Wind River Range stories?

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nature

climber
Boulder, CO
Topic Author's Original Post - Jan 22, 2017 - 08:11am PT
Reeotch emailed the other day and floated the idea of heading into the Wind River Ranger this summer. Somehow that convinced my semi/mostly-retired climbing self to GET HYPE.

I've been hitting up the climbing gym and weight room and also working to shed some blubber. Seems to be working. Also to my surprise I can still tie in with a figure-8 with my eyes closed.

Scanning MountainProj it looks like there's a ton of long moderates. Any recommendations? Approaches?
WyoRockMan

climber
Grizzlyville, WY
Jan 22, 2017 - 08:43am PT
So much goodness there.

Cirque of the Towers is the obvious first choice to get the feel for the Winds. The hike in from Big Sandy is not really that bad. I'm on the low end of being in shape and can manage the hike in just over 4 hours with a full kit. Camp where it is comfortable, which might not be close to your start. Hike in the first morning, set camp, check out the views, safety meeting then scope out the approach for the next morning. Or if you are feeling spry and the weather is good hit Pingora's South Buttress (5.8, 3p) to suss out the descent.

Get an early start on any objectives is a really really good rule. Plan to be roped climbing as early as possible. Summiting by 12 or 1 will make for a nice evening of relaxing.

Wolf's Head (5.6) and Pingora's NE Face (5.8+) are both classics for a reason. Highly recommend. Wolf's Head is more popular and you can expect to see other parties here.

Pingora's East Face (5.7) is another great romp. Good first route for the range. You won't see others on it.

Deep Lake area offers a ton of memorable moderates, fewer people, great fishing and a slightly shorter hike.

Don't be to discouraged by the parking lot at Big Sandy, very few of those vehicles are climbers.

August can offer a relatively bug free trip.
Ed Hartouni

Trad climber
Livermore, CA
Jan 22, 2017 - 09:31am PT
been to the Cirque twice, great trips both... more later...
SteveW

Trad climber
The state of confusion
Jan 22, 2017 - 11:19am PT

Don't forget the mosquito repellent!
seano

Mountain climber
none
Jan 22, 2017 - 12:37pm PT
I thought Wolf's Head's east ridge was awesome, with a little bit of everything, but it might be less so if you rope up, since it's kind of a twisty route. The Cirque is great, but it can be kind of a zoo, especially when some big group of NOLSies sets up camp. Titcomb Basin is at least as scenic, has a number of long moderates (I haven't done them yet), and is far less crowded.
drljefe

climber
El Presidio San Augustin del Tucson
Jan 22, 2017 - 12:40pm PT
If I ever go back I'm hiring llamas.
Was actually considering being there for the full eclipse.
splitclimber

climber
Sonoma County
Jul 31, 2017 - 05:58pm PT
bump for wind. but no stories yet???

found this on the lander climbing website. linking here since i can't find a wind thead. :)

https://earth.nullschool.net/#current/wind/surface/level/orthographic=-37.90,-21.25,551

headed to the "winds" next week. hope to get a story out of it.
Beilstein

climber
San Rafael
Jul 31, 2017 - 07:26pm PT
No great story here, but a memory of a trip seemingly ages ago to me.
Summer of 1988 I got married to a wonderful girl ( Leslie) , thinking life was easy because she agreed to a climbing honey moon. The 50 Classics book by Roper and Steck had recently been published and I had a plan to tour.
Late July wedding, we loaded up the truck, hit the City of Rocks for a week, the place was deserted then, except one other party from the East Coast.
. Moving on we headed to the Tetons for the complete Exum. A couple good pitches, then a lot of rubble. Sorry Teton Lovers.
Then we headed to the Winds to get up Pingora. I remember what seemed like 50 miles of gravel road to Big Sandy, then running part of the approach with packs to beat a T-storm.
We made camp and next day headed up the East Face to get familiar with the area and descent. I remember having Leslie carry a rock up the first pitch to knock a fixed pin out for bootie. I know, I am a cheap MF.
Next day we are up early and head for classic NE face route, and when we get to the base around 6:00 there's already a party on it! A reminder this is 1988!! Not wanting to risk delay and afternoon T-storms we head back to camp to return earlier next day,.
Next day all is well, we cruise the route until one of the final pitches which is a kind of flared chimney. For me leading was fine, but Leslie was wearing a fanny pack with lunch, water and camera. It was not working in the chimney, so I yelled down to tie it onto the rope in front of her. So she takes the pack off, sets it on the sloping ledge while tieing a knot in the rope. While she was doing this the pack rolls off the ledge (past the party behind us) and into space.
So we have no lunch, water, or summit photos. We head down and actually find the remains of the pack in the talus below. The OM-1 camera is in a thousand pieces, the water bottle is still intact except the top is blown off. The North Face actually rebuilt the top flap fanny pack.
That was the end of our Winds trip, but we did continue with the honeymoon to the Needles of Cali, East Buttress of Whitney, regular route on Fairview, a stint visiting San Francisco, before heading back to PNW.
The Winds seemed like a big untrammeled area of wild walls, creeks, meadows that I hope to return to when able to. So many areas, but where's the time.
Maybe this qualifies for the Monday Night Posting while drunk thread!
Reeotch

