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| Hiking | 12.00 Miles |
3,100 AEG |
| | Hiking | 12.00 Miles | 7 Hrs | | 2.18 mph |
| 3,100 ft AEG | 1 Hour 30 Mns Break | | | |
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[ show ]
| partners | | Last year I'd promised myself a Fall hike in the Inner Basin to enjoy the aspens. Today I was eager to honor my promise. After a hearty breakfast, we set out for the trailhead at Lockett Meadow. The day was cool with frequent cloud cover, perfect for a good long tough hike assuming it didn't rain.
A mile into the hike we knew we'd missed the peak color by a week or more. But we also realized the remaining beauty was far more than enough to make the hike one we'd remember fondly for a long time. There were a few other hikers on the lower trail, but everyone was quiet and, like us, just soaking in the beauty.
We made the Waterline Road pretty quick. It was carpeted with gold leaves just for us. At the hikers shack our lungs and muscles were complaining, but our spirits were soaring. We pushed upward, intending to at least get to the intersection with the Weatherford Trail a couple miles above us. The clouds were darker and thicker now. If we stopped the chill set in. The threat of getting caught in rain at this elevation and temperature was haunting the back of my thoughts and my hiking partner mentioned it each time she had breath enough. I kept an eye on Humphreys as an indicator of cloud height and what might be coming. The last half mile up to the Weatherford intersection is steep so we just put our heads down and pushed.
Once there I mentioned I'd sure like to go east to Doyle Saddle for the view. The trail contours along the slope, so besides being near 13,000 feet it is easy. How far she asked looking at the sky skeptically. Less than a mile there. She nodded and we hauled it. Views from Doyle are worth it.
While enjoying the Doyle views and a power bar I mentioned there was some stuff from an old cabin, specifically a rusted out bed headboard and springs, just off the trail near Fremont Saddle, just a bit southwest of the Weatherford/Inner Basin intersection. I'd sort of hoped we could make it there too. She looked up, shivered, and said no way. We'll make a decision back at the intersection I said. Her look told me all confidence she'd had in me before was certainly in jeopardy or perhaps totally gone.
At the intersection a couple were catching their breath before starting back down to Lockett Meadow. We all chatted for a few minutes. They asked if we were headed down too. I said she was but I was going over to Fremont and would catch up at the hiker shack. Nope she said, we don't split up and I am going up with you. We headed up the switchbacks to Fremont at the best pace we could maintain. It wasn't as hard as I'd imagined and we were there quick enough. Just as I found the old bed she said some one is coming.
A tall lanky hiker strode up and stopped for a chat. After a recital of where we all started and where we hoped to end up, I asked if per chance he was on HAZ. After a slightly surprised look he admitted he indeed was and went by Stoic. Now this was a bit of a shock as Stoic and I had very recently been messaging each other about a possible 4x4 trip together soon. We'd actually never met. The idea of both showing up at the same remote location at the same time with no prior planning -- I mean what are the odds. The sun came out pushing the clouds back a little. We chatted for a while and then set off back to our different trailheads. Nice to finally meet you and we couldn't have picked a better place.
We headed downhill towards Lockett with big smiles. The miles were piling up but gravity was now helping. Once back in the aspens we slowed down to enjoy the quiet sound of leaves falling through the white trunks of the aspens. The evening light was perfect. It was a great end to the hike and we savored it, unwilling yet to end such a perfect day.
After a shower back at our base camp we headed over to the Lumberyard for beers and burgers, our tired bodies demanding some rewards for the effort.
We will be back in the Basin next year, I promise. |
| _____________________
All you have is your fire...
And the place you need to reach |
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Route Editor
Route Scout
