Montana's Greatest Through-Hike ~Sean Jansen The Beaten Path is a 26-mile thru-hike, point-to-point trail that climbs its way up and over the Absaroka-Beartooth Mountains. The aptly named Treasure State’s sharply contoured, snowcapped Beartooth Mountains, and the lucid sweetwater of East Rosebud Creek, rambling alongside the pot-holed road as I pounded a rental car into the gorge where it and our trailhead originated, had me giddy like a pirate upon gold, prodding me onward on a journey of western discovery. Every other cast we would catch fish on little lightning using dry flies and streamers. Lupe had succeeded in finding it! We were literally climbing up the mountain at some points! For hours, Lupe continued to see lightning in the darkness far to the SE. The Absaroka-Beartooth Mountains loom above the north side from Mission Creek. It was so nice catching up with her. The trip to Lightning Lake is a difficult off-trail backpacking adventure to a high mountain lake in the Beartooth Mountains and one of the only lakes in Montana hosting beautiful golden trout. Mick was very kind to Lupe, even giving her treats intended for his dog. 257 – Inyan Kara (11-7-20), Pine Mountain, the Sweetwater County, Wyoming High Point (6-15-17). On July 6th in 2015, my good buddy Chase Schott and I were putting our packs together for the long haul to lightning lake to catch Golden Trout. We started up the mountain, climbing over dead fall and every other obstacle you could imagine, every step the 80 pounds on my back got heavier and heavier, there was some parts that were so steep if you stood up straight you would fall backwards. The scenery seemed even more beautiful, dramatic and wild in the storm. Lupe and SPHP were ready to go find Sky Pilot Lake! Soon Lupe and SPHP reached Jasper Lake. When Lupe finally reached the top of the ridge, there was a grand view from the SE to the SW all the way around to the NW. Lupe and SPHP kept climbing along the ridgeline heading N and scrambling around the boulder fields trying to figure out which way was the easiest way to High Pass. His nickname in the music industry was “puker” – not terribly charming, but related to the wild partying lifestyle he shared for a while with the rich and famous. (7-24-20), Kings Peak, Uinta Range, the Utah State High Point – Part 1: Henry’s Fork to Dollar Lake & Beyond! It’s a stunning sight and we chose to drop packs and make our lunch. We had a few fish rise and saw some big bruisers cruising the banks so we threw everything we had at them, scuds, nymphs, streamers, and even some dry flies but they didn't want to take anything we were offering. WillyWeather 67,336 . By now the storm clouds to the W & N looked closer. Lupe got to spend the whole evening in there “roughing it” in the lap of luxury. The first thing that Lupe saw was the upper end of the big cirque beyond the ridge. Lupe and SPHP sat high up near the end of the little ridge looking at the great view of Sky Pilot Lake. The hike there is easy enough, the trail is well … There no more mishaps the rest of the way to the G6. Sky Pilot Lake was a very beautiful lake! He said he has had a tremendously fun life. The backpack-ing portion of the trip lasts 6 nights, 7 days. Slight chance of snow Showers late in the morning. Multi-day. Fellow Angler: This booklet is intended to pass on information collected over many years about the fishery of the Absaroka-Beartooth high country lakes. Trail: Emerald and Moon Lakes, Weminuche Wilderness, CO. Get ready for a challenging hike if you are not used to high elevations! Getting there would be a very long day hike. Following it, you head toward Mutt and Jeff Lakes. The lightning was really the scariest thing. - Ryan Millhollin. Category: Easy Day Hikes, Hiking Trails in the Beartooth Mountains. Saturday, August 23. Lupe’s climb up to this N ridge was W of the best access to High Pass. For the first time Lupe and SPHP could see farther N.  SPHP had been right. While out of sight of Becker Lake, the trail passed by the W shore of this little pond. You must get to the West Fork Rock Creek trailhead located just outside Red Lodge, Montana. This large fish was trapped, stripped of eggs and released in Lightning Lake in 1975 by the author. The trail is primarily used for hiking, camping, fishing, and backpacking and is best used from June until October. After a last glance at Sky Pilot Lake, as fast as SPHP could manage, Lupe and SPHP scrambled back over to High Pass and High Pass Lake. Of famous people from the shore of Jasper Lake on the Lake dipping... 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