Review and report of the ABD Wyoming trip, August 17, 2025

[Eastridge]

Wildfires

A benefit of traveling with ABD is they have you covered if anything happens. I was hardly concerned about safety in Wyoming, but I learned that wildfires can be an issue.

During this afternoon, I got an alert on my phone stating that there were wildfires nearby and to evacuate now. Not exactly what I want to hear on my vacation. But both the Brooks Lodge staff and the ABD guides said the fires were far away and there was no need for concern. Lili also said ABD was watching the situation.

Last year, there were wildfires that forced an evacuation of Brooks Lake Lodge. I'm not sure if they had to evacuate an ABD group or if this occurred before that group went to the lodge. But what the guides described was an incredible diving catch to save that trip. ABD managed to book everybody into Jackson Lake Lodge instead, and then booked various activities like horseback riding to provide some of the same experiences that group was supposed to get at Brooks Lake Lodge. I was impressed on how ABD was able to make those changes under such short notice.

 

[Eastridge]

Day 6: Back at the Ranch

It's finally time for the signature activity at Brooks Lake Lodge, and of the entire ABD Wyoming trip: The hike up Brooks Mountain! It provides amazing views up at the top and the sense of accomplishment for making it there and back.

It is also the single most strenuous activity I've ever done on an ABD trip. (This is my 7th ABD.) This hike kicked my butt. It is not for everybody.

Half of our group did this hike, which the ABD guides said was the largest hiking group this season. Because of our size, four Brooks guides plus Lili escorted us.

The hike is about 2.2 miles each way, with a 1350 foot elevation gain. It's useful to compare this to the hike to Lake Agnes Teahouse on the ABD Canadian Rockies trip. The distance and elevation gain are about the same. I didn't have much trouble with the Lake Agnes Teahouse hike. But the Brooks Mountain hike was tough.

The following morning, I expected to be very stiff and sore, but surprisingly I was not. I didn't feel any worse than after a normal jog. So that told me the elevation gain and distance weren't the problems.

The difference in the two hikes are the altitude and profile. The Lake Agnes hike starts at 5500 feet. The Brooks Mountain hike starts at over 9500 feet and reaches 11000 at the top. Furthermore, the Lake Agnes hike is pretty even in how steep the trail is, while the Brooks Mtn hike varies.

We left the lodge at 9:30am. We rode in vans to the start point, which is just off of a highway. Basically we walk up the mountain from the back. There are no toilets anywhere along the hike.



The hike starts in a wooded area and eventually leads to open fields.



The first 0.2 miles are the steepest part of the trail. The lead Brooks guide started off at a fast pace (or it felt like a fast pace to me). By the end of the 0.2 miles I was winded. I spent the 1.75 hour climb breathing hard, as if I was jogging up the entire way. I had to ask for brief stops many times during the hike up.

I think I can I think I can I think I can​

The group segregated pretty quickly and I brought up the rear. Fortunately, Brooks hiking guide Ryan stayed with us.

In the wooded area, you cross a creek. That is about the half way point in distance, but only about 1/3 of the elevation gain.



Somewhere around here, I asked myself: Who picked this trip, and this activity in particular? Then I remembered: It was me.

All I can say to you young adults ahead of me: One day you will be as old as I am​

The last part of the ascent is steep, so the Brooks guides offered to lead us on some switchbacks to reduce the slope.

Looking back in the direction we came from​

Somehow I dragged myself up to the top.

 

[Eastridge]

Brooks Mountain (summit)

The first rule of the top of Brooks Mountain is: Do not go beyond where the grass ends.

The second rule of the top of Brooks Mountain is: Do not go beyond where the grass ends.

I would change the rule to "Don't get within six feet of where the grass ends."









The previous three photos are animated GIFs. You must be logged in to see the animations.

We ate lunch at the top. The guides brought the packed lunches, but since there were so many of us, a few guests also helped in carrying some.







The sandwich was so large I only ate half.

 

[Eastridge]

Brooks Mountain (views)

You can see the Tetons behind Brooks Mountain. Since we hauled a camera and telephoto lens up here, I had to use that:





You also get a good view of Brooks Lake and can see how large it is