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Post by Deleted on Aug 19, 2020 10:40:11 GMT -8
Hi everyone!
I'm heading out to the Wind River Range in Mid-September, and I'm looking for a 4 day route that hits some of the scenic highlights but is relatively remote. I've read that Cirque de Towers and Titcomb basin are not to be missed, but I'm looking for insider advice on how crowded those areas might be around September 14-18.
If you could hike 12-17 miles a day, what would be your ideal 4 day route in the Wind River range for a first-timer to the area that wants to hit at least some of the classic views, but prefers to camp in relative solitude?
Thanks so much!
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Post by cweston on Aug 19, 2020 11:01:51 GMT -8
12-17 miles is A LOT for the kind of terrain in the Winds.
Hopefully that’s a figure based on actual experience in the high elevation western mountains—I think it’s not that uncommon for hikers from the eastern US to find that the distances they are accustomed to covering are too ambitious in the western mountains.
Anyway, you’re clearly a strong hiker. You could start at Elkhart and camp at Island Lake the first night. You could move up to an off-trail basecamp in Indian Basin the second day, and maybe continue without pack to Indian Pass. You could explore Titcomb Basin from that base camp on day three, and either move closer to the car that afternoon, or just plan on the 15 or so miles back to the car on day 4.
I can’t speak to the expected crowd conditions in September, but I doubt anyone ever has Titcomb Basin to themselves. However, it’s a big place with a lot of possible camps. And it’s popular for a reason.
I’m fairly certain you could find some solitude not far off the trail in Indian Basin.
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Post by cweston on Aug 19, 2020 11:15:09 GMT -8
I put red stars in some locations that seem like they would work in Indian Basin. It does get pretty rocky as you go higher. I've camped in the upper basin near the tarns (blue circle), but it tends to be very cold and windy up there: it's probably not where I would choose to camp in September. Also, if peak-bagging is your thing, Freemont is a class 2 climb from Indian Basin. (I have NOT done it myself, though.)
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Post by cweston on Aug 19, 2020 11:21:16 GMT -8
Also, be sure to select legal campsites: Camps must be more than 200 feet from any lake or trail system and 100 feet from any stream (that is on the map).
The wilderness rangers in the Elkhart/Titcomb area are pretty strict about enforcement (although maybe less so in September).
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Post by oldbill on Aug 19, 2020 13:53:13 GMT -8
This year may be different as both Elkhart and Big Sandy are seeing volumes they haven't had since the eclipse. When I've gone to Titcomb and Big Sandy mid-Sept there are always other people. 10-15 years ago, far less. So much for social media effects and Backpacker magazine publicity...
If COVID doesn't put WY on the quarantine list, I'll lead 5 others into the Titcomb area the week before you start. We will use a site that I expect/hope is quiet. Island Lake is completely overused. Indian Basin would be a great location as cweston posted. Another would be in the meadow above Island L near the pass to Wall.
There is less solitude near the Cirque. You could loop over Hailey. First camp in upper East Fk which is just as nice as the Cirque IMO and far less crowded. You could loop Titcomb by going to Indian Basin night 1, night 2 via Indian Pass to Alpine lakes to Golden Lakes then return via Wall or Fall Ck Pass. Good luck with trying to do 12+ miles/day with the Alpine Lake area though!! The East side is where most go for solitude.
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Post by trinity on Aug 19, 2020 14:38:50 GMT -8
I concur with cweston and oldbill . 4 days is not a lot in a place like the Winds, so I would recommend you don't get too ambitious, you will probably be returning. Your timeframe is quite good, going during the week in mid-September will minimize the crowds, but there will always be crowds in Titcomb and the Cirque. In my limited experience, the crowds in Titcomb are concentrated around Island Lake, so if you camp higher up, you will probably see fewer people, though legal campsites (per cweston's post) are harder to find above Island. I like cweston's suggested itinerary, though I would probably spend the first night at Hobbs rather than Island. Fewer people, and a much easier first day. For more solitude, you could loop around to the southeast from Elkhart to Chain Lakes (or Spruce), Mount Baldy Lake, and Cook Lakes. If solitude and mileage are priorities, this would be a good route. If scenery is your priority, take cweston's advice and head up to Titcomb and Indian Basins. I would never want to rush through the Winds at 12-17 miles/day, but HYOH, of course. You can't really go wrong in the Winds, so don't sweat it too much.
