Beartooth Plateau Questions

Bump—any feedback?

Clay, I sent you a PM. I also e-mailed my YNP ranger buddy and gave him your questions. I'll paste things here if/when he has the time to answer before you leave for the Beartooths.

I don't have much to offer you but since you are not getting much response, yet………….. I backpacked a portion of the Beartooth plateau July 27-31, 2010. Island Lake >Albino Lake>Cloverleaf Lakes>Native Lake>Island Lake. My murky memory is telling me that the mosquitoes were not a problem except at Native Lake where I had to use some protection under my I.D. Silshelter. Native Lake is below treeline, however. Just guessing (since I have never hung a food bag from rocks) that you could find plentiful hanging opportunities. We ran into some very "friendly" goats at Albino Lake and I suspect they would be interested in food caches. Here is a link to the Gallatin Nat'l Forest Food Storage order: http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5127774.jpg . I did not find the equivalent Custer Forest information in a hasty search. I carried a small Bearvault canister three years ago.

I am certain that our camps at Albino and Cloverleaf were devoid of fire wood. Maybe (?) we had a fire at Native but I don't think so.

Though I do not fish I do remember where the fishermen in our group caught fish. PM me if you would like that info.

The only other first hand knowledge I have that is remotely relevant is that I spent several days base-camp hiking from the East Rosebud area in mid July last year. No mosquitoes that I remember. All hiking was below treeline, though.

I will be in that area next week, also, but probably fighting the crowds at the Chief Joseph TH. Good luck!

Thanks guys. This is really helpful.

I plan on getting in touch with the ranger district tomorrow to check on the food storage issues. Hopefully they'll be able to fill in the last few gaps.

Clayton I am NOT an expert on the area but here's my 2 cents.

Bugs – I did some day hiked in the Beartooths this summer. I'd say the bugs were similar or slightly worse then what I experienced on backpacking trips in the Winds and Teton Wilderness. They were worst by the lakes. Up on high windy ridges, no problem. Based on my very limited experience I'd want a bug proof bivy but a complete tent would not be required. Bring a small bottle of 98% DEET (keep it off waterproof things because it melts plastic slightly). I used a bug proof nylon shirt once and really liked it.

Bear Bagging – I don't know anything about the rock idea. In black bear country I don't worry as much but in Grizzly country I get a solid bear hand at least 100 yards from my camp and preferably out of sight. I would stop a good hour before sundown in order to do that plus set up camp. For future trips I've considered renting a bearikade just so I could hike till dark, drop my cannister and go camp. Of course hiking at dusk in bear country isn't recommended anyway so I may not bother.

"Bear Bagging – … but in Grizzly country … I've considered renting a bearikade just so I could hike till dark, drop my cannister and go camp."

From canister testing of a Bearikade at the Grizzly Discovery Center.

As far as I know, Bearikade has not made any changes as a result of this testing, or had any other testing sessions since this one. (2008 or 2009 ??)

Thanks again for the help. Unfortunately, we got smoked out of the Beartooths after only one night. There was a fire the next drainage over spilling a lot of smoke into the area.

It wasn't a total loss though. We ended up spending the next three days in Yellowstone and had a great time catching cutthroat and cuttbows. It's amazing that in a park that full and at summer peak, all you have to do to avoid other anglers is to walk a few easy miles. In the two days we had to fish, we didn't see any one else on the water or beyond two miles from the trailhead. And the fishing was fantastic.