TR: Bridger Lakes, Wind River Mountains
Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2016 2:36 pm
TR Bridger Lakes, Wind Rivers, Wyo
7/16 to 7/21 2016
This was my first trip in the Wind Rivers this summer. Bridger Lakes lie east of Pine Creek Canyon and north of Fremont Canyon far west of the Continental Divide. Like most backpackers I have generally stayed close to the Divide ignoring this little used lake-filled bench at about 10500-feet elevation. The Game and Fish have uncreatively named the major lakes as “B1” to “B6” and “W3”. Although a short distance from Elkhart Park Trailhead, as the crow flies, access from various trailheads takes a minimum of two days. Fishing and scenery is considered OK but not “great”. What you do get is amazing solitude.
Day 1. Elkhart Park TH to Lake at 10180 (west of Seneca Lake). 8.6 miles, 6.1 hours, 1875 feet gain.
My “home base” while in Wyoming was Lander, on the east side of the Wind Rivers. So I had to drive back over South Pass to reach Elkhart Park Trailhead, 12 miles from Pinedale. After a 2-hour drive and a brief stop for breakfast I was on the trail at 9:15. Weather was perfect for hiking, cool, breezy but clear. The trail was dry and dusty but the terrain was lush green and wildflowers were in full swing. Being such a popular trail, I ran into many people. I kept going all day with only a few short breaks- not that I am that tough; the mosquitoes would swarm after sitting a few minutes. I did a side trip to Sapphire Lakes, a short distance off the main trail. My first route failed in this “lumpy”, brushy terrain but the second try I found a game trail that took me to the largest lake, which was quite pretty with a lovely campsite. Although tempted to stay it was early afternoon so I dropped back to Hobbs Lake and continued north. I left the trail before it headed up to Seneca Lake, following a parallel bench to the west with an obvious “slot” route to Lost Lake. This off-trail route was tough and tricky. When I arrived at the unnamed lake at 10180 feet elevation I actually felt a bit sick. I set up camp and then just hung out slowly walking around and taking photos. The lake is surrounded by big cliffs and small enough to quickly walk around.
[rimg]http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg23 ... 20Lake.jpg[/rimg]
CAMP Day 1
Day 2. Lake at 10180 to unnamed lake near Moya Canyon. 5.4 miles, 6.3 hours, 1640 feet gain.
This day did not go as planned! It started out great. The walk down the “slot” was complex, challenging, and scenic in a woodsy way. A tricky and hard-to-follow use-trail runs the entire way. I suspect fishermen come up from Lost Lake. I left camp at 7:30 and it took two tries before I got around Lake 10192, a very long lake with cliffs. I ended up missing the trail once and having to go over a ridge to get into the proper drainage. Several small lakes are passed before reaching a huge beautiful meadow south of Lost Lake A well-marked fisherman’s trail goes along the southeast shore of Lost Lake to a big established campsite. Fish were rising in Lost Lake.
[rimg]http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg23 ... kbench.jpg[/rimg]
POND on route to Lost Lake
[rimg]http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg23 ... stLake.jpg[/rimg]
LOST LAKE
I had hoped to cross the inlet to Lost Lake, but decided it was too high and swift. In retrospect I should have put up with the willows and wade in the lake at the inlet to reach the trail on the other side. Instead I decided to follow game trails east and north up the inlet, which quickly turned into a very difficult route with the terrain forcing me south when I really wanted to go north! After 500 feet of climbing I finally was able to cut north through a valley past a scenic unnamed lake just west of the Highline Trail (this trail is part of the CDT). The trail quickly dropped to the Fremont Crossing Bridge where I met four people. All this took over two hours. I ate lunch and then took the trail going back west into Moya Canyon to intersect the Lost Lake trail. My “detour” had required three difficult miles to get half a mile along my route! I continued up Moya Canyon on a use-trail crossing to the west side.
I had studied the continuing route on Google Earth. Now I just had to find it! I followed game trails that traversed the very steep canyon wall and ended up above the small lake at 10500 just west of the canyon. It took many tries before I found a way down the cliffs along the south side of this lake. A better use trail continued shortly west and then south into a distinct valley. The continuing route to the lake east of Pt. 11101 was confusing. I ended up faced with a cornice, so traversed into the next valley north and dropped to this lake. The camping here was essentially non-existent but an incoming storm forced me to set up. I had hoped to get farther and this was the most exposed spot on my entire route! The storm ended and I walked around, discovering better campsites on the east shore. Well, I was not going to move and stayed at my rocky perch.
