Wind River - July 16-July 23. Looking for Feedback...
Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2024 9:22 am
Hey folks!
Long time lurking, first time poster.
I am mapping out a backpacking trip in the Winds for this July (16-23) and hoping to get some feedback from you folks. I was planning on going in early August, but it's looking like that week in July is the only time I'll be able to swing it this summer. I know it's a bit early, but I really want to get up into the alpine and spend some time exploring some new wilderness areas. I've never been to the Winds and am really excited to explore the area and hopefully land some Golden Trout. I've been doing a lot of research and reading a lot of the Pallister book. I have three ideas, all centering around 4-5 nights in the backcountry:
1. Up over Hays into Golden Trout Lakes (Out of Boulder creek)
2. Up into Cook/Wall/Titcomb and then circling around to Elbow (out of Elkhart)
3. Pyramid / Cirque Loop (with a side trip off trail to a lake I want to explore..)
Concerns -
Skeeters. Obviously. But I lived and worked in Maine (I did trail crew at Baxter State Park) and am very familiar with the multitudes of hell blackflies / noseeums/ skeeters can offer. Plus, from what I've read, after ice out is the best time for fishing, so it seems worth it to me.
Water & Snow - will the water crossings be too high that time of year? Will snow keep me from going over a place like Hays Pass if I decide to venture down into the Golden Lakes?
I'll be doing this trip solo as well. So, am I crazy? Should I go for it? Any other suggestions?
Thanks!
- Michael
Long time lurking, first time poster.
I am mapping out a backpacking trip in the Winds for this July (16-23) and hoping to get some feedback from you folks. I was planning on going in early August, but it's looking like that week in July is the only time I'll be able to swing it this summer. I know it's a bit early, but I really want to get up into the alpine and spend some time exploring some new wilderness areas. I've never been to the Winds and am really excited to explore the area and hopefully land some Golden Trout. I've been doing a lot of research and reading a lot of the Pallister book. I have three ideas, all centering around 4-5 nights in the backcountry:
1. Up over Hays into Golden Trout Lakes (Out of Boulder creek)
2. Up into Cook/Wall/Titcomb and then circling around to Elbow (out of Elkhart)
3. Pyramid / Cirque Loop (with a side trip off trail to a lake I want to explore..)
Concerns -
Skeeters. Obviously. But I lived and worked in Maine (I did trail crew at Baxter State Park) and am very familiar with the multitudes of hell blackflies / noseeums/ skeeters can offer. Plus, from what I've read, after ice out is the best time for fishing, so it seems worth it to me.
Water & Snow - will the water crossings be too high that time of year? Will snow keep me from going over a place like Hays Pass if I decide to venture down into the Golden Lakes?
I'll be doing this trip solo as well. So, am I crazy? Should I go for it? Any other suggestions?
Thanks!
- Michael