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| Hiking | 33.60 Miles |
4,284 AEG |
| | Hiking | 33.60 Miles | 3 Days 5 Hrs 51 Mns | | |
| 4,284 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | Four old men set out for an adventure in the Wind River Range of Wyoming. The original plan was to start from the Big Sandy Trailhead, hike north along the little-used Highline Trail that parallels the Continental Divide Trail, loop around Dream Lake, then south along the CDT, turning off east toward Shadow Lake, over Texas Pass to the Cirque of the Towers, and out via the Big Sandy trail. It didn’t turn out quite as planned due to altitude sickness of one of the party, but it was a great trip nevertheless.
The road to the Big Sandy Trailhead is suitable for passenger cars when it is dry. We stayed overnight at the trailhead; there are 4 campsites there and by the evening all were filled. In the morning, we took the Highline Connector (7094A) to the Highline Trail (7094) and headed north. Along the way, Boulter Lake is beautiful and was a picture and rest break. A mile or so beyond was the ford of the East Fork up to our knees at Poston Meadows. We then continued climbing along upstream along the East Fork, arriving at our first camp along the East Fork at the intersection of the Francis Lake Trail about 1 pm. There is a clump of trees there with good campsites. Francis Lake Trail was even less distinct than the Highline Trail.
On Day 2, we continued the hike upstream along the pretty East Fork. Where the Highline Trail bears away left from the river, the East Fork Washakie (7092) trail fords the river and heads northeast toward the CDT. It looked vague and faint. The trail then climbs through a spectacular pass, faint at times. Just past the turnoff to Silver Lake, the Highline Trail essentially disappeared, and we messed around a while hunting for it. If I had just followed my GPX track, it would have been no problem, but, like a pilot flying upside down through clouds, I just didn’t believe my instruments. This area is marked “Problem Section” on my posted route. This part of the trail is gorgeous, hiking through massive vistas and open meadows. The junction with the Monroe Lake Trail / Scab Creek Trail (7110) is also confusing, as the worn track heads that way, and is invisible on the Highline Trail. By this point, one of our party was showing significant signs of altitude sickness so we stopped at a campsite just short of a large lake along South Fork Boulder Creek, way short of our destination for the day, and prepared to start heading out the next morning.
On day 3, we headed back the way we came on the Highline Trail, and then took the Crossover Trail just south of Cross Lake over to the CDT / Fremont Trail (7096). This is a good and distinct trail. We continued south on the CDT and took a break near Silver Creek, where we were visited by a very aggressive marmot, marked with a waypoint on my route. I forgot to turn on my recording for a while after that, leaving a gap in the route. Eventually we reached the ford of the East Fork again. This involved walking some pretty marshy trail first, and then the ford. After we crossed and put our boots on, we discovered another previously unseen crossing just a little ways beyond. We were able to scout around for a rock hop on that one. We headed up the hill and eventually found a camp spot in a thicket above an unnamed pond just north of Marms Lake.
Day 4, we headed south on the CDT to the intersection with the Hailey Pass Trail 7111 at Marms Lake. Since leaving the Big Sandy TH we had seen no one up to this point. From this point south, however, we started seeing LOTS of people. The wilderness experience was over. From here, we were on the super popular Cirque of the Towers loop. Although we had planned to go there, there was no way with the altitude sickness we were going to make it over Texas Pass, and once I saw the masses, I think I wasn’t too disappointed. We finished the trip passing Marms, Dads, Mirror and Meeks Lakes, turning off the CDT at the Big Sandy Trail, staying on the Fremont Trail back to the Trailhead.
By the time we were back to the car at 9100’, the altitude sickness cleared (this always amazes me how this works), and we headed over to the Big Sandy Lodge where everyone enjoyed burgers and soft drinks, before heading back for our long drive to Seattle. |
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