Trip Report - September Morn Lake, Beart ooth Mtns.

“September Morn Hike

September Morn Lake Day Hike
Beartooth Mtns., Montana
June 25, 2002

Roundtrip Distance: 17 miles
Elevation Gain: 2800'

I arrived at the Lake Fork Trailhead ( elev. 7185' ) shortly after 8:00 a.m. High temperatures for the Billings, Red Lodge area were expected to reach into the mid 80's so the plan was to get as early a start as possible. Unfortunately road construction pushed that plan back approximately 45 minutes. Still, the trail is shaded by Lodgepole Pine for the majority of it's distance into September Morn and accessibility to cool water should make the heat just a minor distraction.

The first 5.5 miles are rather mundane compared to the majority of hikes in the Beartooth Range and the miles seem to go by rather slowly. If you're fishing this is the area to try. The stream holds brookies, as well as rainbows and though not huge in size, their sheer numbers more than make up for it. Most fisherman hike the 3.5 miles into Broadwater Lake, which isn't a lake at all, but rather just a wide spot in the stream, rarely giving the rest of the drainage a try. So, for the person who doesn't mind a little off trail meandering, the fishing can be spectacular. This area is also home to several moose and it's unusual when one or two isn't encountered. Today, I'm not wetting a line and continue on towards September Morn.

From Broadwater the trail continues it's gentle ascent to a pack bridge, 5.5 miles from the trailhead. At this point you've gained a modest 1400' in elevation. From here the trail steepens as you climb towards Sundance Pass and the scenery becomes spectacular! Over the next section of trail to September Morn you'll gain approximately 1100' in 2+ miles giving you eye-popping views of Keyser Brown Lake, First and Second Rock Lakes and the climb up to snow-covered Sundance Pass.

After reaching September Morn ( elev 9690' ) and "re-fueling" on Snicker Bars and Powerade I continue on to the beginning of the climb to Sundance Pass. At this point I'm at 10,000' and have hiked 8.5 miles. If you were to continue on you'd climb to 11,100' before beginning the descent into the West Fork of the Rock Creek Drainage. It's not unusual to glass Mountain Goats on the sheer bluffs to the southwest of the trail, but I fail to spot any today.

After searching for goats and snapping a few more photos, it's time to begin the hike out. The return to the trailhead goes by rather quickly. It's mid-day and there are now a few more hikers and backpackers enroute to one destination, or another. It's always fun to hear where folks are going and how long they're "in" for, so despite the fact that it ALWAYS takes longer getting out, the time appears to go by quicker. I also was fortunate in seeing a cow moose and her calf grazing along a boggy area of the creek.

By the time I've reached the trailhead I've been hiking for nearly eight hours, have climbed 2500' and put 17 more miles on my Merrills. I try to think back to what I've encountered on the trail, but can't keep my mind off of ice cream! So, it's off with the boots, on with the Tevas and into Red Lodge for a medium chocolate/vanilla twist @ the Red Box Car!”

“geezr, you lucky dog! The snow dosen't look too bad at this point. could you get all the way to the top of the pass before you get snowed out? i think we're doing the whole length the week after Montanapalooza.”

“Great trip report and pics, Geezr! I'm drooling.

I'm hoping jury duty doesn't interfere with our trip to Desolation this weekend - I probably have to go back tomorrow as jury selection continues. They (the defense) usually don't like anybody with relatives who are/were cops....”

“Martyb- when they get to you during jury selection, stand up and scream, "he's guilty, I tell ya, guilty!". Maybe they'll let you off then.”

“My dad suggested referring to the defendant as "the guilty party" during any questioning....

I'm not too worried - they tend to like getting people with average (or below average) educational background who have no opinions on anything. I have a very strong educational background and have lots of opinions.

Hey aero, did you get my email re: motels in Cooke City (i.e., any recommendations or un-recommendations)? Geezr already claimed ignorance....”

“Aero, I don't think snow will be an issue. In fact, there was a group of four backpackers a head of me and if they were forced to turn around I didn't encounter them. Of course I'm not sure I dallied around taking photos, etc for them to get to the pass and back before I departed the trailhead. But they were young snots and they don't call me Geezr for nothing. ;-)

Martyb, man what did you do to deserve jury duty just before your trip? I'd take Aero's suggestion.”

“How can I came ignerince when I can't even spill it!”

“I know what yu're going to say Chief and I just want you to remember I'm a AARP member. ;-)”

“Usually, for me, jury duty is a pretty quick process: I show up, they find out my dad is a retired cop, the defense says thank you very much for showing up, see you next year. So when I got my notice for Tuesday, I didn't ask for a postponement (there really isn't a good time to go anyway), figuring I'd be outta there by Wednesday. But now it turns out it's a pretty serious case, so we had to fill out 20-page questionnaires, turn them in, then call in tonight to see if we have to show up on Thurs. If they drag their feet too much, and don't call me into the jury box quick enough, it may stretch into Friday. Bummer. I'm hoping they will fill the jury today and won't need any of us who showed up yesterday - not unreasonable.”

