Backpacking the Frank Church Wilderness - Soldier Lakes Loop

[@lonroyd]

Dude that was awesome, I wasn't ready for it to end. I could really see and feel the beauty, solitude and remoteness of The Frank Church wilderness and I haven't even been there yet.

[@tweedytreks]

Thanks my friend. This place sure is epic. You'd love it out here. Some fantastic fishing opportunities along the middle fork too.

[@tbone5001997]

Great video. What year was this. That area burned last year (2021) but not sure how much and what lakes.

[@tweedytreks]

This was done last year on 4th of July weekend. The Frank is such a large area, it's hard to say what was/wasn't burned at whatever point. With that said, there was a noticeable recent scar (literally charcoal on the ground in thick clumps) heading down from the pass to the Salmon River. This was near Big Soldier Mountain. This was also where the trail was difficult to follow and at one point we made a choice to just literally b-line it down the mountain given how difficult the trail was to follow here...due again to the fire of whatever previous time period it occurred. Still a really really cool area man. I highly recommend it. That string of lakes for like 10 miles is awesome and the Salmon River camping is spectacular.

[@tbone5001997]

@@tweedytreks Awesome. Thanks for the reply. I have been up to soldier lakes in the past. Did you stay at soldier lakes at all? Any burn there? Wanting to head up next week and curious about conditions.

[@tweedytreks]

@@tbone5001997 we stayed at Langer Lake first night, then Cutthroat Lake and then camped on the river. A good sized loop. There was absolutely no burn through that entire lake basin (Helldiver lake all the way through to Cutthroat Lake). With that said, we didn't go to all the soldier lakes, just the convenient ones. Given there was no burn along the trail or near the ones closest to the main route, I wouldn't expect there's any burn there. Let me know if you need the mapped route of what we did.

[@tbone5001997]

That’s great. That area was part of the Boundary fire on middle fork. I figured all that would be closed last July. Glad you made it in. Great area. Have done a handful of trips in the Frank. Thank you for the input. Appreciate it!!!

[@tweedytreks]

@@tbone5001997 no doubt my friend. Have a great rest of your summer!