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If you have any comments or suggestions, please let us know. We plan to add trails and hikes that will be of interest to the seasoned backcountry hiker or first time visitor. We will include tips and hints along the way.
Happy Trails to You!
The first leg begins at the Slough Creek Trailhead, just to the right of the campground. This is an eight mile stretch to the Bliss Pass Trail junction and is relatively level. You won't be lonely: this is also one of the best and most popular fishing areas in Yellowstone. Because of the proximity to water, meadows with heavy grass hold your old friends, Mosquitos. Use your Cutter, that's why you're carrying it.
As you slowly gain elevation, you'll pass the First, Second and Third Meadows. The Third Meadow area is the Nirvana of trout fishermen, so if you're one of them, take out your rod, pick a spot and enjoy. For those of us continuing on, you will begin to move away from Slough Creek temporarily and into a higher meadow system, with stands of Lodgepole on your right. This section is where I inevitably had to leave the trail to make room for horse drawn wagons, heading north of the Park to Silvertip Ranch. Until I asked a driver, I couldn't figure where these wagons were headed, carrying 50 gallon drums of something into the wilderness. Live and learn.
You will now descend a bit, back toward Slough Creek and at the eight mile point you'll see the Elk Tongue Patrol Cabin. Sit and rest a minute, Bliss Pass is coming up.
The Bliss Pass Trail starts just past and to the right of the patrol cabin, and climbs gradually for the first three miles or so. The whole Pass is just six miles, but the trail rises 2700 feet to top out at 9350 feet. Here's where you'll need that fleece or nylon. You're sweaty and the air temperature has just dropped 20 degrees. The actual Bliss Pass itself is fairly deceptive, with a lot of false tops, undulating up and down until you begin to descend in earnest. In this area, I've consistently seen lots of track and scat, but never had a bear encounter. If you can take your eyes off the amazing scene around you for a minute, watch for bear.
The best part of the trip, in my opinion, is coming up next. You now descend into Lodgepole forest along my second favorite set of switchbacks anywhere. (My first favorite, if you're interested, are on the North Kaibab Trail in Arizona's Grand Canyon.) These switchbacks seem to take you right down the side of Cutoff Mountain through deep green, airy forest and out into one of the most spectacular meadows in the Park. Those switchbacks and the meadows are worth the effort of Bliss Pass, believe me.
As you reluctantly leave the rock wall bounded meadows, take off your boots in favor of fording shoes. You'll cross Pebble Creek at this point and it can be very fast or rapid and deep early in the season, so be careful. The Pebble Creek Trail, nine miles worth, starts on the other side. The last time I came out that way, the trail was nine miles of mud in light rain and snow and I never had more fun. I slipped and slid my way out and had a great time. Maybe you'll get lucky, too.
The Pebble Creek Trail has a quick-then-slow kind of descent to the trailhead and can get tricky at times. The trail is also closer to the forest on this side and so can be darker as well. It's likely that you'll be coming out late in the day, so watch your step and use your headlamp if you brought one.
Obviously, use the two vehicle system for this trail as it is not a loop. Have a great hike and take the time to appreciate where you are and what you're doing.
Tips and Hints
Bring along:
