Sawteeth — 46 Hiking Highs

Adam and I had been planning to hike together for a while now, and he flew up from Texas the previous night. The forecast was perfect, but Adam had injured his back a few weeks earlier, and wasn’t sure if he’d be able to hike today. We decided to give it a shot anyway, and turn around if it got too painful for his back. We got up early in the morning, and left home shortly after 5:30 a.m. We were able to easily find parking in the lot by the Ausable Club, and started walking up the road at 7:20. I was pretty sure we’d be turning back in just a few minutes, since Adam was in agony as soon as he got out of the car. However, he insisted we continue, and we signed in at the Lake Road entrance, and started along the 4-mile-long dirt road. Between limbering up a bit, and our constant conversation, it was enough of a distraction that Adam wanted to keep going. We crossed the dam at about 8:50 a.m., and the day was proving to be beautiful. It was crystal clear and about 55 degrees.

Signpost for our trail, just after crossing the dam

We decided to bypass the Rainbow Falls spur for now, and go up the mountain first. We’d also decided early on that we would not be taking the “Scenic Route” loop, which supposedly has tremendous views, but is much steeper, and goes along ledges overlooking the drop to the lake below. Between my fear of heights, and Adam’s impaired back, this was a good move! Hiking due west, the trail began to ascend right away. We took a minute to enjoy Rainbow Falls from above, and made it to the junction with the trail to Gothics at 10:30. I was amazed Adam made it this far. He was in pain, but determined, and we made very steady progress. At the junction, with only half a mile to go, Adam insisted we continue. As I’d expected, the trail did continue to get steeper and rockier and became more complicated for him to maneuver into certain positions. Adam picked up a head of steam, thinking he’d done the tough parts. As I rounded a corner, with some great views of the Great Range, with Adam up ahead of me, I suddenly heard him curse. I expected we’d have even tougher parts ahead, and sure enough, that’s what Adam encountered. There was a rock outcropping about 20 feet tall, that required some tricky climbing to get up and over it. After he managed it, I followed (sliding a bit, and scraping up my fingers). The toughest part was over. After a few more steep spots (though not as bad), we got to level ground, and came to the summit at 11:05 a.m.

Other peaks coming into view shortly before the summit

There were 2 older women here, enjoying a lunch break. The views here were better than I’d anticipated, with a nice window in the trees facing northwest, affording a great view of Basin, Saddleback, and Gothics. Adam rested here, while I scoped out the trail a bit further to the junction, and met a guy coming up the Scenic Trail, who told me it was at least another quarter mile to an overlook. I headed back to the top, where we enjoyed lunch, some photos, and conversation with the others.

Adam and I at the top, with the huge landslide scars on Basin Mountain behind us

Panorama from the top of Sawteeth

We headed back down at 11:25 a.m. and made good time. Arriving back at the Rainbow Falls junction at 1:35 p.m., we took the short detour to the bottom of the falls, spent a short time here, then headed back to the Lake Road. The road was surprisingly busy with several vehicles coming in and out for an event—based on the way people in the cars were dressed, we guessed it was a wedding at the shoreline. We got back to the car at 3:25 p.m., where I promptly congratulated Adam on being a badass and doing the entire hike despite his condition! We popped over to the Noonmark Diner to grab a bread, then headed home.

At Rainbow Falls

Lower Ausable Lake, from the Lake Road side of the dam, with Indian Head in the background