Wind River Trip 1, July 30 - August 6, 2023, Stough Creek Basin
Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2024 1:21 pm
My spouse (trail name “Compass”) and I like to do some extended hiking trips in the west each summer. We try to visit some lessor known parks on our way to and from. This year we visited Wind Cave National Park in South Dakota on our way to Wyoming. Honestly, hiking in bison country was intimidating. The poison ivy in the park was also scary. We arrived in Lander, WY a few days before our Wind River trip and did some day hiking near Lander, WY to acclimate. On July 30, 2023 we set out on our first of two trips in the Wind River Range. As always, we are grateful for Wandering Daisy and her book Beyond Trails in the Wind River Mountains.
Day 1, July 30, 2023 - Stough Creek Lakes Trail Head to Shoal Lake
We started hiking from the Stough Creek trail head by 9:30 a.m. We hadn’t gone very far when we caught up to a group of people hiking with llamas. The llamas made little murmuring noises as we passed. The day was sunny and warm. We got to Shoal Lake at about 4 p.m., found a tent site and set up camp. Mosquitos were bad! While we were cooking dinner, it started to rain. This turned out to be a foreshadowing of rain to come. When we climbed into the tent it was very warm, and we listened to the mosquitos flinging themselves at our tent, trying to get in. Eventually the night cooled enough for sleeping.
View of Wind River Peak and Lizard Head
Shoal Lake
Day 2, July 31, 2023 - Shoal Lake to Poison Lake
We packed up camp and headed southwest towards beautiful Toadstool Lakes. We had not expected the southern Winds to be so stunning! We passed Dipper Ponds, and then headed west for a pass near the northwestern arm of Roaring Fork Mountain. Along the way, we spooked three elk, a cow and two calves. The route up and over the pass had easy-to-follow, grassy ramps. Rain threatened from the south, but we made it over the pass without getting rained upon. The views of Wind River Peak and Lizard Head from the top of the pass were impressive! However, we saw large snowfields on Wind River Peak, along our intended route.
We hiked southwest towards Basco Creek, contouring around Roaring Fork Mountain. Making our way over lumpy ridges and grassy ramps, we intersected the Sweetwater Trail. After several false starts, we finally found the use trail to Poison Lake. We spooked another cow elk and saw a grouse. Closer to Poison Lake, the use trail faded into nothingness. The way that we eventually took was steep and convoluted. I wouldn’t recommend it to others. We finally stumbled out on the shore of Poison Lake. We set up camp on a windy ridge overlooking Poison Lake. We met our three angler neighbors. While we were cooking our dinner, a mink snuck over and tried to take our Fritos! After our experience at Shoal Lake, we were grateful that there were not as many mossies here.
Toadstool Lake
On the Way to Basco Creek
Day 1, July 30, 2023 - Stough Creek Lakes Trail Head to Shoal Lake
We started hiking from the Stough Creek trail head by 9:30 a.m. We hadn’t gone very far when we caught up to a group of people hiking with llamas. The llamas made little murmuring noises as we passed. The day was sunny and warm. We got to Shoal Lake at about 4 p.m., found a tent site and set up camp. Mosquitos were bad! While we were cooking dinner, it started to rain. This turned out to be a foreshadowing of rain to come. When we climbed into the tent it was very warm, and we listened to the mosquitos flinging themselves at our tent, trying to get in. Eventually the night cooled enough for sleeping.
View of Wind River Peak and Lizard Head
Shoal Lake
Day 2, July 31, 2023 - Shoal Lake to Poison Lake
We packed up camp and headed southwest towards beautiful Toadstool Lakes. We had not expected the southern Winds to be so stunning! We passed Dipper Ponds, and then headed west for a pass near the northwestern arm of Roaring Fork Mountain. Along the way, we spooked three elk, a cow and two calves. The route up and over the pass had easy-to-follow, grassy ramps. Rain threatened from the south, but we made it over the pass without getting rained upon. The views of Wind River Peak and Lizard Head from the top of the pass were impressive! However, we saw large snowfields on Wind River Peak, along our intended route.
We hiked southwest towards Basco Creek, contouring around Roaring Fork Mountain. Making our way over lumpy ridges and grassy ramps, we intersected the Sweetwater Trail. After several false starts, we finally found the use trail to Poison Lake. We spooked another cow elk and saw a grouse. Closer to Poison Lake, the use trail faded into nothingness. The way that we eventually took was steep and convoluted. I wouldn’t recommend it to others. We finally stumbled out on the shore of Poison Lake. We set up camp on a windy ridge overlooking Poison Lake. We met our three angler neighbors. While we were cooking our dinner, a mink snuck over and tried to take our Fritos! After our experience at Shoal Lake, we were grateful that there were not as many mossies here.
Toadstool Lake
On the Way to Basco Creek