Wasatch Rebel
12-20-2010, 08:38 AM
Several years ago when I did Kings, David Day's book Utah's Favorite Hiking Trails suggested taking the right fork at Elk Horn Crossing, and heading up the west side of the valley past Bear Lake, then crossing the river/stream to join the main trail again several miles later. On that trip, which was in mid-July, the water level in the river where we were to cross was about navel level of ice-cold water, with no way to cross without getting soaked. We elected not to cross that time, but to go all the way back to Elk Horn and up toward Dollar Lake. We're making the trip again next July (around mid-month). So with that in mind, I have several questions.
1. Have you ever done the hike this way, and if so how did you cope with the stream crossing?
2. Is the stream normally lower by that time of year?
3. How do you handle getting all your clothes wet, including boots/shoes of which you probably only have the pair you are wearing?
4. Would you risk crossing this stream at the described level of water and the chance of getting everything including sleeping bag wet?
5. Would you recommend going this route? And by that I mean up one side of the valley for variety? Even if it meant you might get wet and have a hard time getting dry again?
6. Is there another possible route we could take for people with varied hiking skills that would give us some different scenery on the way down, and we wouldn't have to have cars parked at a different trailhead that was 4-5 hours away from the Henry Fork trailhead?
1. Have you ever done the hike this way, and if so how did you cope with the stream crossing?
2. Is the stream normally lower by that time of year?
3. How do you handle getting all your clothes wet, including boots/shoes of which you probably only have the pair you are wearing?
4. Would you risk crossing this stream at the described level of water and the chance of getting everything including sleeping bag wet?
5. Would you recommend going this route? And by that I mean up one side of the valley for variety? Even if it meant you might get wet and have a hard time getting dry again?
6. Is there another possible route we could take for people with varied hiking skills that would give us some different scenery on the way down, and we wouldn't have to have cars parked at a different trailhead that was 4-5 hours away from the Henry Fork trailhead?