had a good adventure in the Crazy Mountains yesterday, ended up at 27 miles w/ just under 8000' of vert (and 9.5 hours on my feet!)

my plan was to try to put together a 20-25 mile "doable" loop, I've tried several times before but the off trail scrambling has always turned out sketchy

this time I would park at Sunlight trailhead, veer to the South and pick the South Fork of the Shields River trail, it's a dead end trail but I had hoped to continue a couple of miles off trail and scramble out of the head end of the drainage over to the Elk Ck side, pick up a trail that lead up and over into Campfire Lake, continue down the Middle Fork of Sweetgrass Ck, pick up the Sunlight trail, up and over down to the truck

right off the bat I missed the turn for the SF trail and went about a mile and half past it (bonus miles!), the trail was very little used (and maintained) and I would constantly lose and pick up the trail  When the trail petered out for good the bushwhacking was slow and tedious until I finally ended up at the head end.  What I found was a very steep walled cirque w/ no good looking route.  I spent almost a half hour surveying and was about to call it quits and head home when I found some elk tracks in a snowfield heading up.  Typically animals know the best/easiest routes so I followed in.  Unfortunately this elk didn't and I was soon in a heck of scramble (the don't look down kind )  I finally scratched my way to the top and quickly picked up the Elk Ck trail.  From that point things went pretty smoothly.  It was really hot though and I had to employ several different cooling strategies.  I would fill my bladder w/ snow to keep the water cool, put snow in my ball cap, linger in the many creek crossings and soak up to my thighs at the lakes.

all in all, a great trip, but it's back to the drawing board for a doable route

looking back down the SF of the Shields drainage

a couple of different angle of the cirque I had to scramble out of and the snow field where I picked up the elk track I followed up and out

getting close to Campfire Pass

Campfire Lake

the outlet of Campfire Lake had a dandy snow bridge it carved out

a "butthole" sandwich, lightly toasted bagel, smothered with peanut butter, layer cooked bacon on and then liberally spread honey over the top- a nice 600+ calorie boost 

Moose Lake

lower Sunlight Lake- took a nice soak right next to the snow overhang

upper Sunlight Lake, about 2/3's still frozen

Awesome, just epic.

Like AT, I'm envious of your runs, but not so much of you living in Siberian conditions for most of the year.

Questions: "Bushwacking": Is it really through the bushes (low vegetation), or mostly grassy (or similar) areas?

In my quarters, you can get stuck in the brambles quickly when getting off trail.

Easiest routes of animals: I think 4 legs outclimb 2 legs, especially on snow and rocks. Glad you made it up in one piece!

The rocks look large and sharp - are the trails very technical, or is it the boulder fields with the lots of rocks, and trails are easier?

What altitude are we looking at, and what were the daytime temperatures?

Fabulous country.

Another question to add to FTYC's kist. How do you navigate when off the trail?

That is really awesome.

Looks like an awesome adventure! Thx for sharing.

The only thing we don't have running in the mountains down here in arizona...alpine lakes.  They sure look nice, we're lucky to run across a seep spring that has a trickle of water coming out.  Plotting out and attempting to figure out new routes in the mountains is a lovely way to spend a day.

thanks everyone!

while I enjoy races (even though I'll never be better than a middle of pack runner- that's best case scenario) and that they keep me motivated as far as training goes; running in the backcountry, totally unsupported is where my true love lays