Cloud Peak Ascent, 13,167ft
August 25th – 28th, 2009
Please RSVP and/or send any questions to trip leaders – Jeremy Muir
Join us for a 4 Day, 3 Night backpacking trip into the Cloud Peak Wilderness area of the Bighorn National Forest. Two days backpacking will take us to the base of Cloud Peak, and the trip will culminate in an attempt to ascend Cloud Peak, the 2nd highest peak in Wyoming, before hiking a full day out to the trailhead.
Due to the regulations of the Cloud Peak Wilderness, group size will be limited to 12. If there is significant interest in the trip beyond 12 hikers we can consider breaking into two smaller groups, though the groups will need to remain at least 1/2 mile apart while in the wilderness area.
We will begin our trip at the Battle Park trail head, and hike to Lake Solitude where we will spend the first night. Day two will move our camp to the base of Cloud Peak. Day three will be the ascent of Cloud Peak, or optionally a day hike to Mistymoon Lake for those who don’t want to attempt Cloud Peak. Day four will be the hike out to West Tensleep Lake, and then driving to Battle Park to retrieve vehicles.
Optionally, if there is interest we can extend the trip to add a 5th day – which would be a day hike to Florence Lake with an optional ascent of Bomber Mountain.
The scenery in the area is stunning, and the fishing is generally pretty good with lots of different species of trout found in the lakes and streams. Some pictures of a trip Alex and I made into the area summer of 2008 can be found here. Camp fires are not allowed in the Cloud Peak Wilderness, so all cooking will be over gas stoves, and unfortunately no roasting marshmallows.
This trip will is rate moderate to strenuous. While the milage is not significant, elevation gain is and all the hiking starts above 9000 feet, with much of it above 10000 feet.
Mountain conditions are unpredictable and can change suddenly. With the weather capable of varying wildly from sun to rain to snow, from warm to freezing cold in the course of a single day being properly equiped is important. Please review the following equipment list and pack appropriately.
Individual Equipment list -
- Solid hiking boots that provide good ankle support – don’t bring brand new boots, wear boots you know are comfortable and don’t cause blisters, gore-tex lined recommended
- Backpack – at least 3500 cu in, with solid suspension system, ensure that pack is comfortable when loaded with no spots that rub
- 4 pairs of wool hiking socks
- 2 pairs moisture wicking underwear
- 1 pair hiking pants with zip-off legs
- 2 moisture wicking shirts
- 1 set light or mid-weight long underwear
- 1 fleece or midweight pack jacket
- 1 pair rain pants
- 1 rain jacket
- 1 pair sports sandals for river crossings & camp use
- 1 pair gloves
- 1 wool stocking cap
- 1 pack towel
- 1 wide brimmed hat or baseball cap
- 1 sunglasses
- 1 headlamp
- 1 toothbrush & paste (travel size)
- 1 chapstick
- 1 waterbottle or camelback style water resevoir
- 1 hiking stick
- 1 sleeping bag – 20 degree or warmer recommended
- 1 sleeping pad – lightweight – foam or inflatable (recommended)
- 1 sierra cup or other mug
- 1 set utensils (fork, knife, spoon)
- 1 pocket knife
- 1 camera if desired
Optional -
- Fishing gear & license if you want to fish. Fishing licenses are approximately $14/day for Wyoming non-residents and will need to be purchased in Buffalo before heading out – Just Gone Fishing & The Sports Lure are both good places to buy your licenses. Licenses must be purchased with cash. We also recommend you buy a container of worms as grasshoppers may be hard to find at elevation at this time of the year.
Shared Equipment List -
If you have any of this gear and can bring it, please let us know. We’ll do our best to provide gear where needed and we have extras.
- Tent – lightweight tent with rainfly & ground cloth
- Stove with fuel – lightweight, liquid or gas fueled, single burner – we’ll need 1 stove for every 4-6 people
- Water Purification Pump – we’ll need one pump for every 3-4 people
- Lantern – lightweight, gas or battery powered – 1 for every 4-6 people
- Cooking gear – lightweight camping pots, pans & utensils, matches – 1 set for every 4-6 people
- First Aid Kit – bandages, blister repair kit, etc – 2 kits – we have one
Food -
We’ll do a group shopping trip in Sheridan before we head out. Expect food to be along the lines of rice, instant mashed potatoes, tuna & chicken, oatmeal, pancakes – nothing fancy. Be prepared to chip in for the food, cost likely to run around $10-12 per person per day.
