Wind River Discovery, Wyoming

The Trip

Sharp granite peaks soaring into the sky; vibrant wildflower gardens seemingly around every turn; cold, deep lakes loaded with trout -- no wonder Wyoming's Wind River Range is a favorite of backcountry enthusiasts.

This eight-day backpack trip seeks the route less traveled into the central portion of this alpine wonderland to experience its charms in relative solitude. Starting at the Elkhart Park Trailhead, we'll hike eastward, but veer away from the popular Titcomb Basin and venture southeast just below the Continental Divide. Our route connects cross-country, faint paths, and official trail segments through a number of beautiful lake basins before we turn east and return to the starting point via a dazzling string of lakes. En route we'll visit the full range of Wind River life zones, from thick lodgepole forests, through expansive meadows, and up to jagged granite well above treeline. Most of the lakes and streams harbor a variety of trout certain to please even the most avid angler, while remote crags and cirques will entice the eager off-trail explorer.

The lands of the Winds River Range have been inhabited by native people for over 9,000 years. The Eastern Shoshone and the Northern Arapaho tribes have established settlements and cultures in the Winds. In the early to mid 1800s, mountain men such as Jim Bridger, Kit Carson, Tom “Broken Hand” Fitzpatrick, and others lived here and trapped beaver and other fur bearing animals for trade. The Bridger and Fitzpatrick wilderness areas covers much of the Winds today. 

We will invoke the old Sierra Club axiom of travelling “high and light” by scrutinizing the group equipment and simplifying the menu. We will also travel “high and light” by learning and practicing Leave No Trace principles in all of our operations.

Day 1: The trip will begin with a rendezvous this afternoon at a location to be disclosed in the town of Pinedale, WY. After introductions, we will inspect gear, distribute commissary, and review trip operations and ethics. 

Day 2: We will rendezvous at the Elkhart Park Trailhead then set off up the forested Pole Creek Trail, which turns into the Seneca Lake Trail. We’ll head off-trail a short distance and camp next to Hobbs Lake.

Day 3: We return to the Seneca Lake Trail and hike past photogenic Island Lake. After peering up into the destination of most hikers, Titcomb Basin, we veer east to camp beside an unnamed lake.

Day 4: Our cross-country adventure begins as we negotiate grassy and sandy terrain over broad “Island-Wall Pass” to our camp near Cook Lakes, under the 2,000-foot-high ramparts of Lester and Harrower Peaks.

Day 5: Our first planned layover day provides opportunity for exploring the Continental Divide and adjoining lake basins, fishing for golden and brook trout, and relaxing in our spectacular surroundings.

Day 6: Back on an increasingly well-defined trail we’ll head south on the well-established and undulating Fremont Trail. A side trail delivers us to tonight’s camp at Timco Lake, almost completely surrounded by 11,000- and 12,000-foot peaks

Day 7: A second layover day is planned to provide similar opportunities as the first in the infrequently visited but no less stunning area surrounding Timco Lake.

Day 8: We turn west and connect several trails as we traverse increasingly wooded slopes, eventually reaching a sublime campsite near a lake reached before the Seneca Lake Trail junction.

Day 9: We retrace our steps down the Pole Creek Trail to our waiting vehicles at the Elkhart Park Trailhead.

Getting There

The Elkhart Park Trailhead is located 14 miles northeast of Pinedale, WY via the paved Fremont Lake/Skyline Road. Pinedale is about a 1.5-hour drive (80 miles) southeast of the Jackson, WY airport and about a 4-hour drive (245 miles) from Salt Lake City International Airport. Salt Lake City is generally the much more reliable and cheaper option. If using the Jackson Hole Airport, we strongly recommend flying in the day before the trip starts to provide contingency for cancelled flights and delayed baggage.

The leader will provide a trip roster with contact information to facilitate ride-sharing and other logistical details in advance of the trip. Due to the uncertainties inherent in a trip of this magnitude, return flight reservations should not be made for any earlier than the day after the trip ends.

Please do not make non-refundable travel arrangements until notified to do so by the trip leader.

Accommodations and Food

All meals, snacks, and drinks are provided and included in the trip price, beginning with breakfast on day two (the first hiking day) to lunch on day nine (the last day). Participants are fully responsible for food and accommodation on day one, the day we meet in Pinedale. 

With the goal of storing all food in bear canisters, we will strive to reduce bulk, as well as weight, wherever possible. Therefore, the backcountry menu will consist of low-bulk, non-refrigerated, lightweight foods that have a high calorie-to-bulk ratio. An excellent example of this type of food is peanut butter. 

The menu can accommodate vegetarians, but accommodating more restricted diets can be difficult. Please contact the leader prior to sign-up if you have a food allergy or other critical food restriction to determine if we can accommodate your specific needs without adversely impacting the group. 

Generally, we'll have hot or cold cereal for breakfast and dinners will usually consist of soup, a one-pot entrée, and dessert. Because all food and drinks are provided and must be secured in the bear cans, we cannot accommodate the extra weight and bulk of personal food items. Again, please contact the leaders before the trip regarding your individual needs.

Participants are responsible for bringing their own water treatment for their personal needs, whether chemical-, filter-, or UV-based. Additional information will be provided in pre-trip correspondence.

Trip Difficulty

This trip difficulty is rated 3 per the Sierra Club Outings system of rating trips on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the most difficult. Factors such as daily mileage, elevation gains and losses, terrain, and altitude determine the rating.

