A Yellowstone Summer : Snowshoeing Avalanche Peak

Friday, me and a few other people from the Lake area snowshoed up to Avalanche Peak. The Peak is 10,556 feet. The hike itself though only climbs about 2-3000 feet, since we are already up so high out here! Hiking at this altitude is much more difficult than at sea level; I couldn't seem to catch my breath, and it felt like my muscles could never get enough oxygen! The hike was really beautiful though. We started in the trees, and then the hike opened up into a big bowl in the middle of Avalanche and Hoyt Peaks. From there, we ascended up to Avalanche Peak. The hike was really steep here and you could see where there had been several previous avalanches. Two of the hikers we were with decided to turn back after we heard a “boom” in the distance; A huge avalanche dropped on an adjacent mountain across the road! Me and the two other guys decided to keep going. Once we made it up to the peak, the ridge was actually quite flat and fine for hiking on. The views were phenomenal! You could see the entire Lake Yellowstone and the Tetons in the backdrop. I'd say my first snowshoeing experience was a success!

Made it up out of the woods