Wind River 2024 Trip 1 - August 4-9, 2024 - Southern Winds Loop

[arkheel]

Day 1 – August 4, 2024 – Sheep Bridge Trail Head to Creek Near Pinto Park Lake

Three of us, including my spouse “Compass”, friend Joyce and I, departed from the Sheep Bridge Trail Head on the morning of August 4. The day was warm and partly cloudy. There were a few folks on the trail, but nothing like the crowds out of Big Sandy and Elkhart trail heads. We crossed the Middle Fork of the Popo Agie at Sheep Bridge and spent part of the day walking along the Middle Fork. We had a bit of rain and thunder. The trail climbed gradually upward all day, and we set up camp near the creek just south of Pinto Park Lake. Our packs were at their heaviest on this first day of the trip, and we all live at low elevation in North Carolina, so we were tired by the day’s end. The only notable animal viewing of the day was a buck mule deer.

Middle Fork of the Popo Agie


Day 2 – August 5, 2024 – Creek Near Pinto Park Lake to Middle Deep Creek Lake

We left our camp and followed the up and down, but mostly up, trail towards Deep Creek Lakes, passing waterfalls along the way. We set up camp early near the south side of Middle Deep Creek Lake. Our plan was to day hike as far up as we could go towards Wind River Peak. Clouds started to build as we walked up the ramp towards the peak. We were about halfway up the ramp when the clouds became so threatening that we turned back. We had great views of Lizard Head Plateau and Lizard Head Peak from the ramp. On the way back to camp we veered over to glimpse Upper Deep Creek Lake. Back at camp, we hunkered in our tents until the wind and rained stopped at around 7 p.m., then we made dinner. Animals of the day included marmots, pikas and a mule deer.

Lower Deep Creek Lake

Upper Deep Creek Lake

[arkheel]

Day 3 – August 6, 2024 – Middle Deep Creek Lake to Coon Lake

We woke at 4 a.m. to strong winds and rain. After sunrise, we were treated to a double rainbow over Wind River Peak. After the storm blew through, we headed east and picked up the Ice Lakes Trail. We passed lots of lakes along the way south, including Timberline Lake where we camped in the rain last year. The Ice Lakes trail has lots of ups and downs, including Pass 2 and Pass 1. The trail is deeply eroded and steep in places with big steps for my short legs. Our knees were tired by the time we reached the Tayo-Coon Trail. We hiked west towards Coon Lake and set up camp on the west side of Coon Lake. We had rain and hail during dinner, but the storm passed quickly, allowing us to hike to the amazing viewpoint overlooking the Little Sandy River. Today’s animals included marmots, pikas and an osprey.

Morning Light on the Ramp to Wind River Peak

Double Rainbow After a Morning Storm

Timberline Lake Viewed from the Ice Lakes Trail

Storm Clouds Over Coon Lake

Looking Down into the Little Sandy

[arkheel]

Day 4 - August 7, 2024 – Coon Lake to Basco Creek

We hoped to have incredible morning views of Little Sandy valley, the spires to the west and Temple Peak this morning, but we woke to hazy wildfire smoke conditions. We headed back to the east, past Poison Lake, and picked up the trail to Sweetwater Gap. At Sweetwater Gap, we hiked off-trail towards the southeast and Basco Creek. We stopped at an old campsite near Basco Creek, complete with rusty cans and melted aluminum from old beer cans. We spent the next few hours watching about 30 elk come out of a wooded area and graze on the hillside east of Basco Creek. The wind was in our faces, and we were in the shadow of a large patch of krummholz, so for a long time the elk did not know we were there. Eventually the elk figured out we were there, and the whole herd ran up an adjacent steep hill and disappeared over a ridgeline.

The Spires Beyond the Little Sandy on a Smokey Morning


Day 5 – August 8, 2024 – Basco Creek to Shoal Lake

We woke to dense fog and the sound of elk hooves. After waiting for the fog to lift, we hiked northeast towards a pass between Basco Creek and Stough Basin. Following elk paths, we descended steep terrain on the east side of the pass. We stopped for a snack break near a pond, and while we were there, we began to hear rockfall from the cliffs west of the Toadstool Lakes. At first, we thought that the rockfall was naturally occurring, but then we noticed several humans up on the ridge. As they walked, they appeared to be purposefully dislodging boulders. It seemed like a stupid thing to do, especially since the rocks often bounced and landed far to the east of the cliff area. We made our way to Shoal Lake and set up camp. While we were at Shoal Lake, a group of hikers came by, accompanied by two baby yaks. The yaks were in training to carry loads for supported hiking trips. We all decided that there is really nothing cuter than baby yaks. The group included an Alaskan hiker who said that she planned to thru hike the Highline Trail (south to north) during the next couple of weeks, foreshadowing an interesting encounter on another of our 2024 trips. Stay tuned! Wildlife of note for today was a spruce grouse.

West View from the Pass Route Between Basco Creek and Stough Basin

[arkheel]

Day 6 – August 9, 2024 – Shoal Lake to Roaring Fork Trail Head

The morning was cool as we set off for the Roaring Fork Trail Head and our cars. We passed several large groups of campers near Big Stough Lake. The day was a little smokey as we descended the steep, cobbly Stough Creek Basin trail and turned east. We paused at the last pass of the trip to take in the view of distant Wind River Peak. Compass, Joyce, and I continued down and down the trail until we reached our cars. Then we drove straight to the Gannett Grill in Lander, WY for pizza and salad, followed by ice cream at the Scream Shack for dessert. Showers would have to wait!

Panorama of Stough Basin

Last View of Wind River Peak from Stough Creek Pass

Boardwalk Over a Meadow Near Roaring Fork Trail Head

[arkheel]

I realize that I neglected to include a pizza photo, so here it is.

Pizza and Salad at Gannett Grill in Lander, WY

[Wandering Daisy]

That always is a nice loop. Too bad the weather did not allow some more high-altitude routes. The high route up over the shoulder of Wind River Peak and down to upper and lower Tayo Lake, then to Coon Lake is a very scenic route but requires really good weather.

Nice to hear that the elk herd is still up on Basco Creek.

Just curious, coming from far away, do you drive? If so, a return via Canyonlands, Moab, Hwy70 to Denver makes a good road trip.

[arkheel]

We really enjoyed watching the elk herd. We remembered that you mentioned the herd in your book, we we were glade to see them too.

This was our second time to attempt to either cross from Deep Creek Lakes to Tayo, or at least get up to Wind River Peak. Both times, we have been hampered by bad weather. We may try again next year.

We typically drive out through either Nebraska/CO or South Dakota. We've day hiked in The Badlands, Wind Cave Nat. Park, and Custer State Park in South Dakota. The past couple of years we visited the Never Summer Range and the Zirkel Wilderness in northern CO. We visited Dinosaur Nat. Monument and Flaming Gorge last year. We are thinking of hitting up southern CO on our way next year. Mostly, we try to avoid driving through Kansas and central Missouri. I worry that Canyonlands and Moab might be too hot in August and September, but will keep an open mind and look into that area as another option.

[arkheel]

Before every trip into the Winds, we like to stop and talk with the folks that run the local outdoor shops. This year we stopped into Wild Iris Sports in Lander, WY to ask about trail conditions and grizzly sightings. They told us that this year, a grizzly bear had been visually confirmed in Stough Basin, and a grizzly bear was seen sauntering across Gannett Glacier. We always carry bear spray and camp in the Winds like we are in grizzly country, just to be on the safe side, though we have only seen direct evidence of a grizzly in the South Fork of Bull Lake Creek drainage.