Wowow we had a group of 11 peaple ranging from experienced to novice. 2) If you're not used to such climbs consider making base camp near the waterfall just past Mistymoon Lake or on the rise just past it to take some time off your climb day. AllTrails / Brenda Barker Its 3 pole crossover design not only means that it is stable in strong winds, but is also freestanding. I then grabbed my gear and made my way down the final 7 miles to the parking lot, which I reached in the dark. Children refers to the set of objects that logically fall under a given object. You depart the "real" trail shortly after Misty Moon, go down and across a stream, and from there it's up 3000+ft to the top. We are both in pretty good shape and it took us four hours and 30 minutes from our campsite to the summit. There are 7 moderate trails in Cloud Peak Wilderness ranging from 3.5 to 16.9 miles and from 8,166 to 10,554 feet above sea level. The round-trip distance for a climb of Cloud Peak is 23 miles with about 4,000 feet of elevation gain. Anyway, back to this expedition. Day 1: Started at 2:50pm at the Tensleep trailhead. I went with my friend gistrailblazer. Guilford, CT. On the far side you can see a nice glacier and a good view, depending on weather. Cloud Peak is managed by Bighorn National Forest. The mountains and lakes aren't the most beautiful, but that's not what this is about. Summiting Cloud Peak took a little longer than I anticipated, but the views were spectacular and it is one of the favorite summit hikes that I've done. Leave plenty of time for the descent. Guide to the Wyoming Mountains, 3rd Ed. The mountain, a Wyoming landmark, is visible across great distances and from other mountain ranges of Wyoming and Montana as well as being visible from populated areas. There are other trails beside Solitude that will make for shorter hikes. Although there is more than one way to access the peak, the most commonly used route begins at the West Tensleep Trailhead & Campground (44.258019, -107.215344) (Elevation: 9101 ft.) From Misty Moon it's only 4.25 miles to the top, but it took me until 11:10am, i.e. If you do not think this is true, read about the October Revolution of 1917, where Lenin and the Bolsheviks proved that a dedicated minority can gain absolute power over a disorganized, leaderless, indifferent majority. Would’ve done a lot different, navigating parts of the trail toward the top is tough. The trail is great and well-trodden from Tensleep Trailhead, past Misty Moon Lake, up to the waterfall where the real uphill begins. I am not an experienced mountain climber, but I was able to complete this in two days. It’s actually rather fitting for a mountain many hikers have never heard of, as if the clouds are literally shrouding the whole range in obscurity. For 27 miles along the spine of the Bighorn Mountain Range, the 189,039 acre Cloud Peak Wilderness preserves many sharp summits and towering sheer rock faces standing above glacier-carved, U-shaped valleys. Spectacular. Long recognized as having some of the most majestic alpine scenery in America, this region was managed as the Cloud Peak Primitive Area as far back as 1932. The top is relatively flat, large, and navigable. Try to find somewhere not too exposed to the wind. Base camp either at Misty Moon or in the valley below the lake. Lasted about 24 hours. 0500 - Departed Tensleep Trailhead Hike on the Mistymoon Lake Trail (trail #063) around the shores of West Tensleep Lake, and negotiate a small stream crossing. It is a 6.5 mile hike up to Mistymoon Lake following trail #63. 5 of us hammock-sleeping-bagged it at misty moon, the trees are little but there are some strong ones that were able to hold more than one hammock. I've heard of people making it within 2 hours, so this will likely come down to your fitness, familiarity with bouldering, knowledge of the route, etc. Summiting and getting down before the afternoon showers start is critical. Soggy lichen on the boulders made us have several falls that could have been nasty easily. Note: A cold morning with a slight frost: it remains chilly most of the way to the summit. We didn't bring enough water, we were thirsty at the top. Your client about 700 feet then you hit a nice alpine lake and you can see the entire bowl. The peak (and the