Nissimaha trip report

“Here it is,

So, the nissimaha - a 21 day trip through YMCA camp Menogyn, planned by the campers. Me, 2 girls - Char and Kristin, and a guide - Rebecca. We had a total of 14 days on trail, in the Absaroka's. Carried all our food, 75 miles total, yes i know, girls hike slow.

The girls were fairly new to backpacking, so we learned as we went along, though they had several extended canoe trips behind them.

We started at Boulder creek, and took the first few days easy, somewhere along the way, cows were escaping from their ranch, so the wilderness was filled with cows, cow pies, and more cows. They got annoying, running through campsites, and blocking the trail. After crossing mill creek pass, they were gone.

Mill creek pass was amazing, i think one of the best feelings in the world is walking up one side of a pass, not knowing what is on the other side, and getting to the top, it is amazing. One full day of rain on that stretch, otherwise perfect weather. Down mill creek pass to agate springs wasn't very scenic, but was nice hiking through the woods, along streams. Agate springs was well used, and our permit didn't allow us to camp there, so we hiked downstream a ways and put up camp for 2 nights, allowing for some rest and swimming time.

Leaving from agate springs, we hung a bear bag, with most of our food, and took only enough for one night, hiking over silver pass. Which was the most amazing pass of the 3 we did. Awesome views, and again, that same feeling. Down to silver lake, we met some people from Kristikon, doing trail maitenence, they were staying on the lake, so we stayed on a creek b4 it. The lake is amazing, wow... i didn't even get a picture.

That morning was cold, frost on our packs, hat and gloves morning. Returning to our bear bag, we put in an extra long day, hiking straight up the hill after agate springs, it didn't seem to end, but we made it to a small spring, and made camp.

Down to Passage falls after that was a decent stretch, got hit by a t-storm, and stayed just b4 the trail head, cooking on an old stove. Passage falls was nice, a little out of the way, but a nice place to stop for lunch.

From there to Charlie white lake, was another couple days, and a few of the trails were mis marked, must pay attention to where you're going. Horse creek trail is misnumbered. Charlie white lake trail, is not labeled, and almost not worth the time to hike to. Horse campers let their horses crap all over the tent site, then more returned while we were staying there, not even really worrying about us. there were fish heads in the lake, and it was dirty. not quite like silver lake.

From there, the final stretch to knox lake and back to bear creek was nice. good place to camp along the trail at knox lake. Headed to bear creek to get picked up, our pick was late and we got hit by a thunderstorm.

The van ride, we headed through Yellowstone, and over Beartooth pass, which was nice, but i'd much rather be hiking through the mountains, it's not as rewarding to drive over a pass. Returning home, 1.5 days in the car.

What an amazing trip, i'm not even gonna complain about the girls this time.

Dont forget to check out my pictures

Nissimaha Pics ”

“Cool trip report and nice pics! Looks like it was a great time.. :-)”

“Wow!

(I'm not much for words.)

Wow again!”

“Thanks simer190!

It's always wonderful to take a trip vicariously in the middle of the work week.

Good pics, even the tatanka...er, cows.”

“I just added the panoramics from this trip, in album number 5, check them out

Nissimaha Panoramics ”

“More cool pics! That's a beautiful area. Some of those chicas you were hiking with were pretty cute.. you bust a move or what?”

“see, i would have... yeah, i agree, some of them were cute, but they all got on my nerves... not quite my type of girls... i know i know, what else could i want, a cute girl that backpacks... it's not worth it, i just wanted to get away from them after about 10 days... at least they didn't complain... much, and they could hack it, i was happy enough, didn't degrade the trip much.”

“Love the passes!

What was the bug bite? I got one in WY and my eye was swollen for a few days. Had a big red bite on the eyelid.”

“didn't seem to bother her too much, but it grew real quick... worried me for a while, but she didn't complain... nothin too big”