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YPS: Shoshone Lake Loop (via DeLacy)

September 21, 2022 (Afternoon)

Exercise Type: Run

Weather: high 60s, perfect

Comments:
AMAZING LOOP.

Ill-advised, like 4.5 days post-80-miler, but and amazing day.

Felt quite good during/after yesterday's Teton/Jenny Lake loop, so today I went for it, tackling a loop that's been on my list since the very beginning of my trail running days!

After a good night's sleep and some poopin' around at Old Faithful, I pulled the trigger on this loop: prepping my gear and driving east to the DeLacy Creek TH.

Carried solid prep gear, including:
• hardcore Columbia waterproof shell
• light blue puffy
• hat and gloves
• headlamp
• 1st aid kit + lighter
• filter bottle
• 3x gels

I only used the two latter things, but was glad to have the rest!

Ran down DeLacy just past 10am in gorgeous conditions: almost pure sun. That trail was so mellow and lovely! Easy (maybe 500') descent over exactly 3 miles to the NE lakeshore.

Then...onto the loop.

The first/only time I've been here is with TOPS in July of 2004: when I went hardcore in "running trails" for the first time. We'd only run the north trail (to the geyser basin) - which I remember to be tough - and a small portion of the east trail, which LOOKS flat and along the water, but couldn't be more the opposite: it rolls incredibly, like a rollercoaster, variably high above the water's edge.

That was a rough trail but beautiful and fun. Kept the effort real light, hiking all the legitimate ups.

The southeast corner of the lake was super-cool: marshy and wooded (more deciduous) with the mouth of the Lewis River...which I had to ford to begin the long South Shoshone Trail.

That trail surprised me. I was somewhat dreading it, because it appeared to dive deep (south) away from the lake. But it was surprisingly picturesque, with frequent creek encounters (and two crossings) and really nice cruiser sections through the woods.

It took a while, though, and that's when my body first asked, "Um, what are you doing??". It began to "not want to run", so I walked more of the mellow ups.

Toward the southwest side, things got interesting:

• steep descents back toward the lake
• saw a GRIZZLY! Thankfully we saw each other at least 50m out and s/he ran off immediately (and no other relatives around). But that was scary!
• very marshy, flooded trails!

Just before the Shoshone Geyser Basin on the west side, the trail cut straight north through a marsh. It was inundated with water, yet had occasional bridges (that, in these cases, were more like barges). This makes me believe that, like Yellowstone Lake, there's "uplift" on the east side which is pushing the lake to to west. I'm guessing, BITD, that these trails were dry maybe 30-40 years ago.

Crossed one more creek, then got into the geyser basin. SO. COOL. I was completely alone (not hugely surprised, for a Wednesday in September). I did go a bit off-trail but otherwise kept on the straight-and-narrow. Walked a lot to take it in.

Then...the trail ceded to the North Shoshone...and the long eastward section!

I remembered this, vaguely, from my run with TOPS: Slow. Hard. And it was. Many shitburgers over and under ridges and in and out of small drainages. But it was pretty!

The trail hit the lake about midway, then dove in again. I ran most of it pretty well but was really fatiguing. Finally it hit the lakeshore for good, running past our old backcountry campsite, before rejoining DeLacy.

Ran most of the rest of DeLacy to finish just over 6 hours!

GREAT RUN. SO COOL.

Rest of the day:
• got to the general store in time to get beers
• went to the Inn and snuck a shower in their hotel (shared) bathroom
• hung out in the Inn, drinking beers and watching the geyser outside, then back inside to listen to music.

GREAT DAY! Couldn't believe how OK my legs and body felt!