climber
4 Corners Area
Jul 31, 2017 - 08:01pm PT
I could still be convinced into heading up there in AUG OR Sept.
We started work today.

Never been, but looks dreamy.
A little concerned about bears.
Q- Ball

Mountain climber
but to scared to climb them anymore
Jul 31, 2017 - 08:08pm PT
Hope your trip went great!

I guided in the Winds for several years. Mostly dragging clients up Gannett. I loved it at the time but looking back... Good grief how did I not lose a client. Had lightening get us on Fremont, but spent a lot of time in the lesser traveled areas south of Titcomb Basin guiding on lesser know areas with long approaches.

My ice axe has grooves on the handle from stopping clients with an impromptu boot-axe belay on a couloir on Dinwoody Glacier.
Reilly

Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
Jul 31, 2017 - 08:58pm PT
Y'all prolly don't wanna hear about crispy critters, huh?

How 'bout skeeters?
Mtnmun

Trad climber
Top of the Mountain Mun
Jul 31, 2017 - 09:46pm PT
I do Reilly
Reilly

Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
Jul 31, 2017 - 09:50pm PT
It's hard stuffin' 'em in a body bag. You can only get about
four of them Wind River skeeters in one!
Esparza

Trad climber
Westminster, CA
Aug 1, 2017 - 10:12am PT
My son and I are heading that way mid August. Will be spending 4 days up in the Winds... Hopefully the timing works out that we will be back there during the eclipse. Side Note: Reading Joe Kelsey's "A Place in Which To Search... Summers in the Wind Rivers." A really fun read and fuels my excitement!

Nature, would be good to see you man. You gonna be out there?

Mike
FRUMY

Trad climber
Bishop,CA
Aug 1, 2017 - 10:43am PT
soaring_bird

Trad climber
Oregon
Aug 1, 2017 - 05:34pm PT
Gained 7,000 ft. on mountain wave lift once in a C-172 with power at idle and flaps 10 degrees over the Wind Rivers.
donini

Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
Aug 1, 2017 - 08:06pm PT
Love the Winds. Best time is around August 20....mosquitos gone or going and the early Sept. Snowstorm is still in the future. Bring fishing gear....trout sushi! E-mail if you want to know where the fish....info. not for public consumption.
Petch

Gym climber
knapsack crack
Aug 1, 2017 - 09:03pm PT
One of the most beautiful places I've been. Camp below mt Mitchell and climb the 5.9 on it. Black flies were way worse than the mosquitoes.

Reeotch, what happened? I was hoping for a stop by. Weak sauce!
steveA

Trad climber
Wolfeboro, NH
Aug 2, 2017 - 06:03am PT
I've done many trips into the East Fork Valley. You won't find many climbers
in there; even thou this area offers some of the longest free climbs in the Range, up to 16 pitches.
mike m

Trad climber
black hills
Aug 2, 2017 - 02:25pm PT
Doug you can find some good stories and pictures here. http://www.supertopo.com/tr/The-Lama-Wrangler-the-Cook-the-Guidebook-Author-Boston-the-Luxumberger-and-his-son-Harvard-the-Counselor-and-the-Lizard/t11120n.html.
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