Seen from Paycheck Pass, the western side of Mt. Sheridan is pretty impressive, but the view improves as you reach the lake. The view from the fire tower atop Mt. Sheridan must have been exciting during the huge fires of 1988.

The small hill that drops down from Paycheck Pass is about the only climb of any significance between the Heart Lake trailhead and Yellowstone Lake. It's all of maybe 600 feet total - hardly a bump in the trail. In fact, it's possible to walk from the beginning of the Thorofare trail where it leaves the road at the north end of Yellowstone Lake, to the Snake River trailhead down by the southern entrance to Yellowstone, and climb only a few hundred feet in a distance of over 50 miles. That's especially impressive when you consider that you're in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, and that you will be crossing the Continental Divide along the way.

The bottom photo shows the ranger's cabin that is perched on a low rise above the northwestern shore of the Lake. The ranger is in residence for much of the summer season. That's gotta be one of the 'plum' jobs in the Park.