R03/R04 TR: Pine Creek Loop 7/24-7/29 2017

[Tom_H]

Very nice. Wow, still so much ice, snow, and swollen streams. The only place I have seen it like that at this time of year was in the Alps.

If the photos load backwards to your computer, you can go to "tools" and select "flip horizontal" on a Mac. PC should have something similar. If the HST server is doing it, you could flip them backwards on your computer and let the server flip them back to correct orientation.

Someone had a question for you on the TR from the trip before this one. You had probably already headed out again. You might want to reply if possible.

[Shawn]

Such a terrific trip report and outing.

Every photo looks ready to be published in a magazine. Simply amazing views and images.

Thanks for posting and sharing.

[gary c.]

I always enjoy your reports and pictures so much. Thanks for posting.

[Wandering Daisy]

Thanks for the positive comments on the photos. They are a few of the better ones out of over 200 photos. Since my Photoshop program no longer works after the last Windows10 update (they are trying to force me to upgrade) the photos have not been processed at all. Thanks David for pointing out the names for those places. I think Granite Park is a photographer's dream where there are excellent lighting both morning and evening. The afternoon monsoonal storms also added interest to the sky. And the air was crystal clear. With all the smoke recently I was worried about that. I was a few weeks early for the wildflowers and greening up of the area. Much of the snow will likey remain in the next few weeks, so I think the best time for photographs is still ahead, as long as smoke from forest fires do not spring up.

GB, my knee is fine, except when I squat, obviously a problem for a female backpacker ! A couple day's rest is all I need.

[SirBC]

A great trip report with a bunch of amazing photos. I love the shot of partially frozen French Lake with the ice streaks and the shots of Granite Park really give me a hankering to visit the area.

Does the umbrella you mentioned attach directly to your pack while you are hiking?

[cgundersen]

Hi daisy,
Wow! Absolutely glorious! The fact that you hit so few bugs may bring flocks of humans to that same area. I'm guessing the night-time cool downs have been blunting the bloom in lots of areas (though, from Velostein's report about bugs in Dusy, certainly not everywhere!). Anyway, I was impressed to see that Steelhead Pass still had 75% of the snow that my wife and I encountered last month. With all that white stuff still up there, it will be a while till the creeks calm down. Thanks for the gorgeous photos! Cameron

[Wandering Daisy]

The umbrella is new and does not attach to the pack. I still have to figure out how I am going to do this, or if at all. I more likely will just pack one trekking pole while I use the umbrella. I think I will get things figured out as I use it more. It really is an experiment. If I take the umbrella, I will not take rain pants.

I doubt hordes of people will do this trip because there are not mosquitoes. I saw only three people on the entire trip. I actually was worried because I thought the creek crossing was so high that nobody could cross after I did. The creek crossing will stop quite a few people for a while.

Just another warning about the passes. While I was out, every day and during the late evening hours, I would hear thumps, crashes and rumbles as rock and snow collapsed off the mountains. It is hot enough during the day to really make the passes that have steep snow very unstable. Same with the ice/snow banks surrounding the lakes. Large chuncks are collapsing into the lakes.

Pine Creek Pass is safe, the Class 1 pass I took from Royce Lakes is safe, and Italy Pass looked quite safe. The other passes in the area are very questionable. Years ago I had one experience climbing Mt Langly (northeast gully) that impressed me; we were in a slot snow gully, when the sun melted the snow above us, sending bowling ball size rocks down, ricocheting off both sides of the gully. Never want to repeat that again! The conditions then were very similar to what it is like out there now.

[rhyang]

Great pics and amazing how slowly things are thawing out. That crossing looked like no joke either.

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[steiny98]

WD- great trip report (as usual). Looks like I'm copying your trips this summer, I'm heading to Pine Creek and then Pioneer Basin, but at the end of August/early September.

Did you try any streamers or nymphs while fishing, or did you only use dry flies?

[ucangler]

This trail is no joke! Did it last year, makes me tired thinking about it.