike 2.9 miles on the Bechler River trail to campsite 9D4, elevation 8500'.

Camp at Campsite 9D4 (Continental Divide), elevation 8500'

Miles today: 6.7. Total miles: 26.7

Possible bailout: Old Faithful

Hike 4.2 miles on the Bechler River Trail to a spur trail, elevation 7300'

Drop packs and day-hike 1.0 round trip miles to a cool thermal area, elevation 7500'

Hike 3.0 downhill miles on the Bechler River Trail to Campsite 9B7, elevation 6400'

Camp at campsite 9B7 (Talus Spring), elevation 6400'

Miles today: 8.2. Total miles: 34.9

Possible bailout: 2 days away.

Hike 5.1 miles on the Bechler River Trail to the Bechler Meadows Trail, elevation 6400'

Ford the Bechler River

Hike 0.6 miles on the Bechler Meadows Trail to the Bechler Meadows Cutoff Trail, elevation 6400'

Hike 1.9 miles on the Bechler Meadows Cutoff Trail to the Boundary Creek Trail, elevation 6400'

Hike 1.6 miles on the Boundary Creek Trail to campsite 9A3, elevation 6650'

There are hot springs nearby! (Less than half a mile)

Camp at campsite 9A3 (Dunanda Falls), elevation 6650'

Miles today: 9.2. Total miles: 44.1

Possible bailout: Two days distant from here

Hike 3.0 miles on the Boundary Creek Trail, elevation 6400'

Ford Boundary Creek

Hike 3.4 miles on the Boundary Creek Trail to the Bechler Meadows Trail, elevation 6400'

Hike 1.7 miles on the Bechler Meadows Trail to the Bechler River Trail, elevation 6400'

Hike 0.8 miles on the Bechler River Trail to campsite 9C1

Camp at Campsite 9C1 (Rocky Ford), elevation 6400'

Miles today: 8.9. Total miles: 53.0

Possible bailout: Bechler Ranger Station

About a quarter mile from camp we Ford the Bechler River

Hike 1.0 miles on the Bechler River Trail to the Mountain Ash Creek Trail, elevation 6400'

Hike 2.8 miles on the Mountain Ash Creek Trail to Campsite 9U1, elevation 6450'

Hike 2.8 miles on the Mountain Ash Creek Trail to Campsite 9U4, elevation 6600'

Camp at Campsite 9U4 (Union Falls), elevation 6600'

Miles today: 6.6. Total miles: 59.6

Possible bailout: Fish Lake Trailhead

Day-Hike 5.0 round-trip miles to Union Falls, elevation 6750'

Hike 4.5 miles on the Mountain Ash Creek Trail to campsite 9F2, elevation 7100'

Camp at campsite 9F2 (Upper Falls River) elevation 7100'

Miles today: 9.5. Total miles: 69.1

Possible bailout: Cascade Creek Trailhead

Hike 11.1 miles on the Pitchstone Plateau Trail to campsites 8P1 & 8P2, elevation 8450'.

Camp at campsites 8P1 & 8P2 (Phantom Campsite) elevation 8450'

Miles today: 11.1. Total miles: 80.2

Possible bailout: Cascade Creek Trailhead

Hike 5.5 miles on the Pitchstone Plateau Trail to Phantom / Pitchstone Trailhead 8K4, elevation 7700'

Miles today: 5.5. Total miles: 85.7

End of hiking

Shuttle back to Jackson Hole. Check back 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

We will shuttle everyone to the airport early in the morning. If you have a later flight and don't want to be dropped off early in the morning, you are on your own to get to the airport.