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Hike Mount Gilbert and Echo Lake in Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, Nevada - Stav is Lost

Hike Mount Gilbert and Echo Lake Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, NV

Class 3 10.4 miles 5400 gain 8-11 hrs Loop
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude
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Mount Gilbert and Echo Lake GPX Track

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I highly recommend skipping this trip report and instead checking out my much more updated outing 5 years after doing this one. The only reason I'm keeping this page up is for sentimental value and in case you want to compare snow photos versus no snow. We made many mistakes on this hike, and I wanted to return to do a better job, plus we got a couple of extra peaks on the newer hike. However, if you decide to read this page, note that the attached map reflects the other hike's route since our track for this hike was overly dangerous and quite wrong much of the time.

Jul 10, 2017 — This incredible hike in the Ruby Mountains of Nevada to Mt. Gilbert and Echo Lake gets you through a massive lush valley, up a great scramble to a beautiful peak, and to an isolated and serene lake.

We had difficulty finding the trailhead for the Right Fork Lamoille Creek Trail, and we ended up starting on the wrong side of Lamoilly Creek (west). You definitely want to keep east, because on the way back we followed a super nice trail, whereas the way up was a rough bushwhack. After finding the trail continue until you get to the base of Mt. Gilbert, cross Lamoille Creek, and start heading up the grassy slope. Keep to the left as much as possible until the base and then cross right on a ledge until you find Class 2+/3 that takes you to the summit. Thanks to Bob Burd for beta on the route on Mount Gilbert.

After taking in an incredible view of Nevada, head just west of the north ridge and scramble down a gully that includes a Class 3 section that takes you to fairly flat ground, where you then head south along the cliffside for a while until you see a rocky gully, the sketchiest part of this route. It's loose, but nothing crazier than Class 3. From here, continue left along the ridge to a notch that overlooks Echo Lake and head down. Echo Lake is the largest lake in the Ruby Mountains, and it's an effort to get to, though easily worth every second. When we were done enjoying Echo Lake, we were ready to head back into Lamoille Canyon, but messed up and went up an appealing slope to the northeast, not knowing the opposite side of the slope would be nearly impassable (dark blue line on attached map). If you go this way out of the cirque surrounding Echo Lake, expect exposed Class 4. However, you can instead head to the pass to the south of Echo Lake and work your way around on tame terrain, minimizing the absurd risk of death.

Find the Right Fork Lamoille Creek Trail and head back the way you came. What an amzing adventure in the Ruby Mountains this was. Can't wait to go back.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Mount Gilbert
11120 ft
480 rise

