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| Wind River Introduction, WY | |
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| | Wind River Introduction, WY | | | |
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Wind River Introduction, WY
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| Backpack | 70.00 Miles |
15,000 AEG |
| | Backpack | 70.00 Miles | 6 Days | | |
| 15,000 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | I've had a high route in the Winds on my radar for a few years and was finally able to put together part of it this summer. It's so long and remote that I haven't been willing to go solo, and this trip highlighted the importance of having a partner with similar experience. We were fortunate in that bug pressure was minimal and we could rest and enjoy views when we pleased.
Day 1: After staging a car near Dubois, we set off from the Bruce Bridge TH for a leisurely on-trail hike into the alpine zone. We carried 10 days of food, gear to bear-proof said food, and gear for very foul weather so our packs were heavy! During the first mile we both thought, oh ****, this shouldn't be this hard this early. Luckily, we felt better after our first break a half hour in. We had splendid views along the Middle Fork of the Popo Agie and camped at Deep Creek Lakes, just a mile short of our goal for the day. We saw two other parties during the entire day.
Day 2: This may have been the hardest day. Although the terrain presented no challenges, we began by climbing up to Wind River Peak above 13k. We were both coming from sea level and moved slowly. I faired better - my partner had terrible nausea near the top. From the summit, we descended the west gully towards Black Joe Creek. I entered the gully at the head and was pleasantly surprised to find stable boulders and bedrock. The middle of the descent was looser. There were many birds nesting in the cliffs nearby and moths swarmed up from the rocks when I disturbed them. By the time we finally reached an acceptable snowfield, we were both at our wits' end from the loose talus. I slipped on the snow and performed my first "self-arrest" with a trekking pole, though I don't think I would have been hurt if I kept sliding. My friend glissaded and nearly lost his phone in the snow. We continued down beautiful slab beside a waterfall to a very clear, pretty lake. After first dinner (we got into the habit of eating dinner then hiking a couple more hours before setting camp) we continued down a mostly-stable boulder field into the hanging valley below the lake.
Day 3: My friend had had a thoroughly hard time with the altitude and his quads were cramping after descending the previous day. We began with a fairly mild walk beside a creek with use-trails here and there. Walking around Black Joe Lake was slow because it was long and willowy. Cliffs block the shore at the foot of the lake and I thought I'd be clever and scramble around them rather than gain the saddle.... There was a hidden waterfall in a corner that blocked me and I was sweaty and annoyed by the time I made the proper detour. We picked up a proper trail on our way down to Big Sandy Lake then turned towards Cirque of the Towers. From here until Bonneville Lake we passed many people.
Rather than take Jackass Pass, we saved a few hundred vert by using the climbers' trail into the Cirque. The climb out the other side of the Cirque looked high but was really only about 1300 feet from our low point. We looked at New York Pass and decided we didn't have the physical or mental energy when such an easy alternative - Texas Pass - was readily available. It looked like an extremely steep, loose, kitty-litter field but is probably not so bad up close. Either way, I'm glad we went the long way because we walked by a few more gorgeous alpine lakes. This evening we waited too late to set up our bear hang and ended up searching for a suitable tree (scarce, this high) in the dark.
Day 4: Another morning with a cruisy, moderate descent. We left the trail at Skull Lake and headed up the East Fork River to East Park Lakes. Though off trail, travel in this valley was fast because granite slabs broke up the willows. We were surprised to see several groups, including one with 13 horses, so far off trail. We had a fairly moderate ascent to Raid Peak Pass. I really got into a rhythm boulder-hopping here but my friend has had less practice. From the pass, we descended over a saddle to the north directly to Bonneville Lake. Some route-finding required here to avoid steep slab and find the protected scrambles. After first dinner, we hiked around the lake to Sentry Peak Pass, which was thankfully only about 500ft above. More route-finding and easy scrambling here. From this pass we had a glorious view to Middle Fork Lake and Photo Pass, our intended destination the next day. Clouds were beginning to whip up and the forecast said our weather window had ended, with 6 days of t-storms beginning tomorrow. We hiked down moderate slab and talus and camped on a rather exposed peninsula between Lee and Middle Fork Lakes.
Day 5: It was windy overnight and I woke to a glorious sunrise with billowly pink clouds. Still, I was apprehensive about continuing our route, which would place us on the divide, exposed and far from bailouts, for a few days. If the weather had been better, I would have liked to hike over Photo and Europe passes before bailing. However, dark clouds obscured the peaks adjacent to Photo Pass and these didn't lift while we studied our maps. This day, we ended up hiking around Middle Fork Lake (which was very slow - we should have gone down via Rainbow Lake) and down onto the CDT. From here it was several fast miles along the plains with blue lakes interspersed. Oddly, I was more sore after cruising along the CDT than four days mostly off-trail. I guess my body doesn't like repetitive motion.
Day 6: We continued to Big Sandy trailhead and spent several hours asking if anyone wasn't driving to Pinedale. I was getting pessimistic and already counting how long it would take for us to hike back to Bruce Bridge (~48 hours), A few hours before dark, just as a t-storm was starting, a car that had been resupplying several NOLS hikers offered us a ride all the way to Lander. We were so grateful! They dropped us in the city park, which has free camping. It took less than an hour to walk/ hitch to our car the next morning.
I was disappointed that the weather ended our trip early but decided to make the best of it and visit the North Rim, which was pleasantly cool and rainy, on my way back to Flagstaff. |
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