DESTINATION Generic 30 Photosets
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| Backpack | 32.00 Miles |
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| | Backpack | 32.00 Miles | 3 Days 6 Hrs | | |
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| no partners | | Shorter trip than I planned but what can you do. I had 3 options planned and this was the third. First, after reading Finis Mitchell's book ( he is the man when it comes to Wind Rivers hiking); I wanted to go on Horse Ridge. This is a 12 mile long ridge, no trail, that at 12k takes you to looking down on Dinwoody glacier and across at Gannett peak. Problem is access, you must cross the Wind River Indian Reservation. Getting a permit no problem but you must hire a guide or shuttle driver as you are not allowed to drive your vehicle and park as the parking area is on reservation land, the TH and Ink Wells trail mostly on forest land. The official guide is currently charging $135.00 EACH way for about an 8 mile RT journey. You leave your car at her house near the Crowfoot store. Even as I was trying to justify this when I spoke to her she was very reluctant to take a solo hiker, stating, " it is very rugged country and I don't take anyone back there by themselves". She didn't outright refuse me but I got the drift. Mostly for me I considered time of year, above tree line and no cover in storms. I will revisit this trek when I can do a little more prior planning and a different time of the year.
Next, revisit the New Fork River trip I did sometime in 2009 or so. I still wanted newish territory, so I quickly planned out this lollipop with spokes trip, and planned to come out and go back in at Sweetwater Gap and go in along the Little Sandy trail, a repeat of part of a 2007 trip. However, this secondary part didn't happen.
What did happen--- Worthen Reservoir Th--Sheep Bridge trail- Middle Fork of Popo Agie, to Tayo Park, Tayo Creek trail to Tayo Lake and Coon ( glacial cirque) and Poison Lakes, back out to the Stough Creek Basin trail to Stough Creek lakes ( glacial cirque), backtrack then out on the Stough Creek Basin trail. Two days of gorgeous weather and two days of cold rain, mist with low clouds sitting on the higher elevations of the southern Wind Rivers.
The TH was easy access from Lander. I car camped at about 9,500 feet off FR 300 at a wonderful site with big trees and a little stream away from people. Nice acclimatization. Driving back parked at the lot overlooking the large reservoir with a fair amount of cars from various places. On the trail I would encounter only one hiking group, coming down from Poison lake. This hike has a lot of water along it and a lot of water crossings that are unavoidable. I carried lots of socks and all were wet at the end.
Also the beginning and end of the hike is outside of the wilderness area and not on the map of the southern Wind Rivers I was taking. Sheep Bridge trail went quickly, in the lodge pole pine and aspen, and I was soon on the Middle Fork of Popo Agie trail. It was pretty warm but tolerable. I was proud of myself in the whole trip I only got two mosquito bites and I resisted removing the legs of the zip off pants and wore a light long sleeve shirt and a hat and did use some bug spray. The star of this trail is it follows largely along the same named river, and it has some nice rapids with great granite boulders and sheets of rock to sit on and contemplate life with the roaring creek. Three Fork Park you have to wade the wide and slow Middle Fork. At first not lots of views out of the constant forest, but soon to Gill park and my first camp at a great site at Bill's Park, where former glacial lakes are large well watered parks, with now opening views toward Wind River Peak and others.
Next day would be a short day. I now retraced a few ghost steps of 2007 at Tayo Park; waded the outlet stream, then left that and ascended to Poison Lake, and the first close up view of big granite walls. I met a group of young people coming out after successful fishing trip, and those in shorts with an array of horrible mosquito welts. The trail above Poison opens up, the the alpine tundra flowers and the smallish pine trees of the tundra. I dropped my pack and went to Tayo Lake first, a sort of rough route. It wasn't that pretty but you have a great view of a ridge, snowfield route to Wind River Peak. I was not tempted. My goal was camp at Coon Lake, a very pretty area with extremely impressive and complicated headwall, just over the continental divide and on the other side was a great part of the route to Temple Pass from 2007. I got a stellar campsite at the lake and from what I could tell had it to myself. Clouds were coming in and I explored a bit and took some pics of flowers etc. The light was sullen late and I went to bed thinking might get some rainy weather. Night light rain and morning gray cold and wet. I stayed in the tent reading, went out and walked around some in the poncho, but at times so socked in could only see 50 feet or so. Maybe it would burn off. Back to the tent. Several hours and I wanted to get going. I packed up the wet tent ( I always bring two garbage bags, they are light and great when you don't want your wet tent fly mixing up with your other gear), and headed down, thinking coming out of the cirque things might improve. Rain was steady, some light , some heavy but consistent. The trail at times was flowing with it's own stream. It was cold and my hands felt like stiff claws on my trekking poles. I camped a little ways along into the Stough Creek Basin. I found a large fir tree and was able to kick off the surface duff to dry substrate below. I strung up my poncho with ties to make a rain shielded area to set up camp. At least the interior of the body of the tent dry along with most of my gear. I was using Aloksak's for my food storage as traveling in brown and black bear country and in addition to waterproofness also advertise scent or odor proof. I did find my bear spray before I left and carried that in my camera bag. However, I 've seen lots more bear sign in the Galiuros'.
I took the poncho down once secured and went to the lower lakes in the basin. Bummer not able to see the big headwall of Roaring Fork mountain. Needless to say not many pics either. I did find pleasure in how green and vivid the moisture made the forest, the glow of lichens on the rocks. Back at camp hot food was very good and it was a cool and damp night. Next morning not as much rain but lots of drifting fog and you felt like your gear was damp even if it wasn't. I waited a little again for clearing, back in the basin for the higher lakes. I gave it up, broke camp and hiked out, stashing my soaked poncho and decided to just get wet, not that far from the car. Saw a moose eating grass in Roaring Fork lake, did get some pics of her. Back at the car, it was wet and didn't want to put the pack down in the mud. Almost all the cars were gone. Couldn't see the end of the reservoir. More garbage bag deployment so the wet boots etc didn't get other things wet in the car. I drove out, not until down at the Sinks Canyon area could look back, then driving out from Lander all of the high peaks shrouded in clouds and more light rain. I realized that to dry out my stuff would have to get a hotel room. So I forgot that and headed out, but made a few interesting stops along the way home---Glad I did the trip, glad I didn't have to hike more in the rain. Might tuck in an extra light fleece the next time, just in case. |
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