[rimg]http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg23 ... _Camp2.jpg[/rimg]
CAMP Day 2
Day 3. Lake E. of Pt 11101 to the “Duran” Lakes. 6.4 miles, 7.2 hours, 1350 feet gain.
My route this day definitely was unintended! Navigation was difficult and I sure messed up. I was aiming for two lakes a third mile west but had to traverse south around the slab buttress. I dropped too low and ended up in two nearly identical lakes to the southwest. Had I only known I was at the wrong set of lakes, I could have easily climbed the 200-foot grassy slope to reach my intended lakes. A distinct game trail lured me further off-route southward. I had heard of a rumored “trail” to Bridger Lakes from Moya Canyon and was sure I had found it! Each step of the way I felt a little more confused and “off”. Eventually I realized that I had spent an inordinate amount of time to travel the third of a mile to the unnamed pass northeast of Guiterrez Peak. Finally coming to an open high rock buttress with a view, I realized I was instead a mile south of my intended pass. I decided to drop to the unnamed lakes below (I call these the “Duran Lakes”) and simply reverse my intended loop, visiting the lower lakes first and then the main”B1” to “B6” Bridger Lakes. There was only one feasible route between cliffs with a few “Jungle Jane” moves to get down one steep vegetated gully. It had taken me 3 hours from my last camp to get here. I camped at the western “Duran” lake and then took a long day-hike to view into the canyon to Triangle Lake, my intended exit route. It was ugly; nothing I wanted to do by myself. Next I checked out an off-trail route north to reach the middle Bridger Lake (B4). That turned out to be a navigation nightmare too! Returning I missed my route and “discovered” an alternative, but dubious route back to my camp. I hate being lost! After a long and confusing day, I slunk into my tent and listed to music. There were a few fish in the western lake, although no fish in the eastern “Duran” Lake.
[rimg]http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg23 ... gerLks.jpg[/rimg]
Lower Bridger Lakes -- Oops! Did not want to be here!
[rimg]http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg23 ... uranLk.jpg[/rimg]
Pretty east "Duran" Lake
[rimg]http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg23 ... Canyon.jpg[/rimg]
Nix that exit route! Looks ugly!
[rimg]http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg23 ... ldPass.jpg[/rimg]
Beautiful Middle Bridger Lake (on day-hike) even if I got lost going back to camp!
7/16 to 7/21 2016
This was my first trip in the Wind Rivers this summer. Bridger Lakes lie east of Pine Creek Canyon and north of Fremont Canyon far west of the Continental Divide. Like most backpackers I have generally stayed close to the Divide ignoring this little used lake-filled bench at about 10500-feet elevation. The Game and Fish have uncreatively named the major lakes as “B1” to “B6” and “W3”. Although a short distance from Elkhart Park Trailhead, as the crow flies, access from various trailheads takes a minimum of two days. Fishing and scenery is considered OK but not “great”. What you do get is amazing solitude.
Day 1. Elkhart Park TH to Lake at 10180 (west of Seneca Lake). 8.6 miles, 6.1 hours, 1875 feet gain.
My “home base” while in Wyoming was Lander, on the east side of the Wind Rivers. So I had to drive back over South Pass to reach Elkhart Park Trailhead, 12 miles from Pinedale. After a 2-hour drive and a brief stop for breakfast I was on the trail at 9:15. Weather was perfect for hiking, cool, breezy but clear. The trail was dry and dusty but the terrain was lush green and wildflowers were in full swing. Being such a popular trail, I ran into many people. I kept going all day with only a few short breaks- not that I am that tough; the mosquitoes would swarm after sitting a few minutes. I did a side trip to Sapphire Lakes, a short distance off the main trail. My first route failed in this “lumpy”, brushy terrain but the second try I found a game trail that took me to the largest lake, which was quite pretty with a lovely campsite. Although tempted to stay it was early afternoon so I dropped back to Hobbs Lake and continued north. I left the trail before it headed up to Seneca Lake, following a parallel bench to the west with an obvious “slot” route to Lost Lake. This off-trail route was tough and tricky. When I arrived at the unnamed lake at 10180 feet elevation I actually felt a bit sick. I set up camp and then just hung out slowly walking around and taking photos. The lake is surrounded by big cliffs and small enough to quickly walk around.
[rimg]http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg23 ... 20Lake.jpg[/rimg]
CAMP Day 1
Day 2. Lake at 10180 to unnamed lake near Moya Canyon. 5.4 miles, 6.3 hours, 1640 feet gain.
