Day 71 - The Cirque of the Towers

August 28th

14 Miles

Clear Lake

Got up round usual this morning and caught a wonderful sunrise over the mountains a cross the valley:

The only problem with the morning was the thick and low grey clouds hanging on and over the peaks ahead of us. Luckily it seemed like rain was going to hold off as we hiked down and across the valley and up towards those mountains. When we got to the turn off for the Cirque of the Towers route it was still dreary and the lazy part of me thought that because of the weather it wouldn't be worth the effort of climbing over two passes. Both of us decided we would regret not doing it and it was five miles to the top of the pass so the weather had plenty of time to change. As we headed up we ran into Pamana and Beth, who camped down in the valley, up at Shadow Lake which was a spectacular lake due to the jagged peaks behind it.

As we continued up towards Texas Pass to cross into the cirque, the clouds began to break back into big white fluffy clouds with patched of blue sky. The climb up the pass was rocky but there was a trail and it was WAY less steep than Knapsack Col. Looking forward at the top of the pass at the valley and over at the cirque was breathtaking and as we descended more and more of the towers exposed themselves.

Heading down the trail gave way to multiple options of game trails, cairns and cross country. We decided to cross country down to a game trail and then switchback down to larger trails until we got down to the lake. As we popped out at the lake we heard a bark to the right and Panama, Beth, and the dogs were nestled in between boulders and willow below the most massive tower having lunch. We posted up with them and the sun came out and the clouds disappeared and it was HOT which it hasn't been since I got into Wyoming. 

After lunch is when shit got frustrating. To get out of the valley you head over Jackass Pass which is higher then the actual pass below it so Whoever thought of putting trail up there must be the jackass. As we made our way around the lake Spins and I got engulfed in conversation and did pay attention the the fact that we were headed near the low pass to the right and not Jackass Pass. So we worked together a maze of game trails and cross country until we made it back to the trail up to the pass. 

Crossing down the pass we came to a split where the Ley map said to head up and to the left of the lake but there was a trail to the right down along the lake. Spins wanted to go along the Ley route and I wanted the easy way along the lake so we took my way and I've come to learn in the Winds that when I think the other way is the easy way, we end up having to do bouldering and rock climbing to get back to the trail. About halfway along the lake we hit a boulder field which took a lot of time and energy to get around. I personally like the bouldering but while thruhiking its a little more work than its worth if you want to get miles in. At the mouth of the lake we jumped back on trail and met a bunch of whose base camp was lower and had gone up to the cirque for the day. One of the men lives in Aspen, CO and told us to give him a ring when we head through for a shower and possible place to stay. He also owns a gear shop there which could prove beneficial by the time I get down there. 

On trail, we headed down (well actually up and around then down) another lake and came out to (insert big lakes name) where we saw Panama and Beth stopped in the field. I hollered at them and didn't realize the big black animal I stupidly glanced at earlier and assumed was a horse was actually a big moose heading over to the lake. We quietly headed over to where they were at and watched the moose to into the water, drink a bit, then swim over to where a campsite was a cross the lake.

Shortly after, Spins and I took a break at the junction of what we were told was the trail up to Clear Lake. Panama and Beth passed us up there and kept going. Misplacement number three of the day happened when I checked my GPS and saw we were headed to a different lake to the left and above Clear Lake. We bushwhacked over to the other trail and hoped Panama and Beth would realize and do the same...eventually. We made it up to Clear Lake which is stunning and saw their footprints ahead so we knew they made it back on the right trail as well. We were going to head up to Deep Lake and camp but said screw the extra mile we're done here and set up camp. We ate by the lake with the sun setting and it was gorgeous. An end to a scenic and tough hiking day. One and a half more days in the mountains until we head into the flat desert.