Wind River Range Questions

[Studlintsean]

I am hoping to get some feedback from folks who have been in the Wind River Range:

1. Food Protection
- Based on my research, most people seem to suspend their food bags from rocks when above treeline (even though this does not appear to be a legal method per the Bridger- Teton Wilderness Order (http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_...rdb5351660.pdf)). I am leaning toward a BearVBault since I can pick one up at my local REI and they are relatively cheap. Has anyone fit 5 days of food in a BV450 or should I just spring for the BV500? I know everyone's food intake is different but I am looking for general terms.

2. Weather
- We are planning 5 nights in mid August next year. I have seen a report of all kinds of weather in August. I am assuming a 20 degree bag with a Ridgerest will be sufficient (I also have a 40 deg quilt)? I will also have a down jacket, beannie, and fleece gloves.

3. Campsites
-We have plenty of time to plan our route but our current plan is to hike out of Elkhart Park and Camp at the following locations:
Pole Creek Lake, Lower Jean Lake, Eastern Side of Peak Lake, somewhere in the Lower Titcomb basin area, and Barbara Lake). Can anyone very familiar with the area comment on whether any of these spots wouldn't be a good place to camp? This is basically a mostly on trail loop from Elkhart Park with a trip to Titcomb Basin and a hike up and over Knapsack Col.

4. Bugs
- We are planning Aug 15-20. What can we expect with the bugs? I am planning on using a Duomid with a bivy. Again, I know this can very but looking for general terms.

4. Other advice
- Any other advice. This will be my first real trip out west (I did a short 2 night trip in the Uinta mountains last summer).'

Thanks in advance.

[colorado_rob]

5 days in the BV 450 will be tight, but if you package very carefully, you might make it. Remember, your 1st day's worth of food you'll be eating on the trail and that evening at dinner, so that food doesn't have to be in the canister. Personally, the limited hiking I've done in the winds (3 multi-day trips), we've just hung our food in the trees, or buried in a bunch of rocks above treeline, contained in OP sacks (odor proof sack, you can get them online). there are supposedly no grizzly bears in this area, at least none have been spotted in recent years. Just those pesky, timid black bears. Double check this.

Bugs tend to go away early august, you should be fine. Take some bug repellant just in case, but you can leave the head nets at home. In July, we carry head nets.

One WR trip we climbed Gannet peak, including a stay at some fantastic places; island lake, lower and upper titcomb basins, spectacular! We went in from the pinedale trailhead for this climb. Tons of trails in that area, all gorgeous terrain. So I'm not much help on those others you mentioned.

Yes, all kids of weather in August, very similar in a way to early September in Colorado. A 20 degree is exactly what I'd take. I prefer an inflatable pad, but just my preference. UL down jacket, beanie, I'd be taking some glove liners, not full fleece, it won't get that cold.

Other advice? GREAT choice for a trip out to these parts. Colorado is getting more and more crowded, we plan on spending more time in Wyoming. We did a medicine bow loop last summer, might have been the highlight of our summer. Ours was only 35 miles or so though (2 wasy days, 2 nights), but there is a full 100 mile version in the area.

[Studlintsean]

5 days in the BV 450 will be tight, but if you package very carefully, you might make it. Remember, your 1st day's worth of food you'll be eating on the trail and that evening at dinner, so that food doesn't have to be in the canister. Personally, the limited hiking I've done in the winds (3 multi-day trips), we've just hung our food in the trees, or buried in a bunch of rocks above treeline, contained in OP sacks (odor proof sack, you can get them online). there are supposedly no grizzly bears in this area, at least none have been spotted in recent years. Just those pesky, timid black bears. Double check this.

Bugs tend to go away early august, you should be fine. Take some bug repellant just in case, but you can leave the head nets at home. In July, we carry head nets.

One WR trip we climbed Gannet peak, including a stay at some fantastic places; island lake, lower and upper titcomb basins, spectacular! We went in from the pinedale trailhead for this climb. Tons of trails in that area, all gorgeous terrain. So I'm not much help on those others you mentioned.

Yes, all kids of weather in August, very similar in a way to early September in Colorado. A 20 degree is exactly what I'd take. I prefer an inflatable pad, but just my preference. UL down jacket, beanie, I'd be taking some glove liners, not full fleece, it won't get that cold.