Except for a few miles near the trailhead and on day seven, the entire trip is above 10,000 feet. Planned campsites range from 10,200 to 10,800 feet. Acclimatization to altitude is a must for this trip! We highly recommend spending one, two, or even more days at an elevation above 7,000 feet prior to the trip. It is not really necessary -- in fact it could be detrimental -- to over-exert while acclimatizing. Diamox is an option that participants have used to help with acclimatization. Consult your doctor to determine whether this medication is appropriate for you. 

About seven miles of the planned backpack route is cross-country. The remaining 33 miles are on trails that range from rough, unmaintained trails to wilderness freeways. The cross-country segments on the trip generally feature rolling terrain covered with tundra, rock slabs, or sand. A few short sections involve more difficult terrain such as boulders or steeper rock. Snowfields are always a possibility. Daily elevation gains range from 1,000 to 1,500 feet. 

Participants must be in good physical condition to qualify for this trip. You should follow a regular, well-rounded fitness program that includes cardio and strength training. We have found that backpacking stresses your body in some very unique ways, like lengthening your foot from the extra weight. Therefore, we highly recommend supplementing your workouts by wearing your boots and carrying your loaded pack on hikes up and down hills (or staircases) for a couple of hours several days a week for at least a month prior to the trip. You should plan on hiking with your loaded pack anywhere from 5 to 8 hours on moving days. Changes in conditions and events may require rerouting, so a flexible attitude is a must.

This is a group trip whose success relies upon the cheerful, active contribution of all participants. You'll be assigned to a cook-crew with a fellow participant and prepare the group meals on a rotating basis. You’ll also assist with cleaning, sanitation, camp set-up and break-down, food storage, etc. As stated before, this trip will emphasize a Leave No Trace ethic in all of its operations.

Equipment and Clothing

“Light is right!” A general equipment list can be found at the link listed below. Pre-trip communication will provide much more detailed elaboration on the range of equipment choices available, as there really is no one correct answer for a particular need. While not an “ultralight” trip per se, many of the concepts of ultralight backpacking are useful. Some clothing fundamentals include good quality raingear, dressing in layers, and avoiding duplication. We highly recommend trekking poles to contend with rough terrain, descents, and stream crossings carrying a loaded pack.

The trip includes group equipment, such as cooking pots and utensils, stoves, fuel, hand-wash station, commissary tarp, and bear canisters. Each trip participant will bring his/her own eating utensils and carry one loaded bear canister, along with a share of the other group items, bringing each participant's total share of the commissary to about 15 pounds at the start of the trip.

The total weight of your personal gear, including pack, must not exceed 25 pounds. Many participants have been successful in reducing their “base load” to well below 20 pounds! This is important not just to increase your stamina and comfort, but also for safety. Packs should have a capacity of at least 60 liters. A small pack will not relieve you of carrying a bear canister!

Backpacking footwear has seen quite a revolution of late, with many people choosing to use low-top hiking shoes. However, the leader still prefers durable boots that provide ankle protection, abrasion resistance, and stability on rough, off-trail terrain. The most important thing is that footwear should be well broken in and field-tested under expected loads well before the trip.

While the weather can be quite pleasant in the Winds in August, with highs in the 70s and lows in the 30s, be prepared for extremes. With the increased solar radiation experienced at altitude, it can feel much warmer than the thermometer would indicate. Extended rain or even snow can occur at any time of year. Overnight lows can occasionally reach into the 20s. Thunderstorms -- with sudden cloudbursts of wind, rain, and hail -- are common, and can be followed by a spectacular sunset. Snowfields can linger well into August after a heavy winter, so snowfields could be encountered, so we recommend low gaiters.

Finally, while not common, grizzly bears have been expanding their range southward into the Wind River Range. We will have several containers of bear spray in the commissary.

References

Maps:

• "Wind River Range North" and "Wind River Range South," Beartooth Publishing.
• "North Wind River Range" and "South Wind River Range," Hiking Map and Guide, Earthwalk Press.
• USGS 7.5-minute topo maps, “Fremont Peak North," “Fayette Lake,” “Bridger Lakes,” “Fremont Peak South,” and “Horseshoe Lake."

Books:

• Pallister, Nancy, Beyond Trails in the Wind River Mountains of Wyoming. Gray Dog Press.
• Kelsey, Joe, Climbing and Hiking Wind River Mountains. Falcon Publishing.
• Woods, Rebecca, Walking the Winds. White Willow Publishing.
• Adkison, Ron, Hiking Wyoming's Wind River Range (A Falcon Guide).
• Mitchell, Finis, Wind River Trails. The University of Utah Press. The sentimental favorite by a Sierra Club legend.

Websites:

• Basic Equipment List: http://www.knapsack.org/basic_equipment.html
• Wind River Range information: http://www.summitpost.org/wind-river-range/171223

Conservation

America’s wild places are under ever increasing threats, and the Wind River Range is no exception. Threats include removal of preservation status, expansion of resource extraction such as logging and gas drilling, and efforts to remove protections on the reintroduction of native species such as wolves. In particular, we will focus on a couple of initiatives:

The Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act will give wilderness protection to 18 million acres of wild land, from the Yellowstone area up through Montana and Idaho. The bill's primary objective is to protect this land from fragmentation and thereby allow plants and wildlife to migrate between the area's five ecosystems in patterns essential to maintain biodiversity.

The Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative (Y2Y) is a joint Canada-U.S. organization that connects and protects habitat from the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem to the Yukon, through a collaborative approach to large-landscape conservation. The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem includes Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Park, the Wind River Range and the Gros Ventre Wilderness. The Y2Y unified vision is connecting and protecting habitat from Yellowstone to Yukon so people and nature can thrive.

Sierra Club National Outings is an equal-opportunity provider and when applicable will operate under permit located in the Bridger-Teton National Forest.