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Post by oldbill on Jan 30, 2022 9:47:35 GMT -8
Late to the discussion, but thought I'd throw a few ideas out although there's already great advice above. You might want to consider something on the easier side for your golfing son. A loop or basecamp + dayhikes with nearly everything on trail and keeping to less than 10 miles and 2000' total gain/day seems reasonable. My 2 cents is to target Titcomb or the Cirque for a first visit. Crowded, but either objective is easily done in 2 days, with another 2 for dayhikes to passes, lakes etc. The Shadow L loop into the Cirque is what I used for my girlfriend's first positive experience (her first visit was 2 weeks of cold rain/snow so didn't do much or even see the range from town). Plenty of fishing on either route. Love the Scab Ck trailhead. Very good for a less crowded alternative that gets you to the middle range with plenty of good fishing. Could use it to do a loop through MiddleFk and Bonneville Basins, but note that there's considerable talus involved on the Bonneville section. Plenty of loops out from Lander as well and snowpack might be less, but there are generally more streams to cross. I go in September to avoid the bugs (and have less crowds). As noted snow amounts vary so places like Texas Pass might well have snow. Best is to have a few options and decide based on conditions as you get closer. The Great Outdoor Shop in Pinedale posts trail conditions as summer approaches. Stream crossings are more challenging in the early season as well. Lots of decent places to stay in Pinedale. Gannett Peak, Log Cabins (operated by same family), Teton Court, Sundance have been fine. Log Cabins are more upscale. Griz are definitely everywhere now. Confirmed sightings even near Photographers Pt and trails near Lander. But nowhere near the density of the Absarokas. Game & Fish has a great animation: Wyoming Grizzly Sightings
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Post by indytgrfan on Apr 11, 2022 18:37:32 GMT -8
Thank you to all of you who have shared your wisdom. We've decided to switch our trip to the 2nd week of August to hopefully alleviate some of the bugs, and the snow. If we decided to do a Titcomb Basin loop or Cirque via Shadow Lake loop that included 5 nights out... would we be better to do it from Monday - Friday Nights to lessen the crowds? I also realize no one can know for sure, but there are going to be 6 of us (all adults essentially) with probably 3 tents, but hopefully only 2, so the less people we encounter the better.
Does anyone have any opinions? Thanks in advance
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Post by oldbill on Apr 12, 2022 5:13:36 GMT -8
That will be the height of the tourist season. Also the busiest trailheads and destinations. Avoiding the weekends will help somewhat. Less crowded once you turn on the Fremont Trail towards Shadow L than just out/back on the Big Sandy trail to Jackass Pass.
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Post by trinity on Apr 12, 2022 6:46:40 GMT -8
would we be better to do it from Monday - Friday Nights to lessen the crowds? The answer to that question is always yes.
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Post by swimswithtrout on Apr 24, 2022 14:26:59 GMT -8
I always go in on Thursday to get a two day buffer behind me on the weekenders.
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Post by indytgrfan on May 16, 2022 11:08:54 GMT -8
FWIW: We have solidified our trip ... staying at Log Cabin Motel in Pinedale on Sunday August 7th starting the hike the 8th and returning back to the Log Cabin Motel on Saturday the 13th. 5 Nights out. Now I just need to settle on how to do a 5 night loop that includes Titcomb Basin.
If any of you Wind River veterans could answer this question it would be helpful. For hiking boots/shoes, there seem to be many river crossings and it seems that having waterproof boots/shoes won't help b/c our feet will be fully sunk in the river... so instead of keeping water out.. the waterproof would keep water IN. So what to do? Wear waterproof or quick drying lite hikers?
Thanks in advance...
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Post by trinity on May 16, 2022 12:24:46 GMT -8
I would definitely not wear waterproof boots, for the reasons you describe. Light breatheable hikers or, even better, take a pair of lightweight water shoes, which is what I always do. Nice for stream crossings, and for wade-fishing.
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nickhowes
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Post by nickhowes on May 16, 2022 12:40:18 GMT -8
(I mostly backpack in the Beartooths, not the Winds, but there are similarities.) On some trips, I take Wiggy's waders, otherwise water shoes or neoprene socks.
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Post by topshot on May 16, 2022 14:03:48 GMT -8
A lot of options for 5 nights that would include Titcomb from either Elkhart Park or Green River, but I'm not into fishing so won't comment on specific routes that would be better for that. I'm sure you'll have a fabulous time no matter which route you choose as long as there are no fires in the vicinity.
