Friday, August 2, 2013 - I woke up at Emerald Lake Campground and drove the short distance to the trailhead at Montana Power's generating station.
I hiked 3 miles to Mystic Lake. The trailhead is at about 6,500 feet and Mystic Lake is at about 7,800 feet. The trail roughly follows West Rosebud
Creek. Montana Power draws water from Mystic Lake and pipes it to the generating station.
West Rosebud Creek
Mystic Lake
Saturday, August 3, 2013 - The plan was to hike to the top of the switchbacks (about 30), cross Froze to Death Plateau and camp at the saddle between Tempest Peak
and Granite Peak, about eight miles. As I climbed the
switchbacks to the plateau, it became apparent I wasn't going to make it. I was carrying a lot of weight with a two person tent and a 60 meter climbing
rope. Granite can be climbed without a rope, but it's recommended to have one to rappel down. Since I didn't know if there were any camping spots at the
top of the switchbacks, I turned around at 9400 feet and returned to camp.
Mystic Lake
Sunday, August 4, 2013 - I decided to take a day hike to the top of the switchbacks and check out the camping situation. I just took the top of my pack. On arriving at the top of the switchbacks, I found a nice camp spot and about a quarter mile further, there was a
small stream. I hiked about another half mile to the highest point on the trail, about 10,000 feet. There is no real trail across the plateau.
There's a stream in there.
One of the longer switchbacks
Monday, August 5, 2013 - A snowshoe rabbit came close to camp this morning. Only his feet were white. I couldn't get a good picture.
I took a day hike to the end of Mystic Lake and also to Huckleberry Lake. I decided to hike down to the car the next day, get
more food from the car, and make another attempt.
Wildflower
Huckleberry Lake
Tuesday, August 6, 2013 - Hiked down to the car and got another four days worth of food.
Find the Pika
Wednesday, August 7, 2013 - Hiked back up the swithcbacks and set up camp.
Sheltered Camp
Thursday, August 8, 2013 - Before leaving home, I had plotted a track on my gps across Froze to Death Plateau. I followed this course to 10,500 feet. The
weight was getting to me again and I decided to turn around. In addition to the track on the gps, I saved six points; FTD START, FTD1, FTD2, FTD3,
FTD4, and FTD5. Between FTD3 and FTD4, there was a pool of water off to my right. I couldn't tell if there was any flow. After FTD4, I began to see
cairns off to my right. A route a little to my right did seem to be a more gradual and less rocky climb.
Froze to Death Plateau
Wildflower
Friday, August 9, 2013 - At the top of the switchbacks, I had seen a trail leading off to the right. I had followed it, but it faded away. I hiked back
up with a daypack to check out this trail again. Where the trail seemed to end, I set my gps for FTD3 from yesterday and followed it. Well, to my great
surprise, it led me up onto the plateau to a large cairn with an orange flag. This was a great shortcut. It cut off about a mile of hiking. Nevertheless,
I was done with Granite for this year. I had been up the switchbacks four times. Maybe I'll return another year with a much lighter load. A gps track
across the plateau is crucial. As I was starting down, storms were moving in. I ran into another hiker. We talked for a while and then he said he had
better get moving before the clouds moved in. Minutes after he left, the clouds did move in and the whole plateau was enveloped in fog. On this last trip
up the switchbacks, I came across this goat. It just made the whole trip worth it.
Saturday, August 10, 2013 - I hiked to the car and drove back to I90. I wasn't sure what I was going to do. The original plan was to do Granite Peak, MT
and Gannet Peak, WY. Gannett is a 50 mile round trip and I wasn't feeling up to that. I thought I might drive up to Fort Benton and
float the White Cliffs section of the Missouri River. I drove west to Big Timber, MT and got a room at the Super8. I had eggs, hash browns, sausage (links
and patties) and biscuits and gravy at the truckstop diner and did laundry.