This day did not go as planned! It started out great. The walk down the “slot” was complex, challenging, and scenic in a woodsy way. A tricky and hard-to-follow use-trail runs the entire way. I suspect fishermen come up from Lost Lake. I left camp at 7:30 and it took two tries before I got around Lake 10192, a very long lake with cliffs. I ended up missing the trail once and having to go over a ridge to get into the proper drainage. Several small lakes are passed before reaching a huge beautiful meadow south of Lost Lake A well-marked fisherman’s trail goes along the southeast shore of Lost Lake to a big established campsite. Fish were rising in Lost Lake.
[rimg]http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg23 ... kbench.jpg[/rimg]
POND on route to Lost Lake
[rimg]http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg23 ... stLake.jpg[/rimg]
LOST LAKE
I had hoped to cross the inlet to Lost Lake, but decided it was too high and swift. In retrospect I should have put up with the willows and wade in the lake at the inlet to reach the trail on the other side. Instead I decided to follow game trails east and north up the inlet, which quickly turned into a very difficult route with the terrain forcing me south when I really wanted to go north! After 500 feet of climbing I finally was able to cut north through a valley past a scenic unnamed lake just west of the Highline Trail (this trail is part of the CDT). The trail quickly dropped to the Fremont Crossing Bridge where I met four people. All this took over two hours. I ate lunch and then took the trail going back west into Moya Canyon to intersect the Lost Lake trail. My “detour” had required three difficult miles to get half a mile along my route! I continued up Moya Canyon on a use-trail crossing to the west side.
I had studied the continuing route on Google Earth. Now I just had to find it! I followed game trails that traversed the very steep canyon wall and ended up above the small lake at 10500 just west of the canyon. It took many tries before I found a way down the cliffs along the south side of this lake. A better use trail continued shortly west and then south into a distinct valley. The continuing route to the lake east of Pt. 11101 was confusing. I ended up faced with a cornice, so traversed into the next valley north and dropped to this lake. The camping here was essentially non-existent but an incoming storm forced me to set up. I had hoped to get farther and this was the most exposed spot on my entire route! The storm ended and I walked around, discovering better campsites on the east shore. Well, I was not going to move and stayed at my rocky perch.
[rimg]http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg23 ... _Camp2.jpg[/rimg]
CAMP Day 2
Day 3. Lake E. of Pt 11101 to the “Duran” Lakes. 6.4 miles, 7.2 hours, 1350 feet gain.
My route this day definitely was unintended! Navigation was difficult and I sure messed up. I was aiming for two lakes a third mile west but had to traverse south around the slab buttress. I dropped too low and ended up in two nearly identical lakes to the southwest. Had I only known I was at the wrong set of lakes, I could have easily climbed the 200-foot grassy slope to reach my intended lakes. A distinct game trail lured me further off-route southward. I had heard of a rumored “trail” to Bridger Lakes from Moya Canyon and was sure I had found it! Each step of the way I felt a little more confused and “off”. Eventually I realized that I had spent an inordinate amount of time to travel the third of a mile to the unnamed pass northeast of Guiterrez Peak. Finally coming to an open high rock buttress with a view, I realized I was instead a mile south of my intended pass. I decided to drop to the unnamed lakes below (I call these the “Duran Lakes”) and simply reverse my intended loop, visiting the lower lakes first and then the main”B1” to “B6” Bridger Lakes. There was only one feasible route between cliffs with a few “Jungle Jane” moves to get down one steep vegetated gully. It had taken me 3 hours from my last camp to get here. I camped at the western “Duran” lake and then took a long day-hike to view into the canyon to Triangle Lake, my intended exit route. It was ugly; nothing I wanted to do by myself. Next I checked out an off-trail route north to reach the middle Bridger Lake (B4). That turned out to be a navigation nightmare too! Returning I missed my route and “discovered” an alternative, but dubious route back to my camp. I hate being lost! After a long and confusing day, I slunk into my tent and listed to music. There were a few fish in the western lake, although no fish in the eastern “Duran” Lake.
[rimg]http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg23 ... gerLks.jpg[/rimg]
Lower Bridger Lakes -- Oops! Did not want to be here!
[rimg]http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg23 ... uranLk.jpg[/rimg]
Pretty east "Duran" Lake
[rimg]http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg23 ... Canyon.jpg[/rimg]
Nix that exit route! Looks ugly!
[rimg]http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg23 ... ldPass.jpg[/rimg]
Beautiful Middle Bridger Lake (on day-hike) even if I got lost going back to camp!