My wife surprised me with a trip to the Wind River Range for my 50th Birthday. I had been talking about the Winds for quite a while. My wife reached out to my buddies and asked if they would be able to join me on a trip out west before offering up this opportunity.
I put together a 5 day outing starting at the Green River TH traversing to Peak Lake, Over Knapsack Col and exiting via Elkhart Park TH.
It's a bit of a drive from Missouri, but we made it! We spent a night at the Log Cabin Motel in Pinedale Wyoming. Charming is the best way to describe our 3 room cabin in the middle of Pinedale that was built in 1929. An easy walk to the local brewery. Thelogcabinmotel.com .
As we drove from Pinedale to the Green River Lakes TH the increasing isolation was evident and the chill of the air seemed to increase despite the warmth that shone from the sky. After one last bathroom lake we donned our sunscreen and took our loaded packs from the truck, with one last "umph" we hoisted our 40 lb packs for the initial 11 mile walk to three forks park where we would set up camp.
Day one: Green Lakes TH to Three Forks, 11 miles. We spent most of the day staring at the wonder of square tip mountain, the very blue hue of Green River and teh meadows that lay on either side containing green grasses and the remaining wildflowers. The day was beautiful but long. We found our spot at 5:30pm, watched the sun set and took in the spectacle of the night with its vibrant lights that hung above us.
Day two: Three forks to Peak Lake 7 miles, 2000 ft of elevation gain. We woke to a hard frost in the valley. The stars had shown with immense intensity and the chill was just enough to make me feel snug in my sleeping bag. The grass sparkled as teh light hit the crystals taht clung to teh blades of grass. I donned my gloves and stocking cap before heading to the kitchen for some coffee and breakfast. Packs packed and loaded just as 10am rolled around. We had been greeted by a bird that wasn't the least bit intimidated by our presence. We began our day with an immediate 700ft ascent. A quick break where we met a running stream, a beautiful alpinee meadow filled with flowers and an abrupt ascent up to vista pass. Not much of a vista, but nice with some shallow ponds and what appeared to be moose tracks.
Descending into a wonderful flower filled meadow complete with a nice brooke, perfect meadow and we continued into a drainage., void of color that went directly up, filled with house sized boulders and everything else we packed our walked away to navigate the overwhelming scenery for over 1 hour. Tired, warn out we traversed DAle Lake, Cube Pass to Peak Lake. Found a camp spot, cook spot and discussed how tired we were. I seriously began to doubt the route tomorrow that would include Knapsack Col. This wouild be a serious effort that would be extremely difficult following a day with over 200ft of elevation gain to 10,600ft Peak Lake.
The objective of this trip is for everyone to have fun. I essentially made the decision to traverse Shannon Pass instead of Knapsack Col before I introduced the idea to anyone. I talked briefly with Kyle, but felt I needed to take it to Gabe since he was having heel issues. Gabe agreed Shannon Pass would be the best choice in his book so we went with it.
With this choice came the realization that Knapsack Col and Titcomb Basin would be out of our reach. I still clung to the small hope that Titcomb Basin might still fit into our plans, but I didn't see it happening.
We all sat in for the evening at our cook site and watched the sun bounce its last red rays off of the surrounding jagged edges of mountainous rock.
Day three: Peak Lake- Near Island Lake
The sun rose over Knapsack Col, choosing the lowest level in the range to pierce the morning shadows that kept the morning cool and teh mospuitos at bay.
I crawled out of my tent to a nearby rock with my thermorest and sleeping bag to take in the morning show. Feeling the effort from yesterday, I slowley made my way down to the cooksite for a breakfast of coffee, Otameal with coco and a cliff bar. All the while mesmorized by the surroundign scenery.
We broke camp by 9:30 this morning, knowing that although the elevation wa far less than we had planned, we had about two more miles to cover.
Shannon Pass was our first and only pass of teh day. Approximately 700ft elevation gain allowed us to peer over Peak Lake as eh sun flooded the turqoise water. Our attention quickly turned to snow that held onto teh top of the "peak" and quenched the thirst of the tarns that show up on the map but still surprised me! The other side of the passoffered a rolling grass view. We stopped to eat lunch and take in the miew of Mt Oeneis and Sky Piolot Peak while the sun warmed us on this breezy day.
