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Mount Washburn
Sunday, July 13, 2008 at 07:32PM 
I invite you to join me on my amazing hike up Mount Washburn. The Anderson’s, in their book A Ranger’s Guide to Yellowstone Day Hikes, advise that, “If you can hike only one trail in Yellowstone, it should be Mount Washburn.” The authors also quote a description of the peak from a early park visitor:
"If I could only choose one sight in the wonderland, it would be, by all means, that view from the top of Mount Washburn for you see there the entire park spread out before you in a single picture."
On my drive to the trailhead, I rise over Dunraven Pass, awash with yellow flowers, and obtain a great view of the summit of Mt. Washburn. It’s original name might have been Elephant’s Back, but in 1870 the Washburn Expedition named it for General Henry Dan Washburn, leader of “one of the most important early explorations of Yellowstone,” according to Whittlesey’s Yellowstone Place Names. Dunraven Pass, 8,859 feet in elevation, bears the namesake of the First Earl of Dunraven, an Oxford educated man who was once guided in his explorations of the west by Buffalo Bill.
Early on my hike, I encounter a yellow-bellied marmot munching on a tree limb.
As I turn a corner, I see the Lookout Tower on the summit of Washburn. I also pass bouquets of the exquisite Sky Pilot gathered among the volcanic rocks.
At the top of Mt Washburn, 10,243 feet, I gaze at the spectacular 360 degree view of the park.
The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
Hayden Valley and the Grand Tetons in the distance
While I munch on my Luna Bar, a herd of bighorn sheep--with several lambs--join me.
One bighorn ewe gazes at me inquisitively, perhaps wondering why I am munching on a chocolate bar when so many yummy grasses surround me.
A lamb considers me as well, as two others graze nearby.
Something catches an ewe’s attention, which turns out to be a mother and lamb running to catch up with the herd.
On the return trip, I stop to smell the flowers: paintbrush and silky phacelia
Reader Comments (10)
We were so disappointed to have to miss the Grand Canyon area when we were there, hoping to catch it in Sept. I think I will park at Jenney Grist Mill and walk across Summer St and up those killer stairs to Burial Hill every day between now and Sept. That should get me in shape for a good long hike. Is I don't have a heart attack half way up those stairs.
Watch out Martha: you're on a slippery slope! Soon you could be training for a marathon, if Beth and William are any indication.
Trust me Laurel I'll walk but not run. I think people who run are secret masochists. They pretend they are doing it for their health but really take a good look at those who do it all the time. They look anorexic. Wear weird clothing. And then there are the excuses as to why they didn't win the races they enter.
Indeed! Glad to read you won't get suckered into the whole "runner's high" hogwash. ;-)
If there is such a thing as "runner's high" I have yet to witness it in my house. The runner in my house comes home, drinks a zillion gallons of liquid, eats a dozen popsicles, all while sitting in front of the TV. Occasionally he will doze while sitting there experiencing his runner's high. All I can think of is why would someone want to stretch certain body parts in the open out of doors, run through the streets with various body parts shaking and sweating like a pig. Not my idea of something I would want to put myself through or share with anyone looking on.
Oh Martha, the visuals your comments evoke are priceless!
Well, I guess I can count Mom out for the half marathon. And I certainly do NOT look anorexic despite my 30 mile a week runs.
Don't mean to keep this narrative going but seeing how thin Bill is in his bathing suit by his NY nieces was something they were unprepared for. I explained it is from running. Of course I am sure they looked at him then at me and realized we don't run side by side not even in a near proximity!
We just came back from spending a week in Montana and Yellowstone. We hiked up Mt. Washburn and I messed up my pictures of the bighorns--so nice to see yours. I already miss Yellowstone.
My son Sam and I hiked Mt. Washburn (Aug.2008). It was wonderful. The wildflowers were in full bloom. The views were spectacular. We were able to see the wildfire that was spreading that week. The wind freaked us out as we hiked across the ridge near the top but we are here to say it didn't blow us off the mountain. We also enjoyed the hike at Mystic Falls. We used the book "A Ranger's Guide to Yellowstone Day Hikes" a lot. We stayed at the Lake Lodge cabins for four days. The wildfire closed the road between the Fishing Bridge and the Canyon for a few days so we had to take the long way around which was a pain. The lunch we had at the Old Faithful Lodge was wonderful. R.