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Pole Canyon Ridge
Caribou-Targhee National Forest, Idaho
September 7, 2023
Distance: 10.7 km (6.6 mi)
Cumulative Elevation Gain: 630 m (2067 ft)
Pole Canyon Ridge is a long ridge accessed by Pole Canyon Trail. Viewed on satellite imagery, it looked like an enticing hike that reached three high points open to the sky, the last being the summit. In reality, the ridge was unattractive and it literally stank.
Winding through the forest, Dinah and I found Pole Canyon Trail pleasant, a good way to reach the ridge, although trees hindered views. The trail reaches a saddle, but we took a shortcut to the ridge, turning off before the saddle. We followed a brief trail to a clearing. At least it looked like a clearing on satellite imagery. Instead of a grassy meadow, though, we found knee-high, dense scrub. Fortunately, animal trails helped us to gain the ridge. From there, we followed a rough crest trail.
Before reaching the first high point, however, we were hit with a strong barnyard smell. Sheep or deer droppings were rife on the ridge, every open square foot appeared carpeted with crap. But other animals, perhaps horses or cattle, added to the cause. The result was a nauseating stench. Fortunately it was dry, but in wet weather, you would probably be walking in unbearable muck. Since we were close to the first high point, we soldiered on. We followed the disgusting animal trails through the vegetation to the first high point where we eyed the next two high points. But the combination of the smell, the shit on the trail and the ugly scrub turned us off. We headed back.
We didn't retrace the animal trails back to Pole Canyon Trail. Instead we followed the crest trail to the saddle where we found the top of Pole Canyon Trail. We followed it down to the parking lot, thankful to finish the trip in good air.
Starting up the trail
The trail runs through forest until it reaches the ridge
Higher up, there are a couple of breaks in the trees
Hiking up one of the switchbacks
Pole Canyon Trail continues right, but we turned off to take a shortcut
We soon emerged from the trees
Going up an animal trail
The hill behind us looked like a nice hike
When the slope became steep, we went around it
Looking back as we neared the ridge crest
Following the crest trail
This ridge section smelled the worst
The Tetons were partly hidden in clouds (mouse over for a close-up)
Heading to the top of the first summit
Dinah stands on the summit
We weren't enticed to continue to the next two high points
Heading to the saddle where Pole Canyon Trail begins
Looking down at the saddle
There's little to see from the saddle
Looking back at the ridge we descended as Dinah starts down Pole Canyon Trail
We'll soon reach the fork where we left the trail earlier
Victor (6.6 mi, 8514 ft, 2034 ft)