String Lake Trailhead is the starting
point for hikes into Paintbrush Canyon, and String Lake is a beautiful
tree-bordered lake and is best hiked
along the east shoreline, for this side gives the best views of the lakeand is basically level. The western
side travels through a burn area and mostly hugs higher up on the
mountainside. As you leave String
Lake and hike up into Paintbrush Canyon you travel throughmagnificent, mature hardwood forests
interspersed with rocky meadows ablaze with wildflowers.
(Note peak in the background)
My first night was in lower Paintbrush Canyon camp area, and I found a site with the most magnificent view I've ever had in over 150 nights spent in dozens of wilderness areas across America. I was on a point overlooking the trail and with Leigh and Jackson Lakes 1000 vertical feet below and the Gros Ventre Mountains off in the distance. WOW! I sat on the point all afternoon and evening,occasionally looking at my reading material, but mostly gazing at the grandeur. The next evening at Holly Lake camp area, I met a climbing ranger and described to him the previous night's site. He smiled at meand proudly said, "I put that site in 6 years ago." I shook his hand and fervently thanked him! If you use this site, look over the edge on the south side and perhaps you, too, will see the bull moose browsing the shrubs, and also be prepared to spend the day with the friendly and curious marmot who lives there. (You might notice my pack hanging on the dead tree out of the nosy marmot's reach.)
This photo exemplifies much of the
trail above Holly Lake to Paintbrush Divide. Even though it was the second week
of July, a dozen snow fields had to be traversed, several of which were several hundred feet long
and on 60 degree slopes. The ice axe which the permit ranger had cautioned me to purchase proved
to be worth its expense, as my boots slipped occasionally and I was thankful I had a third contact
point with the ice axe. I even found one area where
hikers had downhill skied (and then
realized why some hikers passing me heading down had skis on their packs.)
A quarter mile beyond Paintbrush Divide (elevation 10, 700 feet), you are rewarded with this panoramic view of Lake Solitude (elevation 9035) below. No camping is allowed in this delicate area, but serious day hikers can reach it with a 15.2 mile round trip effort, so it can be a somewhat crowded area. Obviously, it is worth the effort!