SW Ridge route) are among the most popular ascents in the state. It is the centerpiece of the Cloud Peak Wilderness and its giant east face harbors the largest glacier in the range (the Cloud Peak Glacier). After skirting around the lake, the trail meets up with the Lake Solitude Trail (trail #038), which heads west along the hillside across the valley south of Paint Rock Creek. Ah, another thing, on our way to tensleep we were following google maps which led us down an atv trail, so trust the signs that say ATV trail, more than the googs. This wilderness was officially drafted in 1984 during the Wyoming Wilderness Act. I have a knack for losing trails. This trail is in my opinion very hard. If there is rain in the forecast do not attempt. Set in the rugged San Juan range of southwest Colorado, Redcloud Peak (14,034’) and Sunshine Peak (14,001’) are two 14ers which can be summited along an out-and-back hike in one day. During the evening the sky clears and Cloud Peak appears from under its cloud cap - looks good! It rises to an elevation of 13,171 feet (4,015 m) and provides onlookers with dramatic views and vistas. It still surprises me to this day. Keep in mind that there is a narrow ridge portion, and I think it's easiest to stay quite near to the west side of the ridge, so you can't be too afraid of heights. WARNING THIS TRAIL IS HARD! In the first mile and a half the trail was followable and cairns were helpful. we talked about it in the morning, they lasted less than 10 min and were followed by like two drop of rain, it was spooky interesting. Sale Quick view. June, 2006: Sunshine Peak seen during a hike from Redcloud. You can find trail information from the Bighorn National Forest website, here, or visit AllTrails. Going down I also stayed left which appeared to be the easier route (so right going up). It is easy to find and follow on NatGeo maps. The UV surprised a few of us, my light eyes felt sunburnt for 24 hours after. Weather was perfect, one night there were massive gusts of winds that woke us all up, but none of us got out of our sleeping situations. Naturehike 20D Mongar Double Layer Waterproof Tent for 2 Persons. Good luck. It fluctuates from 8,500 feet up to 11,000 feet, climbing almost 10,000 feet of elevation all together. Cloud Peak is the highest peak within the Bighorn Mountains in the U.S. state of Wyoming. Along the way, enjoy lots of glacier-fed water. All in all, this was a satisfying experience, and I can recommend it to those looking to challenge themselves. Cloud-Peak is a freestanding tent,it is very easy to pitch. ... Could Up Ultralight 2-10D Tent Ultralight Hiking. Naturehike Cloud Peak 4 Season Backpacking Tent for 2-3 Person Hiking Cmaping Outdoor 4.7 out of 5 stars 63 £182.00 £ 182 . In 1984, Congress passed the Wyoming Wilderness Act, which designated the Cloud Peak Wilderness in the Bighorn National Forest. There used to be a bridg… Whatever you call it, it is a 60-70 mile hike primarily in the Cloud Peak Wilderness. 3) As everyone says, the trail up the mountain is poorly marked and you'll find cairns leading many different ways, but in general they all eventually get you there. Cloud Peak Wilderness is located in the Bighorn Mountains of north-central Wyoming. Nolan and I hiked to the summit of Cloud Peak this day. Balance the stability, comfort, and weight. Many people dream about completing a Cloud Peak Wilderness hike, and this one is relatively easy. I set up camp there. This is part 2 of an article by Al Marlowe on the Cloud Peak Wilderness. Follow this road for about 9 miles to the parking area at the trail head. hiking lake forest views dogs-leash wild-flowers wildlife Permit boxes are located at the trailhead. The trail drops out and you’re scrambling boulder fields for a long while, and it sort of blows. Beautiful. Our friends brought chlorine tabs but we were not feeling that. Can’t recommend this hike enough. The views are out of this world in all directions at the summit. I would say there wasn't any point that made me feel uneasy, and there were enough hikers around that help could easily be found in less than 60 minutes if needed. Must love rocks:) these rocks are precambrian, so some of the oldest exposed rocks in the world. 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