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Post by oldbill on Jul 31, 2020 11:32:14 GMT -8
I'll be in the Winds Aug 27-Oct 1. Mostly 4-5 day outings. "Weeks" are sometimes 10 days, but for simplicity:
Week 1: solo, after golden trout, probably in the Popo Agie, depending on mid-Aug trip reports
Week 2: lead girlfriend and some local hiking friends (if all don't cancel due to Covid) to see Titcomb
Week 3: GF only (last 3-4 days in GTNP) Hasn't seen Popo Agie Wilderness yet, so maybe climb Wind River Peak on a loop
Week 4: Nephew - not a fisherman, enjoys tough hikes. I still like to fish for gold if I can.
Typical miles = 10-12 entry and exit (high 22) if on-trail and 5-8 in between, terrain/trail dependent. Camps usually near treeline.
Have options for great day acclimation hikes around Dubois from Absorkanaut. Would appreciate any comments on ideas, or other suggestions. I've done parts (camped at Rainbow, Native, Lower Deep Ck, Upper Golden).
Mostly Week 3 options:
1. Scab Ck TH: Middle Fk Basin area (camps at Rainbow, Bewmark, ?) – 4 days
2. Worthen Meadow: Deep Ck L, Wind River Peak, Stough Ck return – 4 days (Best base camp for peak ascent? Would like to do without full packs. Stream crossings?)
Mostly Week 4 options:
1. Glacier TH: Horse Ridge off trail from Ink Wells to Glacier Lakes – 6 days
(realistic to get to Don in 2 days off trail on Horse Ridge? Views on that section?)
2. Bear Basin (Roaring Fk to Native, fish Native, Faler, via Crescent? to Daphne camp. Dayhike to Bear, Rocking Horse. (11K too cold for late Sept? Not a place to get stuck in a big snow) - 5 days
3. Big Sandy TH: East Fk dayhike from camp at Skull, move camp to Shadow, over Texas to Cirque, back via Jackass) - 4 days
4. Elkhart TH: Golden Lakes, continue to Bull Lake Ck for goldens, see the Fortress - 6 days
Debating:
Bear hang vs buying Ursack. Hate adding weight, but don't want to see my bag stuck in a tree again.
Drops/Tablets vs filter (usually carry 1-1.5 L and fill a few times/day)
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trinity
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Post by trinity on Aug 2, 2020 11:25:22 GMT -8
I don't know if you've ever hit Northfork Lake on any of your trips, but of the 15 or so lakes I've fished in the Winds, the best fishing I've encountered was there. Could be reached out of Scab Creek, if you want to detour up to the north.
Personally, I am a huge fan of Ursacks. I don't like hanging, and there are, as you know, quite a few places in the Winds where hanging is not a good option (except over a boulder). I think you will find the additional weight and expense worth it. Chemical vs. filter is such a personal choice, but I pretty much always go with a filter or steripen, mainly because there is no wait time involved.
Out of curiosity, what is your backcountry fishing setup?
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Post by cweston on Aug 2, 2020 12:11:58 GMT -8
Debating: Bear hang vs buying Ursack. Hate adding weight, but don't want to see my bag stuck in a tree again. Drops/Tablets vs filter (usually carry 1-1.5 L and fill a few times/day) I typically hang, but I also typically do not hike in Griz country much. Hung food in the Winds last summer, but did not know at the time that confirmed Griz sightings had occurred in the areas I was traveling. Next time I head to the Winds, I'll probably invest in an Ursack. I always filter and carry some tablets as an emergency backup. |
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Post by oldbill on Aug 2, 2020 12:40:53 GMT -8
Sounds like I need to add some weight...
Northfork is a great idea. I was near when we came over Hay Pass, returning from Golden Lakes. We took the Round Mtn cutoff instead of going all the way down the trail. We were beat at that point and it was high wind and sleet.
I gave up carrying my fly rod+case. Trying to fight the wind and lack of backcasting room seemed counterproductive. I've been using a 6'6" ultralight spinning rod and Pfleuger Trion with 4lb fluorocarbon. Jakes Money Clips, Buoyant spoons and flies (orange Megascud, olive and gray scuds,...). I carry a section of old floating fly line, clip it on, add leader and fly. Works surprisingly well. Can fish deep, even into the wind (usually poor fishing though) or put a fly gently in a stream.
Still want my golden trout though. Never seem to have enough time when conditions are good and it's notably tougher than just after ice out.
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Post by Coolkat on Aug 3, 2020 8:24:00 GMT -8
Speaking of URsacks. About 2 weeks ago at a trailhead in CO I met a hiker who showed us his ursack with teeth marks in it. It did it's job and the bear got nothing.
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trinity
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Post by trinity on Aug 4, 2020 2:42:07 GMT -8
oldbill , that sounds like a really interesting setup. I still carry a full western setup, a 5 piece Winston 5-weight, reel, and a few boxes of flies. I made myself an ultralight rod tube from a fluorescent light case, which helps. I've considered taking a tenkara rod backpacking, but don't feel like it would give me the needed casting distance on lakes. The only goldens I've ever caught were in Titcomb Basin, in the stream below Pothole Lake. They were just little babies, but beautiful. 