“Marty, I did get the email. i spaced out the reply tho! Here's a link to the Cooke City Sinclair cabins. The others you mentioned are good too. Hoosiers looks OK as well.

Cooke City”

“I don't normally pick on the elderly, but!!!!!!

Martyb, I bet if you wrote a letter to the court and told them you have had vacation plans, they would let you off for that period of time. At least they do here.

And, why would you need motel reservations in Cooke City?”

“Keeping my fingers crossed for you. What a way to wreck a weekend.

Would it help if Aero and myself called and told them what a S.O.B. you are??????????”

“We'll have to stop at the Sinclair and have the owner post the Montanapalooza team picture up on his website when we're passing through in a couple of weeks.”

“Chief, we need to remember he's from Californ I.A.

A motel without cable and no air IS backpacking.”

“Hey Chief,

I could have gotten a postponement, but, as I noted above, there really isn't a good time to trade for this year. Also, they usually will only let you off if you can show them proof of your airline or hotel reservations, neither of which are involved in our weekend backpacking trip. I have 100% faith that the system will preclude an intelligent, reasonable person from being on a jury to decide the fate of a person's life.

We need a motel in Cooke City because my mom will be dropping us (Me, dad, son, maybe others) off (in August) at the trailhead, then driving back to Billings, so we'll stay overnight at a motel to get an early start hiking.

Aero, just called the Sinclair Cabins and made a reservation - sounded like a nice fella.

Just thought of something: I'll stand up and shout, "I POST ON TT!!" That oughtta do it....”

“I see a possible discount in your future.”

“marty, you could yell, "Off topic!!" at various points during the questioning.”

“Or he could troll the jury...”

“I can see it now; the whole jury screaming, "Ban Marty! Ban Marty..!"”

“geezr, great trip! This looks like the Sierras! Montanapalooza is gonna be awesome!
I hope we see moose out there. I've never seen them in the wild!
When we exit Montanapalooza, will there be a place to get a vanilla shake?

oops, back to work!”

“Or shout out, I object to this line of questioning!”

“Vanilla shakes---the Red Box Car in Red Lodge.”

“And when the judge sites you for contempt just remind him who's running the courtroom.”

“And who pays who's salary!!!!”

“Be sure to write us from jail, marty. maybe post some pics!”

“Oh Yes, The Red Box Car, home of the chocolate/vanilla twist! Man does ice cream hit the spot after five days on the trail!

Thank You Snow Nymph! And Areo. And Martyb.”

“So, while Martyb is in the slammer who's gonna take his wife and son backpacking?”

“This started out as a simple trip report and NOW Martyb is stamping out California license plates at the Oakland Jail by day and bedding down with a 320 lb. thug with a tattoo that reads "Born To Be Wild" by night.”

“Marty's cellmate; Ben Dover....”

“Well, I guess we can say, the system DOES work. ;-)”

“Holy cow, I leave the office for an hour to go to a doctor appointment, and by the time I come back, my "friends" already have me in jail with "fun" cellmates, have pen pal services set up for me, etc.

By the way, my wife is nowhere near 320 lbs., and that's not what her tattoo says!

Also, the judge is a she, not a he -- of course, that could give you all lots of additional ideas for things to shout to get me kicked off the jury....

If I have to go in tomorrow, I'll post a "trip report," although it may not be until Sunday or Monday....”

“Where does that trail start at?

I'm missing getting out more and more. I keep looking up at the mountains from my office and remembering trips I have been on. The thing I think I miss most is the smells of the wilderness.

I am so sad.

Newgirl, you better go on this, if not for yourself, for me.”

“Chief, the turnoff to the trailhead is approximately 8-9 miles southwest of Red Lodge and just a few miles before the climb up the Beartooth Hwy. The road parallels the Lake Fork of Rock Creek and dead-ends at the trailhead. Coming from the Wyoming side it would be about two miles northeast of the Parkside Campground. Does that help?”

“I'm sad because you're sad. :-(”

“I'm going golfing with the wife and 10 year old after work. That'll be fun.

[:)”

“Hittin' greens always cheered me up!”

“Recorded message from Department 4, CA Superior Court: "This is a special message for all jurors from panel 3. All jurors from panel 3 are excused from jury service."

[I wasn't supposed to call 'till after 5 tonight, but I thought they might put a message on earlier - unless I'm mistaken, I'm done! They must've filled the jury box today, so don't need us.]

Yee Haw! Desolation trip is ON!!”

“...and I'm not goin' back to the "Pledge" thread - too much tension over there. Whew!”

“See, sometimes it pays to kiss up to the judge.

REMEMBER, no religion, no politics. Apparently some folks take those subjects way to seriously.”