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Post by cweston on Aug 19, 2020 15:36:58 GMT -8
I like cweston's suggested itinerary, though I would probably spend the first night at Hobbs rather than Island. Fewer people, and a much easier first day. For more solitude, you could loop around to the southeast from Elkhart to Chain Lakes (or Spruce), Mount Baldy Lake, and Cook Lakes. If solitude and mileage are priorities, this would be a good route. If scenery is your priority, take cweston's advice and head up to Titcomb and Indian Basins. Right. I don't generally worry too much about solitude on the first night on the way to somewhere that it takes two days to get to, so my suggestion reflects that. There are a lot of relatively out-of-the-way camps not too far off the trails in Indian Basin or even in in Titcomb. One advantage in this part of the Winds is that you're never far from water, so there are more possible places for watered camps. Another possibility would be to camp on the east side of Titcomb Basin, by crossing the narrow channel between upper and lower Titcomb Lakes (which should work in September.) My son and I were planning to do that when we camped there last summer, but there was a big storm brewing and we had to just take the first decent camp we came to in the name of expedience.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 20, 2020 8:39:09 GMT -8
Thank you all so much! Can't tell you how much I appreciate your feedback and suggestions. And thanks for the concern about the terrain - I hiked the PCT in '18 I live in the Elk Mountains in CO, so I'm fortunate to have a backyard that has me in pretty good hiking shape (I hope!). I'm looking forward to sitting down with these responses with my hiking partner and coming up with a plan! I'll make sure to post some pictures.
Thanks again! Excited to have found this forum full of helpful, knowledgable backpackers.
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Post by cweston on Aug 20, 2020 9:19:32 GMT -8
Since you're an experienced hiker, if you want a little more adventure, you could come in Dry Creek from the Cold Springs trailhead (On the Wind River Reservation: complications, legal and otherwise, apply). Camp near North Indian Pass the first night, then head over the pass and up to the headwaters of North Fork Bull Lake Creek--one of the most spectacular places I've ever been. Ideally you'd have a fifth day to explore the area, including a possible ascent of Blaurock Pass, but time is what it is. I don't think there's any way to loop back to Cold Springs (in only two days) except thew way you came. But if you could arrange a shuttle, somehow, you could continue one way over Indian Pass (via Titcomb Basin) and out to Elkhart TH, or you could descend the other side of Blaurock Pass and head out the Glacier Trail. These would all be huge trips for four days, but doable within the stats you gave. I highly recommend Pallister, Beyond Trails in the Wind River Mountains as a resource. Headwaters of North Fork Bull Lake Creek:
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Post by oldbill on Aug 20, 2020 14:37:42 GMT -8
COVID is spiking in Fremont County so you need to be aware before taking any rides out in that area. Applies to Lander too, where I was hoping to start my adventures next week.
Love to see NFBLC, Glacier Panorama myself someday. Missed an opportunity to hike with some experts over Horse Ridge to NFBLC this year. There's far more than the Cirque and Titcomb, for sure.
If you do go to NFBLC, be sure to be bear aware.
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Post by cweston on Aug 20, 2020 15:47:06 GMT -8
If you do go to NFBLC, be sure to be bear aware Actually, there were confirmed griz sightings around Photographers Point and Hobbs Lake in summer 2019. (Got this information from a local *and* from wilderness rangers.) So, no matter where you go, be sure to be bear aware.
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Post by cweston on Aug 20, 2020 16:16:35 GMT -8
Love to see NFBLC, Glacier Panorama myself someday. Missed an opportunity to hike with some experts over Horse Ridge to NFBLC this year. I'm curious: what was the route from Horse Ridge to NFBLC--via North Indian Pass, or is there some more direct way?
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Post by oldbill on Aug 21, 2020 3:38:15 GMT -8
Thanks! I had just sent an update to my group letting them know about confirmed griz at Photo Pt and Cook L. That was a few years back. Didn't know about Hobbs or that it was just last year! Having sightings in the summer along one of the heaviest traveled trails in the Winds is also notable. From Wandering Daisy (Nancy Pallister) and other trip reports, NFBLC (and NE area) seems to harbor more griz than other places in the Winds. Like the Absarokas, those places I (personally) would be especially careful (not cooking, not traveling solo, 12z not 8z bear spray). The route off Horse Ridge is N. Indian Pass, via Don L and Dry Ck. I haven't seen anything else. Definitely on my bucket list! I'd have to come in from Torrey Ck though. Just too expensive otherwise. Just under a week to go for me. Hope WY gets it's COVID act together. It now has the one of the highest growth in cases/d per capita (along with Kansas). May get added to NY/NJ/CT, PA quarantine next week. Not sure what travel rules are for CO. www.investors.com/news/coronavirus-update-coronavirus-map-us-covid-19-death-hospital-testing-trends/
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Post by swimswithtrout on Aug 22, 2020 19:23:20 GMT -8
IF...you can do those kind of miles 4 days in a row
Day 1: Elkhart Park to Baldy Lk Day 2: Baldy Lk to Peak Lk Day 3: Peak Lk to Indian Basin Day 4: out
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Post by swimswithtrout on Aug 22, 2020 19:37:09 GMT -8
As far as Dry Creek and Horse Ridge, this was my route...pretty straight foward
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