Mann Gulch Hike

[RobG]

It's a beautiful area and I've spent a good amount of time around there. Willow Creek is one of my favorite places. Unbelievable that it was all a ranch at one time and instead of keeping it and profiting from it, the owner wanted to preserve it as a place for the animals. Have a hard time coming up with a scenario where that would happen today.

Who owned the ranch?

 

[Nameless Range]

Who owned the ranch?

It was called the Beartooth Ranch. Don’t know the name of the individual(s) who owned it, but it was purchased in 1970 by the state.

 

[Nameless Range]

 

[Sheltowee]

Picked up a copy of Young Men and Fire on the recommendation of @Southern Elk. It is fantastic, breathtaking, tragic. Thanks for the suggestion!

 

[Gabrielpbl]

Today @Nameless Range and I did a hike that was years in the making. I don’t really remember when I became infatuated with the Mann Gulch Fire, the deadliest fire ever for the smoke jumpers, but it’s been many years. I’ve seen these mountainsides from the river below several times. Today we saw the crosses up close. If you’ve never read Young Men and Fire, do yourself a favor and read it. NR says it’s the finest work of non fiction ever written and I tend to agree. This hike is bucket list worthy, especially if you are a fan of the book and Maclean’s writing.
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Hey! Came across your post because I’m going to be hiking the gulch in September. Great photos! How long do you guess it would take to hike up and down the gulch from the river (not going over to Merriweather, just up and down in Mann). I’m hiring a boat and need to figure out timing. Thanks!

 

[Straight Arrow]

Not knowing your hiking ability, interest in studying area characteristics related to the history of tragic event, desire to linger and enjoy the views, and other factors ... it's difficult to advise you.
However, having hiked it more than once, I would recommend minimum of four hours (pretty much just up, look around, and return). Six or eight hours if you take the book and study the area and event history, have lunch up top, hike over the top, and/or hike down Rescue Gulch. Take plenty of water, as it is really dry up there. If nice weather, plan time to cool off in the river while waiting for boat ride out.
That's just my take, so recon the hike by researching, map recon, google earth, ONX, and whatever to develop your own personal plan. (Ask your boat-shuttle guy, as he may have a good idea based on others' trips.)

 

[Gabrielpbl]

Not knowing your hiking ability, interest in studying area characteristics related to the history of tragic event, desire to linger and enjoy the views, and other factors ... it's difficult to advise you.
However, having hiked it more than once, I would recommend minimun of four hours (pretty much just up, look around, and return). Six or eight hours if you take the book and study the area and event history, have lunch up top, hike over the top, and/or hike down Rescue Gulch. Take plenty of water, as it is really dry up there. If nice weather, plan time to cool off in the river while waiting for boat ride out.
That's just my take, so recon the hike by researching, map recon, google earth, ONX, and whatever to develop your own personal plan. (Ask your boat-shuttle guy, as he may have a good idea based on others' trips.)

Thank you! Yeah, four hours of active hiking is what I was guessing. I'd heard similar numbers elsewhere but was trying to gather opinions. I'm 40, solid hiking shape but nothing spectacular. I think I'm going to plan on 8 hours so there's plenty of time to explore and a good buffer if (when) some parts are harder than I expect.

 

[Straight Arrow]

Thank you! Yeah, four hours of active hiking is what I was guessing. I'd heard similar numbers elsewhere but was trying to gather opinions. I'm 40, solid hiking shape but nothing spectacular. I think I'm going to plan on 8 hours so there's plenty of time to explore and a good buffer if (when) some parts are harder than I expect.

Yep, it is steep enough to give you a real appreciation for the panic which was experienced by those smokejumbers. Good on you for planning to spend adequate time to really get an understanding of the tragedy. I do recommend reading YOUNG MEN AND FIRE between now and then ... and take the book with you.
Enjoy the hike.

 

[El Jason]

Watch for snakes .

 

[fowladdict]

What a gem of a thread. Glad this one was resurrected as I'd missed it before.

 

[bigsky2]

I read Young Men and Fire because of this thread. Definitely a good read.