Yellowstone Backcountry Trails

[TripLeader]

Part 17 [Electric Peak, 10969 Feet Above Sea Level]

We were in Montana now, having crossed from Wyoming when we hit a high saddle on the mountain.

Electric Peak is the highest mountain in the Gallatin Range of southern Montana. It's the 6th highest mountain in Yellowstone National Park.

















We turned around before the top. The route got a little sketchy. In hindsight, we should've climbed it.

 

[TripLeader]

Part 18 [Back to Camp]

We headed back to 1G4.









We arrived safe and sound back at our campsite in Wyoming.

 

[TripLeader]

Part 19 [Electric Divide]

We set out from camp the next morning on Sportsman Lake Trail.






Gaining elevation near the top of the divide.



Dropping down on the other side.

 

[TripLeader]

Part 20 [Sportsman Lake Trail]

Continuing on.

 

[TripLeader]

Part 21 [The Cabin in the Woods]

We were a few miles into Montana.



Considering the right direction at at trail junction.



The Sportsman Lake Patrol Cabin



Taking a break on the porch.



A bull elk came in and bugled.



Hanging bear bags.



A moose walked by at dusk. (Or maybe it was a bigfoot.)

 

[TripLeader]

Part 22 [Sportsman Lake Trail to Fawn Creek Trail]

We set out from camp the next morning for the hike out. Goodbye to WD3. Farewell to Sportsman Lake.






We never saw them. But the bears were there.

 

[TripLeader]

Part 23 [Fawn Pass Trailhead]

We continued hiking out. It was our last day in the backcountry.












More bear sign.



We saw three other people during this backpack: these two riders and another climber on Electric Peak. People who never visit the backcountry are the ones who consider Yellowstone a crowded park. They're not wrong. They're just lacking the perspective of being miles and miles from the nearest road. It's also a very isolated place.









And, before we knew it, we were at the trailhead looking back at the trail.

 

[TripLeader]

Part 24 [Grant Campground]

We had a couple of days left in the park. We stayed at an established frontcountry campground.

 

[TripLeader]

Part 25 [Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone]

We spent our last couple of days in the park seeing some of the more famous attractions.

 

[TripLeader]

Part 26 [Geothermal Activity]

It's everywhere you go in Yellowstone.

 

[TripLeader]

Part 27 [More Geothermals]

Yellowstone has mud pots, hot springs, fumaroles, and geysers galore.

 

[TripLeader]

Part 28 [Old Faithful]

Of course we went...

 

[TripLeader]

Part 29 [Leaving Yellowstone]

And that was it. We did the obligatory group photo at the entrance sign.


But was it the last national park experience of the trip?

 

[TripLeader]

Part 30 [Grand Teton National Park]

We had taken a route to Yellowstone that did not go through it's neighbor, Grand Teton. But we hit it on the way back.



We just a made a few roadside stops as we drove through.

 

[TripLeader]

Part 31 [Conclusion]

That was it. We kept on driving home.

Taking one last look back over the old plywood topper.


The trip was in the books: We had two backpacking trips in one. We did some touristy stuff. And we drove a bunch.

Thanks for reading.