I have always worn trail runners (Inov-8 Roclite 295 NON Goretex) and walk through the crossings if they getting wet is easily avoided. Good fitting socks (Darn Tough in my case) are even more important for not getting blisters in my opinion than shoes (unless the shoes are too tight). Some places I've been my feet stay damp all day. The important thing is to wear dry socks at night.
If you really are in Indy (hour east of me), you have the same training issue I do (lack of good training areas). The best I can do is the small hill in the local park that thankfully is full of moles so my ankles and knees get plenty of work over uneven ground. If I haven't trained in advance, I about guarantee I'm more likely to have either knee pain or not be able to stop the inevitable ankle roll on unstable rocks from becoming something more serious.
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Post by swimswithtrout on May 18, 2022 13:02:11 GMT -8
The only crossings you'll have to wade are if you go up/down Pole Creek and over Lester Pass. All of the the others are easily negotiated over on logs or rocks....
Six days makes things fairly workable. "Depending" on your conditioning, and experience in off trail hiking the best loop options for fishing would Elkhart Park TH/Chain Lks/Baldy Pass up to Wall Lk, the un-named pass between Wall Lk and Island Lk to Ticomb Basin and out via Seneca/Hobbs Lk. The other option would be from Elkhart Park to Jean Lk/Peak Lk /Knapsack Col to Titcomb Basin and out which is more of a lollipop than a loop but is much more scenic.
I can give specific fishing recommendations via PM.
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Post by trinity on May 18, 2022 14:53:49 GMT -8
Six days makes things fairly workable. "Depending" on your conditioning, and experience in off trail hiking the best loop options for fishing would Elkhart Park TH/Chain Lks/Baldy Pass up to Wall Lk, the un-named pass between Wall Lk and Island Lk to Ticomb Basin and out via Seneca/Hobbs Lk. The other option would be from Elkhart Park to Jean Lk/Peak Lk /Knapsack Col to Titcomb Basin and out which is more of a lollipop than a loop but is much more scenic. I can give specific fishing recommendations via PM. I suggest you take this man's advice, and accept his offer of fishing recommendations. I speak from experience.
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Post by swimswithtrout on May 20, 2022 20:24:02 GMT -8
If you can limit fishing to only after you set up camp, you could probably do both of my suggestions, in one huge loop, if you are in excellent condition. You would have 2 solid days of 75% off trail hiking with three major passes in three straight days, but it would be "the best of the best" for non stop jawdropping scenery. BIG LOOP
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Post by cweston on May 21, 2022 6:14:37 GMT -8
I love swimswithtrout ’s loop suggestion: it would be a truly epic trip. But it’s worth mentioning, that’s a pretty big itinerary for six days which are to include fishing, and while Knapsack Col is by no means the gnarliest off-trail high route in the Wiinds, it is big-boy travel: a long stretch of exposed alpine, some of it almost surely on hard snow, etc. Seems like it might be a little more than would-rather-be-golfing son bargained for. HYOH, of course.
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Post by cweston on May 21, 2022 7:29:49 GMT -8
If any of you Wind River veterans could answer this question it would be helpful. For hiking boots/shoes, there seem to be many river crossings and it seems that having waterproof boots/shoes won't help b/c our feet will be fully sunk in the river... so instead of keeping water out.. the waterproof would keep water IN. So what to do? Wear waterproof or quick drying lite hikers? I'll share a dissenting opinion on this. I wear gore-tex lined mid boots (Salomon Quest 4) for almost all of my longer trips in big mountain terrain. Thoughts... •In high mountain terrain, it's rare for the temperature to be warm enough, even in summer, for my feet getting too hot to be a major issue. •My trips almost always include some snow travel--sometimes for hours at a time. •I've yet to find a lighter shoe/boot that really stands up to extensive travel over sharp talus, etc. Even the rocky lake shore that I walk at home chews up trail runners and spits them out. •For most fords, I keep boots on (for rock hopping, small creeks, etc) and my feet stay dry. For over-the-ankle fords (of which there are rarely more than one or two per day), I change into rubber camp shoes. I do use non-GTX shoes for other conditions, but sturdy GTX boots would be my first choice for the Winds. YMMV.
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Post by swimswithtrout on May 22, 2022 21:00:51 GMT -8
I'm with cweston on footware. Everyone of my trips in the Winds always includes extensive snow travel, often on snow steep enough to require an ice axe. Drier off trail hiking is "generally" not as brutal as the miles of VW + sized boulders in the Beartooths, but it's still not something I would suggest in trail runners, particularly from Ticomb Basin north where the scree/boulder fields are not nearly as stabilized as the more temperate areas at the southern end of the Range.
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