Hiking Avalanche Peak

Avalanche Peak is a popular alpine hike in Yellowstone National Park.  The Peak is located on the East border of the Park where it aligns with the North Absaroka Wilderness Area.  The hike starts out in a coniferous forest with a babbling brook running through it.  In the video, we are greeted by mule deer and other mammals as we make the ascent to the summit.  We did not see any bears.  I would like to think that was the result of the Irish and Tibetan bells we had dangling from our backpacks.  You will hear the bells throughout the video.  Hopefully, they are not too annoying for you.  Just part of the experience we are sharing.  On that note, you will also hear me huffing and puffing which will give you a realistic perspective of this hike.  This is not an easy hike and is categorized as strenuous, rightfully so.  Bear that in mind if you plan to go.

The hike is just over 2 miles long with an elevation gain of just over 2,000 ft.  For those interested, it took us between 5-6 hours round trip to complete.  Some say you can do the hike in 4 hours.  It all depends on your age, physical shape, level of acclimation to the higher elevation, your pace, etc.  We simply took our time and enjoyed every bit of the experience.

Some video details…it gets windy at the upper elevations of the hike.  So, music was incorporated in sections of the video to help cover the windy noise levels despite the use of a microphone windshield.  You will see some rodents above tree-line.  Pay attention to the insects.  We were surprised at how many flying insects there were at over 10,000 feet of elevation.  Crazy.  You can see them in the video.  Also, word to the wise, never take your eyes off the weather and always start your hikes early in the day.  We started around 9AM or so.  I point out some thunderheads building in the video as we made our descent.  By the time we finished the hike, dark clouds were moving in.  Not a good idea to be up on a mountain when its raining and lightning is present.  

I found the height of the summit of interest.  Depending on which source you query, the height will differ.  For example, back in the day when I worked in Yellowstone, the topographical map I used which was made by Trails Illustrated (dated 1983) indicates a height of the Peak as 10,566 ft.  Wikipedia today shows the height at 10,568 ft. (the height I show in the video).  The National Park Service shows the height at 10,574 ft.  And so on and so forth.  There are actually two peaks you will be confronted with.  The first (which is supposedly not the peak) we measured at ~ 36 ft/11 meters taller than the supposed actual peak.  The bottom line is that I think all will agree the mountain is at best, awesome and if nothing else, at least 10,000 ft tall.  

We truly enjoyed this hike.  For my wife, it was a spiritual experience.  For me, it was nostalgic to stand on its summit a third time (I had hiked it twice before when I worked in the Park during my college days).  If you find yourself in Yellowstone National Park and want an incredible wilderness experience, then consider including this hike in your itinerary.   The views from atop the summit (and along the way) are truly spectacular.

If you are not able to make this hike, then we hope you at least enjoy the video. Thanks for watching.

References:

https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/yell-t...
https://www.yellowstonepark.com/thing...
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/wy...

(Note:  this video was taken in August of 2022.)