The Beatout Hike

[tmartenst]

My wife and I did this hike in September of 2006 but I never posted here because I wasn't a member yet! Slacker. Since there is a discussion happening about the LCC ridges, I thought I would post this for those that are interested.

We started at 6:00 am (dark) and ended at 9:00 pm (dark) so it took us 13 hours! The biggest detractor from the speed on this hike was my wife on the boulders. She is normally a faster hiker than me on normal terrain no matter how steep. However, most of this hike is boulder hopping and the longer leg span and a little bit of confidence definitely helps. I think I could have easily cut off about 3 hours of the hike if I had gone alone or with another person more comfortable with boulder hopping. I also like to fiddle with photos a little so that always slows us down!

Needless to say, it was a pretty epic hike. Start at the White Pine Trail Head and head to Red Pine Lake. Just above the first lake the ridge starts to the right and will take you to the crest of LCC and Dry Creek Canyon. From here you continue down the ridge until you summit Pfiefferhorn. Continue down the ridge until you go up and over another peak which puts you on Lightning Ridge. Stay close to South Thunder Mountain and summit for a good view. Some take a diversion to summit Lone Peak as well but that would add at least an hour to the hike. Shouldn't be too bad to do though. To enter Bells Canyon for your descent, you need to go Southwest of South Thunder and cut into the canyon. Stay to the right and you will soon pick up a trial near the upper bells reservoir. Bells is a big canyon and it took us about hours to get down it. Definitely a cool end to the hike and a great hike in the Wasatch.

http://www.purelightimages.com/pics/fs/beatoutbegin.jpg

Red Pine:
http://www.purelightimages.com/pics/fs/beatoutredpine.jpg

Ridge to Pfiefferhorn:
http://www.purelightimages.com/pics/fs/beatoutcallie.jpg

NW Couloir of the Pfiefferhorn in background:
http://www.purelightimages.com/pics/fs/beatoutcalliepfeif.jpg

Hogum Gulch:
http://www.purelightimages.com/pics/fs/beatouthogum.jpg

Box Elder:
http://www.purelightimages.com/pics/fs/beatoutboxelder.jpg

Looking down Bells from South Thunder (Upper Reservoir shown):
http://www.purelightimages.com/pics/fs/beatoutbells.jpg

Bridge in mid Bells:
http://www.purelightimages.com/pics/fs/beatoutbridge.jpg

End View:
http://www.purelightimages.com/pics/fs/beatoutsunset.jpg

[Iceaxe]

Awesome :2thumbs:

Beatout is a little easier this time of year when you can cross the boulder fields on consolodated snow. An iceaxe is a good idea until about the 4th of July.

[accadacca]

That is some epic stuff in my book. :2thumbs:

[Rented mule]

Grandaddy of destinations. World class, for sure! Never been.
Gotta get there. thanks! Great pictures from top O' the world! :mrgreen:

[Cirrus2000]

Fantastic! Thanks for sharing this, even if it's a little older! Total distance/elevation change?

Still trying to do the math on this, though...

We started at 6:00 am (dark) and ended at 9:00 pm (dark) so it took us 13 hours! :ne_nau: :haha:

[tmartenst]

I see your point. Boy is my face red. I meant it took 7 hours.

Hope that clears it up!