NOT TOO SUBTLE
Tuesday’s hike was one that I was really looking forward to. The plan was to hike to the summit of Mount Sublette (also known as Brooks Mountain) from highway 287 just west of Togwotee Pass. Mount Sublette is just over 11,000’, and it towers over the west side of Brooks Lake. Its east side is a wall of sheer cliffs, but the west side is a gentle plateau. The trail climbs the west side. It is a little over 2 miles, one way, but the elevation gain is over 1,600’.
Mount Sublette should not be confused with Sublette Point, which is rock pinnacle just to the southeast. It is composed of crumbly volcanic rock, and it is considered to be an extremely dangerous technical climb. There is no trail up Sublette Point.
Jackson fell asleep on the 30 minute drive to the trailhead. He normally naps in the early afternoon, but on this trip the timing shifted forward a couple of hours. I’m guessing that his brain was still in the Eastern Time Zone. The “trailhead” is just a long, wide shoulder on the side of highway. We pulled off and organized our gear before waking Jackson. That did not go well. He was not ready to get up from his nap. Then there was a mishap putting mosquito repellent on him. He managed to rub it into his eyes, which led to a complete meltdown.
Getting sunscreen and mosquito repellent on him was a challenge throughout the trip. We managed to keep him from getting sunburned, but mosquito bites were a major problem. We protected him with long pants and long sleeves, but he ended up with lots of bites on his face and neck.
We were starting late (as usual), and we didn’t know how long the hike would take. We decided to go ahead and get started, hoping that he would calm down. I carried him from the start, but the meltdown continued. Carrying him uphill would have been difficult enough, but having him scream in my ear the whole time added another element to the misery.
Jackson did calm down eventually, but that first 20 minutes was miserable. He walked some on the way up, but I carried him most of the time. We ran into one other group on the way. They were a family from the Raleigh, NC area.
The first 2/3 of the hike was actually pretty boring. It was all wooded, and the trail stays up on a hillside above a small stream. We narrowly avoided disaster when Jackson dropped his matchbox car. It bounced off the trail and landed in a steep gully composed of scree and loose rock. Just beyond we reached a stream crossing and a big patch of snow. We took a break there so that Jackson could stretch his legs and play in the water. I went back and made a sketchy descent down the gully to retrieve his $2 matchbox car. File that under “things I never thought I would do”.
The wildflowers were nice on the hike up, particularly around the stream. There were Paintbrush, Alpine Buttercups, and Spring Beauties. I didn’t even know that Spring Beauties grew in Wyoming. The flower show really cranked up in the meadows above treeline. Up there, the ground was a tapestry of green, gold, and purple.
Jackson walked from the stream to treeline, where a vast meadow runs all the way to the summit. After a short stretch the grade gets steep, so I carried him from there. We hiked up through the wildflowers as the top gradually drew closer. We frequently turned around to take in the view of the Tetons in the distance.
By the time we reached the brink of the cliffs Jackson was asleep again. That was just as well – at least we didn’t have to worry about him up there. There is one final short but steep climb to reach the summit from that point, but it isn’t essential. The view of Brooks Lake and the Pinnacles is incredible from the crest of the ridge. We stopped there, had a snack, and took lots of photos.
Christy was satisfied, but I wanted to complete the hike to the summit. She stayed with Jackson, who was still sleeping, while I ran up to the top. The summit has more expansive views, particularly of Sublette Peak with the Wind River Range in the distance.
By the time I returned Jackson was awake again. He was not happy that I wasn’t there. Christy had endured his second meltdown while I was gone. Fortunately he calmed down once we started the hike back down.
When I do this hike again, I plan to start earlier and extend it. Following the brink of the cliffs to the north would be fun. Even better, I’d like to hike the alpine ridge northwest towards Breccia Peak. I don’t know anything about this route, but it looks reasonable on the topo map. There is a trail that ends in the gap southeast of Breccia Peak that starts at the same trailhead on highway 287. That would make a great loop hike, with or without adding the summit of Breccia Peak.
I noticed one oddity on the topo map on GAIA. According to GAIA, most of the hike is in the Teton National Forest, but the top of Mount Sublette is owned by Mr Ds Food Center. That sounds unlikely – I’m guessing it is just an error?
The hike back was easier and faster than the climb. Jackson walked most of the way, which was great because I was worn out. Carrying him on hikes four days in a row must be my limit.
Back to Wyoming
Back to Hiking and Backpacking Trip Reports
Please remember to Leave No Trace!