Pawnee Pass Backpacking Trip

All summer Ben and I were trying to work with friends to get a weekend off with everyone to go on a backpacking trip - and thankfully we found one!!!! We were going to head up toward Brainard Lakes, then hike back toward the Continental Divide, over Pawnee Pass and camp at Pawnee Lake. Everywhere we had looked at this hike said it was 4.5-5 miles one way.....not bad. However, when it was all said and done, it was NINE miles one way, or 18 miles roundtrip - WHEW! It was awesome!

A pre-hike hike with Angela and Landon and the dogs

All packed up and ready to go!

The group! (L to R) Scott, Kelly, Ben, Kaena, Roscoe, Landon, Angela, and Lisa

A view of the mountains we will be crossing later that day

Ben getting us some fresh clean water out of Isabelle Lake

Hikin up!

Gorgeous!

Looking back down on Lake Isabelle

Ben and Angela

Getting close to the Pass

We made it!! Scott and Kelly had already made it here and were going down the Pass - they were fast! But Angela and Landon along with Ben and I stopped briefly in the wind to take this photo at the pass.

WHOA! It was STEEP on the otherside of the pass...the lake at the bottom was our camping spot we were trying to get to

Super duper steep!

The lake didn't look that far away, but it never seemed to get any closer either!

Looking back at what we just climbed down!

Frolicking through the flower fields :)

Finally arrived at our camp spot - the dogs are soaking it in!

The group - done and done!

Pawnee Lake

The outstanding campfire a lone camper helped us with, so good after a huge hike!

The next morning...started packing up and getting ready for the mean and nasty hike up the pass!

Whew, we're really going to climb that????

Some cool mushrooms on the way out

Landon and Angela and their dog Roscoe - smiling before the hike of death!!!

Thanks guys for an awesome trip!!!