Steam Mill

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Steam Mill Lake, 1 August, 2020

For this outing, hikers had the option of a simple up-and-back trip to Steam Mill Lake or they could come back via Steep Hollow by taking the Shorty's Cutoff Trail. The Shorty's Cutoff hikers needed to place bicycles or vehicles at Steep Hollow in advance so they could get back to the Steam Mill Trailhead after the hike.

On Saturday morning, nine hikers assembled at our usual meeting place at 8:00 and drove 26 miles to the Steam Mill Trailhead. There, we met two others who had driven up earlier so they could leave bicycles at Steep Hollow. We started hiking about 9:00 by crossing Steam Mill Creek, then headed south for a few hundred yards on the White Pine Canyon Trail before turning west up the Steam Mill Trail. We noticed evidence of chain-sawed logs and other recent trail maintenance as we hiked, and before long we met the mountain bikers who had done the work. They were riding e-bikes, which are not allowed on non-motorized trails. We made an attempt to explain the e-bike policy and they rode on, apparently unconvinced.

After 1.6 steep miles the trail moderated after crossing over the ridge into Steam Mill Canyon. Before long we reached the Steam Mill Creek and finally, the old steam boiler, 3.2 miles from the trailhead. It was a very hot day, so we rested in the shade, then one hiker left the group to return via Shorty's Cutoff and others continued the final 1.4 miles to Steam Mill Lake. Some hikers stopped at the east side of the lake for lunch while the others continued on to the west side. The two groups rejoined after lunch and went back to the steam boiler, although a couple of hikers took a different way down in an attempt to locate an old trail.

After a bit of indecision at the boiler, the group split up. Six hikers went north on the Shorty's Cutoff Trail and the others hikers went east, down the Steam Mill Trail for an uneventful hike back to the trailhead. The Steep Hollow hikers stopped to investigate a collection of liquor bottles hanging from a tree, apparently a makeshift memorial, and they made a short side trip to see the Hell's Kitchen yurt. The Steep Hollow road was reached about 4:00, where they found remnants of an old logging camp and played "fetch" with a friendly dog. A quarter mile west they left the dusty road and moved to an old hiking trail for the last half mile of the trip, although that trail had been damaged by cattle so it was not easy to find or follow. Upon arriving at the Franklin Basin road the hikers enjoyed ice water from a cooler waiting in Dave W's truck, a welcome treat on such a hot day. The hidden bicycles were retrieved for the 3-mile ride down to the Steam Mill Trailhead and the other vehicles.

As noted, it was a hot day, but the hiking was good and wildflowers were everywhere. Besides the e-bike riders, we encountered a couple of equestrian groups and some other hikers, too. The GPS track for the Shorty's Cutoff hikers showed 9.9 miles and about 2300 feet of ascent. The other hikers traveled about 9.3 miles with 1950 feet of ascent.

Trip Summary:

Eleven hikers and a dog: Teresa, Susan, Chris, Brent, David, Jane, Deanna, Jasper (dog), Dave P., Dick, Laurel and Dave W. (leader)
Drove 26 miles to the Steam Mill Trailhead (29 miles to Steep Hollow)
Hiking started 9:00, with a relaxing lunch 12:30 - 1:15. Those hiking back down Steam Mill Canyon got to the trailhead about 4:00, The Shorty's Cutoff hikers arrived at the Franklin Basin road about 4:30 and left the Steam Mill Trailhead about 5:15.
Clear skies, calm winds and hot temperatures
The Steam Mill only hikers went about 9.3 miles with about 1950 feet of ascent. The Shorty's Cutoff hikers traveled about 9.9 miles with about 2300 feet of ascent.

Thanks to Dave W. for the narrative, photos and GPS data, and Jane, Brent, Dave P. and Susan for photos.


Cache Hikers at the old boiler

The old boiler has experienced some vandalism (left) since we were there in 2016 (right)

Cool and pleasant Steam Mill Creek

Cooling off in the shade	A glacier left this bolder

Steam Mill Lake, looking east

There were salamanders in the lake	Cooling off on a hot day

A bottle tree honoring the memory of Willis Ricky Law	The yurt in Hell' s Kitchen Canyon

Remains of logging equipment at Steep Hollow	From Steep Hollow, it is 2.87 miles to Steam Mill Hollow and 4.24 miles to White Pine Creek via Shorty's Cut-off Trail

Horsemint	Wild hollyhock

Larkspur	Little sunflower

Lousewort	Lupine

Yellow monkeyflower	Monkshood

Indian paintbrush	Grass of Parnassus

Fleabane daisies	False hellebore

Whipple's penstemon	Wintergreen

A wildflower meadow

The Shorty's Cutoff hikers traveled 9.9 miles with 2300 feet of ascent. You can look at our route using Google Earth or download our GPS file..