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Post by swimswithtrout on May 23, 2022 22:29:29 GMT -8
There is a basic conundrum when trying to balance fishing and scenery when hiking the Wind's, which is why I never go in for less than 10 days and 17 days being my standard trip length...If you are fishing, you're not moving....The Wind's are HUGE....Just to get to the Titcomb Gorge, by the most direct route, for an average hiker, is going to entail two full days of hiking carrying a 5 night load. Depending how far up the Basin you go, it could take you 2 days to get back out. That leaves only what fishing is available from your night camps for the majority of your trip. The best fishing is in the lower elevations, where feed is more prevalent. That's why I will criss-cross the Range with a mix of high mileage/high elevation days for the scenery, where fishing is "sub-optimal" and then basecamp days with dayhikes at lower elevations for fishing.
If all you want to see is the Gorge...and have reasonable time to fish within your time constraints, I wouldn't even bother with a loop. I'd head straight to Island Lk, basecamp, and take one day to hike to Jean Lk and one day up to the head of the Gorge.
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Post by indytgrfan on May 27, 2022 18:49:55 GMT -8
Swimswithtrout,
I love hearing your insights. Fishing is definitely a "side event" for this trip. You never know when schedules of 4 adult children will work out, and we are lucky to get them all to commit to the 6 Day 5 Night itinerary (considering... it really is 10 total with the 4 extra days when you factor in the drive time to and from Indianapolis. From our Beartooth trip (ironically from the Island Lake TH), the ability to catch some fish ..and eat 2 one night is remembered vividly from them, so I'd like to get at least a little fishing in (at the higher elevation where we want to spend the bulk of our trip) and maybe one or two per night to add to the evenings food source (again, to harken back to that Beartooth trip).
What are your thoughts (or anyone else's)? Keep the insights coming.
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Post by trinity on May 28, 2022 11:50:31 GMT -8
Given what you're describing, I think SWT's last suggestion (an out and back to Island Lake) makes good sense. If you wanted to change it up a bit, you could go in via the Pole Creek Trail, spend one night, then over Lester Pass and up to Island Lake, spend a few days fishing and exploring, and come back out spending your last night at Hobb's Lake, which has lots of nice campsites (mostly along the east side) and decent fishing.
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Post by indytgrfan on May 29, 2022 7:19:22 GMT -8
Trinity, in the itinerary you describe, I don't see Titcomb basin... we defiinitely are going to get in Titcomb Basin.. Am I missing something?
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Post by trinity on May 29, 2022 8:09:43 GMT -8
Trinity, in the itinerary you describe, I don't see Titcomb basin Island lake is more or less at the entrance to the basin. I believe what SWT is suggesting (and I am seconding) is that you basecamp there (beautiful campsites, and, by all reports, good fishing), and make daytrips up to the head of the basin and other destinations (I would recommend Indian Basin). I have camped up near Pothole Lake, and it was awesome, but the campsite itself was not as nice as those I saw at Island. And I never had any luck fishing the lakes (I think the trout in the Titcomb Lakes are mostly Goldens, which are notoriously difficult to catch). Here is what my campsite looked like. As you can see, it is absolutely stunning, but also pretty exposed, and not a whole lot of level ground. Given the size of your group, I think there's a lot to be said for Island Lake. Biggest drawback is that it is a fairly high-use area.
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Post by cweston on May 29, 2022 12:13:46 GMT -8
To the OP: I agree that Island Lake would be a terrific base camp with trips into Titcomb and Indian Basin. A couple things to keep in mind…
1) you will never, ever have Island Lake to yourself. It’s quite possibly the most popular camp in the Winds.
2) the wilderness rangers there are pretty activist about legal campsites: 200 feet from lakes and trails, 100 feet from any other water that is on the map. They do ticket violators in the Titcomb corridor.
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Post by absarokanaut on May 29, 2022 13:23:48 GMT -8
Arkoudaphobia ended it with a couple of women I dated years ago. They however of course thought nothing of putting their lives at exponentially greater risk just driving for a carton of milk.
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Post by swimswithtrout on May 29, 2022 15:20:35 GMT -8
A Pole Crk approach is good. Getting to Pole Crk from Elkhart TH is an easy first acclimation day with very little climbing. The various Pole Crk crossings heading upstream are some of the more "interesting" fjords to be had in the Wind's, but are much more manageable given a later season timing. There are several small lakes just before you get to Lester Pass with good camping and fishing for an easy second day with some elevation gain. The next day you could cross Lester Pass from one of those high camps, and be to Island Lk that afternoon. Island Lk can be quite crowded...or occasionally not. As soon as you pass Island Lk, the crowds thin out as do the trees. Camping above Island Lk, up in the actual Gorge is completely exposed, but awesome in it's tundra beauty. You will want a 3/4 season tent up there as it can snow any given day, and relentless afternoon monsoon thunderstorms that can dump several inches of hail/graupel are a near daily occurrence late July/early August.