Back onto the trail and soon we once again joined the HIghline Trail heading southeast toward the Jean Lakes.
I put together a 5 day outing starting at the Green River TH traversing to Peak Lake, Over Knapsack Col and exiting via Elkhart Park TH.
It's a bit of a drive from Missouri, but we made it! We spent a night at the Log Cabin Motel in Pinedale Wyoming. Charming is the best way to describe our 3 room cabin in the middle of Pinedale that was built in 1929. An easy walk to the local brewery. Thelogcabinmotel.com .
As we drove from Pinedale to the Green River Lakes TH the increasing isolation was evident and the chill of the air seemed to increase despite the warmth that shone from the sky. After one last bathroom lake we donned our sunscreen and took our loaded packs from the truck, with one last "umph" we hoisted our 40 lb packs for the initial 11 mile walk to three forks park where we would set up camp.
Day one: Green Lakes TH to Three Forks, 11 miles. We spent most of the day staring at the wonder of square tip mountain, the very blue hue of Green River and teh meadows that lay on either side containing green grasses and the remaining wildflowers. The day was beautiful but long. We found our spot at 5:30pm, watched the sun set and took in the spectacle of the night with its vibrant lights that hung above us.
Day two: Three forks to Peak Lake 7 miles, 2000 ft of elevation gain. We woke to a hard frost in the valley. The stars had shown with immense intensity and the chill was just enough to make me feel snug in my sleeping bag. The grass sparkled as teh light hit the crystals taht clung to teh blades of grass. I donned my gloves and stocking cap before heading to the kitchen for some coffee and breakfast. Packs packed and loaded just as 10am rolled around. We had been greeted by a bird that wasn't the least bit intimidated by our presence. We began our day with an immediate 700ft ascent. A quick break where we met a running stream, a beautiful alpinee meadow filled with flowers and an abrupt ascent up to vista pass. Not much of a vista, but nice with some shallow ponds and what appeared to be moose tracks.
Descending into a wonderful flower filled meadow complete with a nice brooke, perfect meadow and we continued into a drainage., void of color that went directly up, filled with house sized boulders and everything else we packed our walked away to navigate the overwhelming scenery for over 1 hour. Tired, warn out we traversed DAle Lake, Cube Pass to Peak Lake. Found a camp spot, cook spot and discussed how tired we were. I seriously began to doubt the route tomorrow that would include Knapsack Col. This wouild be a serious effort that would be extremely difficult following a day with over 200ft of elevation gain to 10,600ft Peak Lake.
The objective of this trip is for everyone to have fun. I essentially made the decision to traverse Shannon Pass instead of Knapsack Col before I introduced the idea to anyone. I talked briefly with Kyle, but felt I needed to take it to Gabe since he was having heel issues. Gabe agreed Shannon Pass would be the best choice in his book so we went with it.
With this choice came the realization that Knapsack Col and Titcomb Basin would be out of our reach. I still clung to the small hope that Titcomb Basin might still fit into our plans, but I didn't see it happening.
We all sat in for the evening at our cook site and watched the sun bounce its last red rays off of the surrounding jagged edges of mountainous rock.
Day three: Peak Lake- Near Island Lake
The sun rose over Knapsack Col, choosing the lowest level in the range to pierce the morning shadows that kept the morning cool and teh mospuitos at bay.
I crawled out of my tent to a nearby rock with my thermorest and sleeping bag to take in the morning show. Feeling the effort from yesterday, I slowley made my way down to the cooksite for a breakfast of coffee, Otameal with coco and a cliff bar. All the while mesmorized by the surroundign scenery.
We broke camp by 9:30 this morning, knowing that although the elevation wa far less than we had planned, we had about two more miles to cover.
Shannon Pass was our first and only pass of teh day. Approximately 700ft elevation gain allowed us to peer over Peak Lake as eh sun flooded the turqoise water. Our attention quickly turned to snow that held onto teh top of the "peak" and quenched the thirst of the tarns that show up on the map but still surprised me! The other side of the passoffered a rolling grass view. We stopped to eat lunch and take in the miew of Mt Oeneis and Sky Piolot Peak while the sun warmed us on this breezy day.
Back onto the trail and soon we once again joined the HIghline Trail heading southeast toward the Jean Lakes.