Electric Peak and Sportsman Lake - August 14, 2018

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Scatman
Posts: 16
Joined: Wed Oct 18, 2017 1:11 pm

Electric Peak and Sportsman Lake - August 14, 2018

Post by Scatman »

Headed up to the northwestern part of the park for my next backpacking trip. This was originally supposed to be a five day, four night trip that would begin at the Bunsen Peak Trailhead and would include a two night stay at campsite 1G4 on the Gardner River, climbing Electric Peak on our second day at the campsite; moving on to Sportsman Lake and campsite WD2 for night number three, then a short hike to WD1 on the East Fork of Specimen Creek for our fourth and final night before hiking out at the Specimen Creek Trailhead. Unfortunately for us, the Bacon Rind Fire was burning on the west side of the park, and we were notified at Sportsman Lake by a trail crew that the Specimen Creek Trailhead was closed. This required us to hike out to the Fawn Pass Trailhead instead and all in one day. I then had to hitchhike back to the Specimen Creek Trailhead to retrieve my vehicle on the last day.

The views from Electric Peak were spectacular in every direction, and while camping at Sportsman Lake, we had a black bear run right between our tents just before dark. Electric Pass was special too, as we got to watch a large herd of elk to the south of us.

Here are some shots I took along our way. The first three days, we had reasonably good air conditions, while the last day the air was hazy due to smoke form the Bacon Rind Fire.


Day - 1 Backpacking in to campsite 1G4 along the Gardner River

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Trip overview map

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Electric Peak as seen from near the trailhead

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Glen Creek

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Hiking up the Glen Creek Drainage

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Trail mileage sign

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Electric Peak

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Campsite signpost


Day 2 - Day hike to the summit of Electric Peak

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Electric Peak - we will be climbing straight up the southeastern ridge

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View up the Gardner River Drainage towards Electric Pass

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Hillside full of Showy Goldeneye

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Contemplating the climb ahead :D

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Well, no time like the present

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Looking up at a false summit

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First glimpse of the true summit

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Looking up at the summit of Electric Peak

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Making our way along with some exposure to deal with

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Some beautiful lichen near the summit

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On the summit

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Can you make out the town of Gardiner down below?

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Gardiner, Montana

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Some challenging down climbs to deal with

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Sepulcher Mountain, Cache Lake and in the distance Bunsen Peak, Swan Lake and the Swan Lake Flats and in the far distance the Washburn Range

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Closer look of Swan Lake and flats

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Sepulcher Mountain


Day 3 - From campsite 1G4 to camspite WD2 on Sportsman Lake

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Entering the Gallatin Bear Management Area

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View of Electric Peak on our way to Electric Pass

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View back to the east as we approach Electric Pass

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View to the west from the pass

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Taken through my monocular - We watched this elk herd playing and prancing on the snow field, on a ridge to the south of us, for over an hour

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Our last good view of Electric Peak as we descend down the west side of Electric Pass

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If you can see it through the smoky haze, Sportsman Lake down below

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Trail junction sign in the meadows near Sportsman Lake

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Sportsman Lake

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Nearing sunset at Sportsman Lake

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Black Bear track of the bear that ran between our tents


Day 4 - Sportsman Lake to the Fawn Pass Trailhead (approximately 12 miles)

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Patrol cabin at Sportsman Lake

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Sportsman Lake

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Black Bear track on the trail heading out of Sportsman Lake Basin

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Meadows along Fan Creek

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Meadows along Fan Creek

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The Bacon Rind Fire

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Arriving at the Fawn Pass Trailhead which is now closed

The End



lah
Posts: 165
Joined: Thu Jul 27, 2017 12:47 pm

Re: Electric Peak and Sportsman Lake - August 14, 2018

Post by lah »

Another great adventure, it looks like.
Would have been fun to see elk playing in the snow.



Scatman
Posts: 16
Joined: Wed Oct 18, 2017 1:11 pm

Re: Electric Peak and Sportsman Lake - August 14, 2018

Post by Scatman »

The young elk were having the most fun, but some adults were joining in. I wanted to stay even longer and continue to watch them, but alas I had to leave to get to our next campsite.



Dorothy
Posts: 201
Joined: Sat Jul 29, 2017 7:45 pm

Re: Electric Peak and Sportsman Lake - August 14, 2018

Post by Dorothy »

Wow -- absolutely spectacular photos and wonderful report. Thanks SO much for the post.



billandkaren
Posts: 129
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2017 8:50 pm

Re: Electric Peak and Sportsman Lake - August 14, 2018

Post by billandkaren »

What a great hike! It looks just spectacular. Thanks for posting all the photos. Too bad about the fire but it seems you did all right in spite of it.

Bill



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