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Post by indytgrfan on Jan 2, 2022 14:55:04 GMT -8
I'm planning a trip with my wife and 4 sons, now young adults (20, 22, 25, and 26). We did a 4 night trip in the Beartooths around 10-11 years ago based on data we got from the "old" site and many of the same posters who currently post here. I've had the Winds in my "list" ever since that time. I've been doing a bunch of reading about potential 5-6 night trips based on probably just cutting short a couple of the trips i'm reading about on this site. However, I do have a couple of questions:
1. Mosquitos. When we were in the Beartooths, the bugs were horrendous, they were in swarms... major, make life miserable swarms. Will the bugs be bad in the last week of July? Would it make a noticeable difference to wait a week, or 2 weeks... noticeable difference? We are just in the planning stage and could maybe move back a week or 2. 1a. Aside from the Bugs issue, will we have any problems with snow/ice if we were to stick to the last week of July?
2. I do know that ideally we'd plan for more time in the mountains/trail... but as capable as they all are, one son would definitely rather be golfing.so I want to keep it fun. If anyone has a 5-6 night itinerary they love I'd love to review and read over it. One of the highlights of our trip to the beartooths was the fishing so we would definitely like to be able to fish on this trip as well (From what I remember reading, the fishing is one of the highlights of the high mountain lakes). So any input is welcome... thanks in advance.
3. Where do people recommend for a stay in Pinedale the night before heading to the TH?
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Post by cweston on Jan 2, 2022 19:50:14 GMT -8
1. Mosquitos will be bad in the last week of July--that is almost guaranteed. Take headnets.
1a. Impossible to say. At a minimum, most high routes will involve some snow at that time, unless it is an exceptionally early thaw. If your primary goal is fishing, maybe that's not a problem if you won't be traveling high routes.
2. I'm not a fisherman, so others will be more helpful here with route suggestions. If there's a chance this might be your only trip to the Winds, I would strongly consider Titcomb Basin. There's a reason it's so popular--it's spectacular. There are a lot of lakes and relatively straightforward off-trail country in that vicinity, so you can always get away from the crowds for a few nights if that's a priority.
3. I have stayed at Gannett Peak Lodge: it's very basic, on the lower end of the lodging scale for Pinedale, but super charming and adequate. The brewery has good burgers and beers. There's a nice breakfast place right on the main drag--I can't recall the name.
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Post by cweston on Jan 3, 2022 10:24:09 GMT -8
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Post by topshot on Jan 3, 2022 11:27:48 GMT -8
I'd agree with everything cweston said, including the book though it focuses on off trail travel. I prefer off-trail, which I would recommend in only very limited amounts for your golfing son. That said, there are a lot of options all throughout the range, but I'm also not a fisherman so not sure which lakes/streams are best for that. Videos of my trips are on my Youtube channel listed in my profile.
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Post by cweston on Jan 3, 2022 12:50:54 GMT -8
topshot is right about the Palister book, but I think the book is pretty clear about what offtrail routes are easy and which ones are more high-adventure. There are a fair amount of use trails in the area around Island Lake/Indian Basin/Titcomb Basin that are essentially the same as "official trails." This is probably the case in other well-traveled areas as well. The book can be very helpful in knowing where those trails are and where they go. If, in the future, you have specific routes in mind, ask about them here: there's a lot of collective experience in the Winds and whatever route you have in mind, someone here has probably done it. When that time comes, it can also be helpful to know your general experience level, because no one wants to suggest a route that you and your family wont be able to do safely and enjoyably. Maybe even knowing the details of your Beartooths trip from 10 years ago would be useful, since the two ranges are fairly similar in terms of route planning. I've been over the Continental Divide from the Elkhart trailhead via Titcomb and Indian Basin. Until the last mile or so to the CD, it's uncomplicated trail travel that any reasonably fit BPers who know what they're doing would be fine on.
(Once you cross the CD, you're in *wilderness* wilderness, and the travel levels-up significantly.)
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Post by indytgrfan on Jan 3, 2022 14:32:45 GMT -8
thanks for the replies already. I saw the book from another post and bookmarked the site so I can go and buy it... 2 of my sons LOVE hiking and backpack camping (one of whom spent 80 days on a NOLS trip in New Zealand, 2017) so doubtful it's the last time "any" of us are in the Winds, but probably the only time ALL of us will be in the Winds.
I'm going to keep reading trip reports and I'll be back with some thoughts. The first, easiest thought is to follow the "Dorf" itinerary from Elkhart Park TH but skip parts of it to spend time in the Titcomb Basin ... and still only be out 5 nights.... some of the boulder hopping on his trip seemed maybe too extreme for my wife...
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panatomicx
Trail Wise!
Less noise and more green
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Post by panatomicx on Jan 5, 2022 11:39:41 GMT -8
There's a chance of the bugs still being bad in July. It's mosquitos vs. wildflowers, but I have found the sweet spot to be, most of the time, the second week of August. A possibility for a 5-nighter would be to hike in from Elkhart, and base camp. Indian Basin is spectacular, you could do a dayhike up to Indian Pass. Explore Titcomb Basin and Mistake Lake. Seneca and Island Lake may be crowded, but you can find spots in Titcomb, and Indian Basin. We had a nice spot at Lake 10,813. Dorf and this forum have been my references! Enjoy!