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Post by oldbill on Aug 4, 2020 7:43:19 GMT -8
trinity I'd be happy even with that! Looks like a foam hopper. I will try that stream, as well as the lakes (and hidden basin lake). I'm hoping the Popo Agia lakes will deliver for me this year. Seen reports of big fish up there. Did hear back from one expert that doing Horse Ridge at that time of year isn't a great idea. Bear Basin may be similar. Probably will have to restrict later hikes to having a less risky bailout option should a foot of snow hit.
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Post by cweston on Aug 4, 2020 7:51:57 GMT -8
Did hear back from one expert that doing Horse Ridge at that time of year isn't a great idea. Bear Basin may be similar. Probably will have to restrict later hikes to having a less risky bailout option should a foot of snow hit. I really want to visit Horse Ridge some day. I'd probably *choose* September (over July or August), since lightning with no real opportunity for escape scares me more than getting a September blizzard does. I'm planning an all high-country trip in the San Juans in late September, but that's 400 miles further south than the Winds, of course. |
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trinity
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Post by trinity on Aug 4, 2020 9:44:56 GMT -8
Looks like a foam hopper. It's a Chubby Chernobyl. It was by far my most productive fly that trip (last 2 weeks in September, so similar timing to your trip). Red and purple both worked well. The important thing, at least on the lakes, was to give them some movement, which I am not used to doing with dry flies. I chugged them across the surface, almost like a popper. |
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Post by oldbill on Aug 4, 2020 13:03:05 GMT -8
cweston I should have qualified that the advise to avoid Horse Ridge was for late Sept (my Week 4-5 option). Just a long way from an exit. Views look amazing though. Late August- early Sept was recommended! Have fun in the San Juans! @trinty Thanks! I'll have to add a few of those! Nice to hear you did well last 2 weeks of September. I tried a lake to the south on 2 different years, but skunked both times. Folks in town said it was rare to catch goldens at that time. Mostly very deep. I think Swimswithtrout echoed that as well.
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Post by swimswithtrout on Aug 4, 2020 17:26:31 GMT -8
Horse Ridge is amazing, but is pretty weather dependent. The day before, and the day I did it were post card perfect days....Starting at dawn, the next day, we were tent bound for 36 continuous hours in the worst hail/graupel storm I've ever been out in...
Goldens...are..well...Goldens...
I had one memorable evening at Elbow Lk, where I caught a 20-24" Golden every cast for hours.....I've been back to it 3 times since..and have been skunked every time...I'd 2nd Trinty's spot below Titcomb for being as close to a guaranty that I know of with easy access.
All of the lower altitude "bench" lakes from Chain Lakes all the way to Raid Lk are phenomenal if you're looking for cutts..it's hard to pick one above the rest...but the 2 biggest I ever caught were from Island..
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Post by absarokanaut on Aug 8, 2020 9:47:42 GMT -8
If you're gonna throw metal out there when I was a kid it was all about Mepps#3 and Panther Martins.
In GTNP are you backpacking or dayhiking?
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Post by oldbill on Aug 8, 2020 14:26:41 GMT -8
We'll be passing by Elbow on the way to Peak L. Have yet to see it. Looking forward to seeing Titcomb again, though this time I want to add Mistake and Peak L. I made sure the group (now down to just a few) will camp towards Fremont Xing. Island view is amazing but it's just overused. Might even get to fish Fremont Ck too!
+1 on the Mepps and Panther Martins. Always have a few of those spinners.
Nothing certain in GTNP. Hoping we get full 2 days (19 and 20) there. Have done a few moderate day hikes (Amphitheater and Death Canyon to Static Peak Divide Jct come to mind). My nephew wanted to do Delta (driven by social media). Are Garnet Canyon and Lake of the Crags good options? My GF will have had her fill of backpacking at that point with Titcomb and Wind R Peak trips. My nephew will need to acclimate, so we might have to do an easier hike on the 20th.
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Post by absarokanaut on Aug 11, 2020 6:18:25 GMT -8
Bill I have a photo gallery on facebook for Hanging Canyon/Lake of the Crags. Since I'm to fat and old to do Rimrock Lake this is probably my current favorite dayhike in the Tetons, but it is a lungbuster. Truly hoping some serious instagram influencer, etc., doesn't ruin it like they did with Delta Lake that has now been overrun. If you can handle another unmaintained trail look into Lake Taminah up Avalanche Canyon. Paul Petzoldt said it was as pretty as anywhere he'd ever been. I'd also look into one of the gems I do on the Divide near Togwotee and maybe a day down in Granite Creek hiking Swift Creek; one of my top hikes anywhere; the Gros Ventre are glorious. Also have photo albums for that, Huckleberry Mt., Jackson Peak, and other forest gems both sides of the Divide.
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Post by oldbill on Aug 11, 2020 8:01:14 GMT -8
Thanks Absarokanaut! If we get driven out of the Winds by late September weather my nephew and I may retreat to GTNP for day hikes. Packing microspikes just in case. Will check those out and ask my nephew not to post any specifics on whatever social media platforms he uses.
So many destinations out there yet to experience, so little time with cooperative weather!
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