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Post by oldbill on May 30, 2022 10:57:04 GMT -8
Enjoying the thread immensely! Promised my girlfriend a trip to Titcomb this year since my group trip failed due to the 2020 Labor Day storm. My own preference is to target less popular places or at least minimize the number of others on the trail. I decided we'd do part of the loop SWT already made: Pole Ck to Wall to Island. Basecamp, then see Titcomb, Indian Basin and/or the Big Slide and perhaps Peak L. Getting older so not sure I can make Upper Cook the first day and promised I'd keep the pace GF-friendly so we have plenty of options for camping along the way. Camping at Island isn't my first choice, but will try to find a less-used spot near the outlet, though I may hear all about "I want a view from the tent."
Like Trinity stated, don't expect much luck fishing the Titcomb Lakes or even Wall. Fish are mostly deep that time of year. You might have some luck at Island or the Cook Lakes, but even that could be hit/miss. Miller L has excellent brook trout fishing, easy to get to off Pole Ck trail.
I tried non-GTX boots my first year out there (always go in Sept). Even just getting wet from the morning frost/dew was enough to trigger my Raynauds. Also enjoy ankle protection from the sharp granite. My boot sides always seems to get scraped at least a few times. Enjoy the Salomon Quest 4d 3's (best fitting & comfortable boot I've had) but traction on wet granite isn't great IMO. Big safety issue if having to traverse a steep, narrow granite slab in the rain. Trying Scarpa Zodiac for this year's trip. But a lot of WRHR folks swear by trail runners and Topshot's also hiked some seriously rough terrain in the Winds. HYOH.
Just remember if you do end up cooking fish. You're in griz country and that smell travels well and sticks around. Also food related: use an Opsac + Ursack or properly hang (very difficult to do properly even below treeline). Also, no fires at Island L. It's considered above treeline.
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Post by trinity on May 30, 2022 15:20:20 GMT -8
Enjoying the thread immensely! Same here! I'm hoping to get to the Winds for an extended trip towards the end of August. Wish I could go in Sept, but couldn't make it work this year. Since there may still be relatively high visitation, I am considering heading out from the Scab Creek trail, and just wandering around for a few weeks. Or I may head up through Titcomb, over Knapsack Col, around past Elbow, Summit, Glimpse, bushwack to Long, and back out. Having fun dreaming and planning.
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Post by oldbill on May 30, 2022 17:18:03 GMT -8
All great plans! Can't go wrong, especially if weather holds. If a friend from BCP can join me after my GF leaves, I'm hoping for a 5 day loop through Bear Basin from Green R TH. Else, may head over Wall Pass to see Bull Lake Creek and the Fortress. Or, head back to Lander for a few days fishing above tree line in a canyon that doesn't get much traffic.
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Post by indytgrfan on Jul 19, 2022 19:59:58 GMT -8
A new question for the forum, please. We are coming up on the last few weeks before the trip. What do most of you do with your food? Keep in mind we'll be a family of 6, all Adults with 5 Men, (4 voracious young men) I had thought that a Bear Vault or UrSack probably 2 would be what we would bring, but the more videos I've watched of campsites, it seems you could hang a backpack with food or hang one over a ledge... Just curious people's opinions. If you do use the Bear Vault or Ursack... where do you store those during the night or if you do a dayhike? Has anyone heard any trip reports out of the Winds this year as well?
Thanks in advance...
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zeke
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Peekaboo slot 2023
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Post by zeke on Jul 20, 2022 3:28:42 GMT -8
General info on using any bear canister: All smellables go inside. Soap, food, scented TP, tooth paste, everything. That might mean more than one per person. Store them well away from camp during the night. 100 yards is the suggested distance. No one wants a bear playing with the canister, within sight from the tent. If you're concerned about not being able to find it again, place brightly colored stickers on it.
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Post by trinity on Jul 20, 2022 5:22:52 GMT -8
Last time I backpacked the Winds was a longish trip (12 nights), so I took an Ursack and a rented Bearicade. I followed the guidelines zeke described. There were usually tree branches I could tie the Ursack to, but in Titcomb basin I had to tie it to a rock. On my next trip I will probably take an Ursack Allmitey Grizzly. I prefer canisters and Ursacks to hanging, personally.
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texasbb
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Post by texasbb on Jul 20, 2022 6:09:13 GMT -8
Unlike trinity , I prefer hanging to Ursacks--I find it faster and easier when good trees are available--but used an Ursack on my one Winds trip (2017) because so many places up there are in the small-tree zone where Ursacks shine. If I expected to do lots of camping above treeline, I might opt for a canister.
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