Other advice? GREAT choice for a trip out to these parts. Colorado is getting more and more crowded, we plan on spending more time in Wyoming. We did a medicine bow loop last summer, might have been the highlight of our summer. Ours was only 35 miles or so though (2 wasy days, 2 nights), but there is a full 100 mile version in the area.

Rob,

Thanks for the great feedback. I have never carried a canister but my thoughts are it might be easier to just bite the bullet and carry one rather than trying to find places to hang/ bury my food. It will also double as a seat (assuming I get a BV500). I have a NeoAir All season that I might carry instead of the foam pad but I am worried if it popped it would cut the trip short.

Having spent a ton of time out in this area, would you recommend a UL jacket (MB Ex light) or a warmer puffy (MB Alpine light). I will also probably take a t-shirt, REI Traveler Shirt, Cap 4, and rain jacket but I haven't thought much about clothing. The gloves a fleece liners form some old snowboarding Burton gloves I have. You think that will be overkill?

Thanks again for the information. I appreciate it.

[colorado_rob]

Rob,

Thanks for the great feedback. I have never carried a canister but my thoughts are it might be easier to just bite the bullet and carry one rather than trying to find places to hang/ bury my food. It will also double as a seat (assuming I get a BV500). I have a NeoAir All season that I might carry instead of the foam pad but I am worried if it popped it would cut the trip short.

Having spent a ton of time out in this area, would you recommend a UL jacket (MB Ex light) or a warmer puffy (MB Alpine light). I will also probably take a t-shirt, REI Traveler Shirt, Cap 4, and rain jacket but I haven't thought much about clothing. The gloves a fleece liners form some old snowboarding Burton gloves I have. You think that will be overkill?

Thanks again for the information. I appreciate it.

I hear ya, Bear canisters, though heavy, are pretty darn convenient. And I also like the seat. I'm about ready to click the mouse on one of those sweet Berikade "UL" ones... over $200 though....

FWIW, I carry a 1/8" UL closed cell foam for under my neoair, 2.2 extra ounces, but it protects the neoair.

Anyway, I'd go with the UL down sweater, not the puffier one, as long as you have a good shell jacket, and a couple other thin top layers, which it sounds like you do. For that area & time of year, I go with 4 total upper layers: 1/4 zip long sleeve base layer top, 100-weight microfleece 2nd layer (also 1/4 zip), UL down sweater (mine is Mont Bell, like the Ex Lt, 7 ounces), and outer shell/rain jacket.

For bottoms, I personally would go with some UL long johns, I use the REI silks (4 ounces), zip-off quick dry pants and my Dri Duck rain suit pants (5 ounces), mostly for warmth, though I have used them in heavier rains too. so 3 layer bottoms, mostly for evening around camp and cold mornings, probably be in shorts the rest of the day.

I do think fleece gloves are overkill, glove liners are dirt cheap at REI, you might want them at night and in the mornings, I'm still fully dexterous in these as opposed to thicker fleece.

[Sarcasm the elf]

The Trail Show podcast did a decent segment about hiking in the Wind River Range, I believe it was in episode 39. If you haven't heard it yet, you might find it helpful or at least interesting.

[Studlintsean]

Thanks. All great info that I will certainly weigh heavily. I was leaning toward the UL jacket so you pretty much sealed that (unless something crazy happens with weather right before trip). I appreciate your advice on the detailed clothing you would use. This is what I really need to figure out but have plenty of time to do so. I tend to run really hot so my thoughts were the button up would provide some sun/bug protection and a little bit of warmth but better ventilation than a long sleeve quarter zip to hike in. If needed, I could always add my Marmot Precip. Then in camp I would have a dry Cap 4 and down jacket.

Thanks again. It's a long way off but I am already pumped and planning.

[Studlintsean]

The Trail Show podcast did a decent segment about hiking in the Wind River Range, I believe it was in episode 39. If you haven't heard it yet, you might find it helpful or at least interesting.

Thanks I will check it out now. Pretty much checked out of work this Friday afternoon...

[colorado_rob]

.... It's a long way off but I am already pumped and planning.

Me too... I'm thinking about actually heading out your way in April
to repeat an AT section that I had lousy weather on, if you have an opinion, see other thread....

