Wanted to get in a high mountain lake patrol that would maximize contacts (and minimize time), decided on the "the Beaten Path"- don't really care for the moniker, but the name has stuck. The route runs from just outside Cooke City to Alpine, 27 miles through some of the most popular high mountain lake fishing country. You have to shuttle vehicles which is a pain as the trailhead at Alpine (East Rosebud) is a bumpy grind and while only 35 miles from Red Lodge takes an hour and a half (one way). The you have to get the other vehicle over to Cooke City and while only 65 miles it's a full two hour drive (granted probably one of the prettiest drives in the US over the Beartooth Highway).

Plan was to start early w/ headlamps to get a little jump on the day. The Forest Service folks graciously arranged a cabin to stay in just outside of Cooke



We were up at 4:15 and on the trail an hour later. Was very happy with my Zebralight H31 on medium setting, did a great job of lighting the trail. Temps were very cool, high 30's- I avoided the temptation of loading up w/ warmer clothing knowing that it would be stripped off in short order

am I awake yet? :)



At 6:30 we had good enough light to turn off the lamps

wasn't too long and we were started up for the pass



almost all the lakes in this area (including some unnamed ones) are stocked w/ fish- you could make a long trek out of it if you wanted to hit all the lakes

Russell Lake (6.5 miles)



Ouzel Lake (8 miles)



nearing the pass (Granite Peak in the background)



view from the pass (10 miles) looking towards Mount Rosebud, the headwaters of East Rosebud the drainage we would follow down

we took a nice 1/2 hour lunch/break here at a little after 10:00



was using a Talon 22 and found a good way to carry my sidearm (Fobus molle attachment I could slide over the hip belt)



Fossil Lake (11 miles)



we some trouble with some locals who claimed they weren't fishing



looking down East Rosebud



Dewey Lake (13.5 miles)- roughly the half way mark and still feeling pretty good



Impasse Falls (15 miles)



not too far past Fossil Lake I turned my ankle while gawking about, it wasn't a bad turn, but it wasn't good either (nagging)- we stopped at Granite Ck and I soaked my feet for about 5 minutes (30 seconds at a time as the water was so cold you couldn't bear it any longer!)- this really seemed to help my ankle (I'm sure the Ibuprofen didn't hurt either :) )

looking into Falls Ck



Rainbow Lake (20 miles)



Rimrock Lake (21 miles)



after Rimrock we had a really steep (and rocky) descent- this was when I really started feeling the miles wear on me, the descent was reeking havoc on my knees as well and my turned ankle reared it's ugly head again

I wasn't smiling as much after this shot :)



Elk Lake (24 miles)- I started getting a little (emphasis on little) second wind at this point, the aches/pains dulled a little bit knowing we were closing in on Alpine



we made it out 7:15 pm, almost 14 hours on the nose. the trip was very successful and we made a lot of good contacts along the route (the majority of the folks we met were there at least in part to fish)

our dinner destination, down the road about 10 miles at Roscoe- 1/2# burger never tasted so good!

Very nice Mike! So were you on the clock for that trip? Lucky if you were.

Wow Mike, now that is one heck of an overnighter! I cannot believe the kind of country you guys have to hike outside your door, it blows my mind.

Great hike, thanks for sharing.

btw, are you as tall as you look in your photos? If I saw you coming down the trail I'd quickly step aside and smile.

thanks gents

Ken- yeah it's a tough job at times, but someone has to do it :)

Eugene- must be the photo's :) (I'm only 6')

Mike

Thanks for sharing!

Absolutely amazing scenery, Mike. Thanks for sharing.

Very nice photos.

Is that a Sig on you hip belt?

Danke Gents

yup- Sig 239, not UL @ 34.4 oz :)

Sweet pistol. Sig makes a great product. I have a 229 in .40 cal that I've had since 1992.

Thanks for the report. Your photo at Elk Lake is fabulous. The Impasse Falls photo is nice too. I was up there a couple weeks ago and thought I saw some regulatory scofflaws up near Cairn Lake. Probably will take a few days to route the rascals though- better take a bag and tarp this time. You won't be catching them sitting at a desk you know.

@ Robert- I carried a 229 for about ten years, great pistol- I recently went w/ the 239 to shed a little weight off my belt, I do miss the mag capacity of the 229 though

@ David- looks like I got some work to do :)