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trinity
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Post by trinity on Jan 6, 2022 15:40:17 GMT -8
Another planning resource I would recommed is Atkinson's Hiking the Wind River Range. It has apparently been updated recently. I consider this the best Falcon Guide I own, because it contains good information on back country campsites, and fishing prospects for various lakes. Since you have expressed an interest in fishing, I would definitely get a copy of this book.
Though I am not familiar with this part of the Winds (I've spent most of my time up north), I wonder if the Scab Creek trailhead wouldn't be a good access point for y'all. Or, you could hike in to Ross Lake from the east side. In my experience, any trip you make into the Winds will be a great one.
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Post by absarokanaut on Jan 11, 2022 9:48:22 GMT -8
Trinity,
Ross Lake is on my radar to return to if I can actually get into backpacking shape for the first time in years. That said it's a pretty short hike in and quite rugged once you get there. Two nights perfect for me. As fisherman maybe a longer tripe but I'd check on local conditions before committing to it. I have family that have a fly shop and fly fishing guiding business in Dubois if you want to check in June and see how things are going. There is however a loop trip with Ross Lakes at the My Own Frontier Youtube Channel. QUITE rugged. A side trip to summit Whiskey Mt. on the way in or out is awesome. There are other lakes in the area but access is again rugged. I know of two SAR missions to Hidden Lake. Long ago I used my pick in mid July to get up on Ram Flat and those little lakes were magical but worked my body considerably.
If you do go into this area you might check out "The Golf Course" and Sheepeater Village on ____ Mountain.
I haven't backpacked in the Winds in a really long time. You've got some great sources here and you might also post your question at backcountrypost.com. Utah based site with lots of Winds lovers. Have an awesome time!
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Post by swimswithtrout on Jan 12, 2022 15:49:18 GMT -8
Plan on mosquitoes in July.....
Snowpack on passes depends on the prior winter snows. I had to postpone a planned July trip, to Aug, one year and still had MAJOR snow everywhere.
Titcomb Basin is the scenic heart of the Winds. There are a lot of side trips in the vicinity that offer up excellent fishing.
I haven't posted this in years...
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Post by plaidman on Jan 14, 2022 13:01:33 GMT -8
I've only made one trip into the Winds, a long time ago, up over the Bear's Ears Pass and into some trail-less basins. My abiding memories are of incredible fishing and scenery, raw weather in late August, and the huge, bloody, itching welts I got from black flies all over my legs. Mosquitos, I can deal with. Those biting black files were winged Hell. I really do want to go back, but I will do it differently next time. One question I have, since my wife won't camp in grizzly country, is where grizzlies have moved into the Winds. If they have, that will change the trip. Thanks.
PM
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Post by cweston on Jan 14, 2022 13:56:57 GMT -8
One question I have, since my wife won't camp in grizzly country, is where grizzlies have moved into the Winds. If they have, that will change the trip. Thanks. Unfortunately, there are confirmed Griz sightings more or less everywhere in the range. They are much more common on the eastern side of the Continental Divide, but have been seen pretty-much everywhere, including popular trails that approach Titcomb Basin. When we chatted with backcountry rangers there a few years ago, they told of several sightings in the Hobbs Lake area, for example.
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Post by swimswithtrout on Jan 14, 2022 16:46:18 GMT -8
My abiding memories are of incredible fishing and scenery, raw weather in late August, and the huge, bloody, itching welts I got from black flies all over my legs. Mosquitos, I can deal with. Those biting black files were winged Hell. Out of uncounted trips, I've only run into that three times and can vouch for the unpleasantness. It seems to be correlated with drought years. They remind me of winged ticks that latch onto you and crawl up your clothes until they can find some way to burrow into your skin. I remember one time, while fishing, I rubbed my back for some reason and looking down at my hand, it was completely blood soaked...
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Post by plaidman on Jan 14, 2022 20:27:52 GMT -8
One question I have, since my wife won't camp in grizzly country, is where grizzlies have moved into the Winds. If they have, that will change the trip. Thanks. Unfortunately, there are confirmed Griz sightings more or less everywhere in the range. They are much more common on the eastern side of the Continental Divide, but have been seen pretty-much everywhere, including popular trails that approach Titcomb Basin. When we chatted with backcountry rangers there a few years ago, they told of several sightings in the Hobbs Lake area, for example. Thanks for the bear intel. Guess it will have to be a boy's trip.
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Post by plaidman on Jan 14, 2022 20:36:56 GMT -8
My abiding memories are of incredible fishing and scenery, raw weather in late August, and the huge, bloody, itching welts I got from black flies all over my legs. Mosquitos, I can deal with. Those biting black files were winged Hell. Out of uncounted trips, I've only run into that three times and can vouch for the unpleasantness. It seems to be correlated with drought years. They remind me of winged ticks that latch onto you and crawl up your clothes until they can find some way to burrow into your skin. I remember one time, while fishing, I rubbed my back for some reason and looking down at my hand, it was completely blood soaked... I recall walking down the street in Lander after the trip, seeing guys with bloody, welted legs, and thinking "Yeah. I know where you've been." Those flies move so slowly, you think you can kill them easily before the damage is done. If only that were so. I never felt the initial bite. By the time I discovered them, it was too late. Deet was just seasoning, apparently.
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