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photo protector Starting just outside Camp Lamoille, hike through the camp and look for a trail on the left.
Starting just outside Camp Lamoille, hike through the camp and look for a trail on the left.
photo protector We found a trail, but it wasn't the official trail. I highly, highly recommend looking for the official trail which stays to the left of the creek. Our route was rough and left us with scratches and complaints.
We found a trail, but it wasn't the official trail. I highly, highly recommend looking for the official trail which stays to the left of the creek. Our route was rough and left us with scratches and complaints.
photo protector After a while going up the valley, this is a view looking back toward Camp Lamoille.
After a while going up the valley, this is a view looking back toward Camp Lamoille.
photo protector Mt. Gilbert looming ahead.
Mt. Gilbert looming ahead.
photo protector Approaching the end of the ascent up the valley.
Approaching the end of the ascent up the valley.
photo protector Approaching the base of Mt. Gilbert.
Approaching the base of Mt. Gilbert.
photo protector Looking back down the valley after beginning the Mt. Gilbert ascent.
Looking back down the valley after beginning the Mt. Gilbert ascent.
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photo protector
photo protector Looking back the way we came.
Looking back the way we came.
photo protector Resting before the snow field and then the scramble.
Resting before the snow field and then the scramble.
photo protector Our route went up the snow field ahead, and then continued right along the snow to the slid ground above.
Our route went up the snow field ahead, and then continued right along the snow to the slid ground above.
photo protector Looking back from on the snow field.
Looking back from on the snow field.
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photo protector A green bench before the long, fun scramble.
A green bench before the long, fun scramble.
photo protector Looking back along the bench, the snow field we ascended below.
Looking back along the bench, the snow field we ascended below.
photo protector Headed up the scramble.
Headed up the scramble.
photo protector Looking back down the scramble.
Looking back down the scramble.
photo protector Lots of fun Class 2+/3 moves.
Lots of fun Class 2+/3 moves.
photo protector At the ridge of Mt. Gilbert.
At the ridge of Mt. Gilbert.
photo protector Almost at the summit.
Almost at the summit.
photo protector Mt. Gilbert summit looking north.
Mt. Gilbert summit looking north.
photo protector North close up.
North close up.
photo protector Mt. Gilbert summit looking south.
Mt. Gilbert summit looking south.
photo protector
photo protector Down a gully on the northwest side of Mt. Gilbert. The ridgeline is Class 5 insanity, so we had to find another route around the ridge.
Down a gully on the northwest side of Mt. Gilbert. The ridgeline is Class 5 insanity, so we had to find another route around the ridge.
photo protector
photo protector Once down the gully, we headed south along a convenient ledge between the west face of Mt. Gilbert and a sheer drop.
Once down the gully, we headed south along a convenient ledge between the west face of Mt. Gilbert and a sheer drop.
photo protector Continuing toward a snow-filled gully. We headed up the leftmost gully to that notch, but stayed on the rocks to the left of the snow (Class 3).
Continuing toward a snow-filled gully. We headed up the leftmost gully to that notch, but stayed on the rocks to the left of the snow (Class 3).
photo protector Looking back from within the gully.
Looking back from within the gully.
photo protector At the top of the gully, looking north. Mt. Gilbert on the right (see the ridiculous ridge?), and the gully we came up on the left.
At the top of the gully, looking north. Mt. Gilbert on the right (see the ridiculous ridge?), and the gully we came up on the left.
photo protector Continuing south, another crazy-looking ridge that we thankfully would not have to deal with.
Continuing south, another crazy-looking ridge that we thankfully would not have to deal with.
photo protector Looking back toward Mt. Gilbert just above Echo Lake.
Looking back toward Mt. Gilbert just above Echo Lake.
photo protector Echo Lake!
Echo Lake!
photo protector
photo protector
photo protector Almost at Echo Lake.
Almost at Echo Lake.
photo protector
photo protector Looking down the canyon that Echo Lake drains into. We didn't go down this, as cool as it looks.
Looking down the canyon that Echo Lake drains into. We didn't go down this, as cool as it looks.
photo protector Echo Lake from the southwest.
Echo Lake from the southwest.
photo protector The notch we chose to head toward.
The notch we chose to head toward.
photo protector
photo protector Headed toward the notch.
Headed toward the notch.
photo protector Looking back at Echo Lake.
Looking back at Echo Lake.
photo protector Waterfalls along our route.
Waterfalls along our route.
photo protector At the notch we chose. We chose poorly, as we were greeted by Class 4 downclimbing. I assume the correct notch to head toward was farther east. Oops.
At the notch we chose. We chose poorly, as we were greeted by Class 4 downclimbing. I assume the correct notch to head toward was farther east. Oops.
photo protector Our view northeast from the ridge.
Our view northeast from the ridge.
photo protector Our Class 4 down climb.
Our Class 4 down climb.
photo protector Looking back up at the scramble. No joke.
Looking back up at the scramble. No joke.
photo protector Continuing down the slopes heading toward the valley.
Continuing down the slopes heading toward the valley.
photo protector An icy lake along the way.
An icy lake along the way.
photo protector Looking toward goat lake, but we headed down the valley instead of toward Goat Lake.
Looking toward goat lake, but we headed down the valley instead of toward Goat Lake.
photo protector Puddle reflection along the way.
Puddle reflection along the way.
photo protector Almost at the valley floor.
Almost at the valley floor.
photo protector We were determined to find the real trail this time, since the approach was ridiculous. The trail is on the east side of the creek and is pretty obvious the whole way back.
We were determined to find the real trail this time, since the approach was ridiculous. The trail is on the east side of the creek and is pretty obvious the whole way back.
photo protector Looking back the way we came.
Looking back the way we came.
photo protector Crossing the creek.
Crossing the creek.
photo protector Looking back toward Mt. Gilbert. We had approached it on the west side of the valley, but the trail leads back calmly on the east side of the valley.
Looking back toward Mt. Gilbert. We had approached it on the west side of the valley, but the trail leads back calmly on the east side of the valley.
photo protector Mt. Gilbert in the distance as the sun set.
Mt. Gilbert in the distance as the sun set.

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