The Benson Lake Loop

The Sawtooth Ridge in alpine-glow as seen from camp.

Sawtooth Ridge

The Benson Lake Loop, August 2002

I also saw almost no camps, but there were plenty of places to make one of your own. I passed maybe three poor small camps before I found the ideal one for me. Along the way I passed a huge rolling pavement of white granite that reflected with many spots of glacial polish. I had seen this exposed granite from the pass, so I knew how far along and up the valley I was by the time I saw it. Later two women would camp right in the middle of it in a rare flat sandy spot.

My camp was ideal: level, sheltered by trees, easy access to singing waters, grassy, and with a low handy granite dike to set my things. The fire ring provided me with more flat granite counter tops to set my cooking gear. As usual, I did not need a fire at any time on the trip.

Just below camp was a large open granite area, where two women decided it would be a cool place to camp.

Nearby was a large grassy meadow area that allowed great views of the nearby peaks and THE great attraction: the Sawtooth. It was only noon, but I settled down after making camp: I was NOT going to miss an opportunity to see the alpenglow on Sawtooth Ridge.

Later in the day I saw six other people total: so much for the low use theory. I also wandered about a bit and discovered I was at perhaps the highest camp before the trees were gone at tree-line just above my camp.

The evening glow reflected in the raging waters of Piute Creek.

The evening alpen-glow was all I expected and more. The jagged teeth of the Sawtooth fairly glowed red on the backdrop of deep blue. I studied every nook and cranny of those craggy teeth, spotting the cols mentioned in mountaineering books. It did not look like easy county to travel on.

After the evening fireworks were over, I waited for the stars then headed for bed. It had been a very nice day.