[Venchka]

If you have not found the Backcountry Post forum yet I suggest you go and sign up. Go to the Trip Report forum. Search that forum for Wind River. Have fun reading numerous trip reports. You could narrow your searches with Titcomb Basin, each of your proposed camp locations, etc.

http://backcountrypost.com/

Cal Topo can be used to prepare your own personal maps.
Have a great hike and give us a trip report please.
The Wind River Range is on my radar for 2017.

Wayne

[Studlintsean]

If you have not found the Backcountry Post forum yet I suggest you go and sign up. Go to the Trip Report forum. Search that forum for Wind River. Have fun reading numerous trip reports. You could narrow your searches with Titcomb Basin, each of your proposed camp locations, etc.

http://backcountrypost.com/

Cal Topo can be used to prepare your own personal maps.
Have a great hike and give us a trip report please.
The Wind River Range is on my radar for 2017.

Wayne

Thanks Wayne. I think I have read (at least browsed) every trip report on the internet at this point. I used Cal Topo to come up with the route. Great site.

I will most certainly provide a trip report after the trip. Working on talking the wife into purchasing a high dollar light weight camera now. That will be my next thread if I succeed.

[Spirit Walker]

The Winds are really beautiful, but that area is also really really popular. Expect crowds. Popular camping areas may be packed with tents. Trailheads will be crammed with cars. You may run into herds of sheep and pack trains. Don't expect much solitude.

[lonehiker]

My experience in the Winds has been that once you get away from those popular trailheads you can expect a great degree of solitude. It is a large area and it gobbles up the crowds pretty quickly. This may have changed, but, the last time I was up in the Green River Lakes area it was posted that grizzly bears had moved into the area. Call to verify this if it concerns you.

[QiWiz]

Food - We used unlined Ursaks, 2 per person for a 9-day trip; no problems with critters. Above tree line we just tied them around large boulders.
Trails- We hiked the so-called Wind River Crest trail; was a great trip with lots of great scenery.
Bugs - We hiked in early September and did not have any significant bug issues.

[Studlintsean]

Thanks for all the information

[Venchka]

QiWiz,
Early September, probably go in on Labor Day as all the locals and school kids are coming out, is my plan.
I'm really looking forward to seeing the Winds up close and personal. After driving past them several times, it is time to stop and go in.

Wayne

[Studlintsean]

Additional question regarding elevation:

We are coming from Northern Virginia so we will not be acclimated. My little brother has climbed a few 14000' peaks in Colorado when he worked out there one summer (so he was quite acclimated) but besides that we have pretty limited experience at elevation. Last summer I spent a day at 9500' and then hiked to ~10000' where I camped at a lake in Utah. I did not have any serious issues just a bit short of breath on the inclines.

For this trip, we plan to fly into SLC, drive to Pinedale (7,175') arriving later afternoon and getting a motel room, stay a night at the Elkhart Park Campsite (9,300') and camp night #1 at a lake at about 9,750'. Does this sound adequate to hike over a 12000' peak on day 3? I know this depends on the person as well (seems everything does). Thanks.

[mississippi_dan]

Three trips in mid-September in the Wind Rivers for me. Lowest temperture was about 15 degrees at some campground in Pinedale the night before our trip. In the mountains, we never had water freeze on that same trip. I'm not sure if it is the lower humidity or hiking in the higher elevation, but I get by with a lighter bag than in the east. I go with a 30 degree bag with the addition of long underwear on really cold nights. I have a 15 degree bag, but leave it home unless the forecast is for really cold weather.

Did Elkhart Park to Titcomb Basin a few years ago. I don't recall exactly where we camped, but will have to check with the others.

Pinedale has a awesome Aquatic and Fitness Center. Hot showers after a few days in the mountains can't be beat.
Dan

[redseal]

Following this post. The Wind River Range is on my list of places to go!

[Venchka]

Following this post. The Wind River Range is on my list of places to go!

Good luck. Prepare well. The best parts are above the trees. Not at all like the AT.

Wayne


Sent from somewhere around here.

[Venchka]

Thanks Dan! The PAC sounds great! $3.00 for all day & showers.

Wayne


Sent from somewhere around here.