Mount Washburn Trail
Jul 15th, 2013, 11:34 AM
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Mount Washburn Trail
We plan to include hiking Mount Washburn Trail during our trip to Yellowstone in August. According to our guide book there are two ways to get to the tower. One is the Chittenden Road entry point. The other is from the Dunraven Pass parking area. Is one way any better than the other as far as scenery or ease of ascent? No children will be with us and we are both in our early sixties.
Jul 15th, 2013, 02:14 PM
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http://www.trailguidesyellowstone.co...burn_trail.php
http://www.americansouthwest.net/wyo...urn-trail.html
Here are a couple of links that describe the trailheads. I haven't hiked it myself.
It looks like you are probably located near me? I looked at your profile. My wife teaches with a local guy that is extremely into BBQ contests.
http://www.americansouthwest.net/wyo...urn-trail.html
Here are a couple of links that describe the trailheads. I haven't hiked it myself.
It looks like you are probably located near me? I looked at your profile. My wife teaches with a local guy that is extremely into BBQ contests.
Jul 15th, 2013, 03:54 PM
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My wife and I hiked Mt Washburn a few weeks ago. We are both in our mid-later 50s and in decent shape. It took us 3.5 hours to hike up and 1.5 hours to come down. We stopped many times on the way up to takes pictures, take in the wonderful scenery and my wife had to catch her breath. We took the Dunraven Pass parking lot trail. It was 3.2 miles each way. We met many people on the hike and at the top. We also had lunch at the top inside the observation area. It was very windy at the top. I loved my trip to Yellowstone and the GTNP, but I thought this hike was wonderful. The view from the top was amazing.
Jul 15th, 2013, 04:46 PM
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RWH99, thanks for the time info. I thought we could get to the top in about and hour and a half. Looks like I need to rethink that timeline. We walk two to three times a week and it takes about an hour for us to cover 5k. Of course that is on fairly level ground with only about a 250' elevation rise. With the thinner air and greater elevation rise it sounds like we may need more than just a few photo breaks. I will be the pack mule carrying the water, jackets, and food. I need to start carrying a pack on our walks to see how I hold up. ;-)
Spiro,
Yes, we live pretty close. We are in Strawberry country north of you about 60 miles. My wife is a retired teacher now working part time in the city library. I only do judging at contests. The only cooking I do is for family. Getting serious about BBQ cooking and competing takes a few $$$. Most contests will cost a team a minimum of $500 to $800 for entry fees, meats and travel expenses. I would rather spend mine on traveling. I do meet a lot of people both cooks and judges at the contests. I keep saying I am going to visit Spiro to see the mounds there, but I haven't made it so far.
Thanks for the links you posted. We are looking forward to our trip next month.
Spiro,
Yes, we live pretty close. We are in Strawberry country north of you about 60 miles. My wife is a retired teacher now working part time in the city library. I only do judging at contests. The only cooking I do is for family. Getting serious about BBQ cooking and competing takes a few $$$. Most contests will cost a team a minimum of $500 to $800 for entry fees, meats and travel expenses. I would rather spend mine on traveling. I do meet a lot of people both cooks and judges at the contests. I keep saying I am going to visit Spiro to see the mounds there, but I haven't made it so far.
Thanks for the links you posted. We are looking forward to our trip next month.
Jul 15th, 2013, 05:12 PM
#5
I hiked Mt Washburn a few years ago. I don't remember which route but it was the southern most route. I think one is shorter but a bit steeper.
It's not the distance that's the problem it's the elevation. You start at 8,800 ft and end at about 10,250. You start sucking for oxygen almost immediately.
Scenery was great. We saw some prong horns but unfortunately they were on the next mountain. It got sold, windy and rained for a while at the top. We went into the ranger station until it stopped. Obviously much easier going down.
I think it took a good 3 1/2 hours going up.
= = = = =
Some other suggestions. Few people venture off the outside road or even the inside road in GTNP.
Go to Mormon Row and Schwabacher landing just off the outside road. Very few people and great.
Also, there's an unofficial trail up the backside of Grand Prismatic Spring (a couple of miles up the road from Old Faithful). Drive a mile back towards OF and park in the Fairy falls parking lot. Do the first mile of the hike until you come to Grand Prismatic Sprint on your right. Look carefully on the hill to find the trail going up.
Amazing views of GPS.
It's not the distance that's the problem it's the elevation. You start at 8,800 ft and end at about 10,250. You start sucking for oxygen almost immediately.
Scenery was great. We saw some prong horns but unfortunately they were on the next mountain. It got sold, windy and rained for a while at the top. We went into the ranger station until it stopped. Obviously much easier going down.
I think it took a good 3 1/2 hours going up.
= = = = =
Some other suggestions. Few people venture off the outside road or even the inside road in GTNP.
Go to Mormon Row and Schwabacher landing just off the outside road. Very few people and great.
Also, there's an unofficial trail up the backside of Grand Prismatic Spring (a couple of miles up the road from Old Faithful). Drive a mile back towards OF and park in the Fairy falls parking lot. Do the first mile of the hike until you come to Grand Prismatic Sprint on your right. Look carefully on the hill to find the trail going up.
Amazing views of GPS.
Jul 15th, 2013, 05:56 PM
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OKCAT,
My wife teaches and has always said she want to work as a librarian when she retires. I hope your wife was blessed enough to teach kid with the last name Inman. Smartest kid I've ever met. My daughter graduated last year(same year as he did). I was never so sick of seeing him at quizbowl competitions in her younger years. I think he scored perfect on ACT.
Yellowstone is my wife and daughters favorite national park. Enjoy your trip and be sure and leave a trip report when you return(especially since you are so close to where we live).
The guy that does all the bbq here last name is Branscum, btw.
My wife teaches and has always said she want to work as a librarian when she retires. I hope your wife was blessed enough to teach kid with the last name Inman. Smartest kid I've ever met. My daughter graduated last year(same year as he did). I was never so sick of seeing him at quizbowl competitions in her younger years. I think he scored perfect on ACT.
Yellowstone is my wife and daughters favorite national park. Enjoy your trip and be sure and leave a trip report when you return(especially since you are so close to where we live).
The guy that does all the bbq here last name is Branscum, btw.
