TR: Wind Rivers 2022 Trip 2
Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2022 10:32 am
Wind Rivers 2022 (7/14/22 to 8/26/22)
Trip 2: North Loop from Big Sandy TH (7/25-8/1, 2022)
58 miles, 8 days
In my opinion this trip was the most scenic of the summer although least remote. The “plan” for this trip was a clockwise loop, up the East Fork, over to Baptiste Lake, over Macon Lake Pass, down to Washakie Lake and over Illinois Pass and Texas Pass to Cirque of the Towers and out. Of course, I also had many variations figured out. Less than an hour after starting, I stupidly missed the first trail junction. Later, as weather became more monsoonal I diverted around Macon Lake and Illinois passes. Trails were crowded! Again I hit the south-to-north CDT bubble; it is amazing how popular this thru-hike has become. (Note that times are PDT which is the same as MST; I forgot to change my watch.
Day 1. Big Sandy TH to Cirque of the Towers
8.4 miles, 5.8 hours, 2180 elevation gain
I did not get on the trail until 8:45 due to drying my car camping tent after more rain at night. I certainly was familiar with the trail having walked in the day before! Yet somehow, I spaced out and missed the Fremont trail junction, only realizing the mistake when nearly to Big Sandy Lake. Not wanting to go back I would simply do the route counter-clockwise.
Weather was perfect and I made good time towards Jackass Pass. From above the appropriately named Arrowhead Lake I took the “back door” use-trail to what is called “Climber’s Camp”, a bench south of Pingora that is out of the quarter-mile no-camping zone around Lonesome Lake. I fussed around looking for a campsite, choosing one out in the open and near a nice waterfall. I wanted maximum wind to keep the mosquitoes down.
There were only a few other tents; evidently the weather had driven out most climbers. After a nice bath I walked around but lighting was not good for photos. I was tired and regret not dropping to Lonesome Lake to fish (next day I ran across people who caught some nice fish in the lake). At the time I was just happy to absorb the stunning views from my campsite. The monsoonal rains kept the vegetation lush and wildflowers in bloom even if a bit past peak.
Day 2. Cirque of the Towers to Pyramid Lake
11 miles, 8.7 hours, 2100 elevation
I dropped down to Lonesome Lake on a use-trail that was not the most efficient route since it became difficult to follow once to the shoreline. It was more of a fisherman’s trail at this point. After crossing the outlet on rocks, I met several CDT hikers and we all walked along the north shore and found the trail up to “Pingora Bench” where I stopped to take photos along with a CDT gal who unlike the others, wanted to go slowly up to Texas Pass to soak in the scenery. We bumped into each other all the way down to Texas Lake and had a great visit. She had been in the severe hail storm and said it was the first time she was actually scared.
The alternate CDT route through Cirque of the Towers is now an official option so has become very popular. The previously faint use-trail over Texas Pass is now quite distinct. At Barren Lake I had to decide if I would go over Illinois Pass to continue the route counter-clockwise or just get back on my original route. I chose the latter because I simply did not want to do the difficult Illinois Pass with a full pack. I left the distinct trail to check out an older trail around Billys Lake. At Shadow Lake I ate lunch with a father and his two kids and then headed downstream to the crossing of Washakie Creek at the Pyramid Lake Trail a bit after 1PM. A group was fishing and I stopped for a rest. They too were hoping to get to Pyramid Lake but a few members of their group were feeling the altitude.
There were lovely campsites at Skull Lake and fish jumping! I almost stopped, but it was still early so continued. I again kept an eye out for campsites at Mae Lake but none appealed to me. When I got up to Pyramid Lake it was exceptionally crowded, and spent almost an hour to find a somewhat secluded campsite well above the lake across the outlet. The mosquitoes were horrible and everyone fishing said the fishing was also horrible so I just walked to the inlet in the late afternoon. Dinner was a miserable exercise in trying to eat while walking in circles. It was humid and not a breath of wind. I retreated to the tent.
Trip 2: North Loop from Big Sandy TH (7/25-8/1, 2022)
58 miles, 8 days
In my opinion this trip was the most scenic of the summer although least remote. The “plan” for this trip was a clockwise loop, up the East Fork, over to Baptiste Lake, over Macon Lake Pass, down to Washakie Lake and over Illinois Pass and Texas Pass to Cirque of the Towers and out. Of course, I also had many variations figured out. Less than an hour after starting, I stupidly missed the first trail junction. Later, as weather became more monsoonal I diverted around Macon Lake and Illinois passes. Trails were crowded! Again I hit the south-to-north CDT bubble; it is amazing how popular this thru-hike has become. (Note that times are PDT which is the same as MST; I forgot to change my watch.
Day 1. Big Sandy TH to Cirque of the Towers
8.4 miles, 5.8 hours, 2180 elevation gain
I did not get on the trail until 8:45 due to drying my car camping tent after more rain at night. I certainly was familiar with the trail having walked in the day before! Yet somehow, I spaced out and missed the Fremont trail junction, only realizing the mistake when nearly to Big Sandy Lake. Not wanting to go back I would simply do the route counter-clockwise.
Weather was perfect and I made good time towards Jackass Pass. From above the appropriately named Arrowhead Lake I took the “back door” use-trail to what is called “Climber’s Camp”, a bench south of Pingora that is out of the quarter-mile no-camping zone around Lonesome Lake. I fussed around looking for a campsite, choosing one out in the open and near a nice waterfall. I wanted maximum wind to keep the mosquitoes down.
There were only a few other tents; evidently the weather had driven out most climbers. After a nice bath I walked around but lighting was not good for photos. I was tired and regret not dropping to Lonesome Lake to fish (next day I ran across people who caught some nice fish in the lake). At the time I was just happy to absorb the stunning views from my campsite. The monsoonal rains kept the vegetation lush and wildflowers in bloom even if a bit past peak.
Day 2. Cirque of the Towers to Pyramid Lake
11 miles, 8.7 hours, 2100 elevation
I dropped down to Lonesome Lake on a use-trail that was not the most efficient route since it became difficult to follow once to the shoreline. It was more of a fisherman’s trail at this point. After crossing the outlet on rocks, I met several CDT hikers and we all walked along the north shore and found the trail up to “Pingora Bench” where I stopped to take photos along with a CDT gal who unlike the others, wanted to go slowly up to Texas Pass to soak in the scenery. We bumped into each other all the way down to Texas Lake and had a great visit. She had been in the severe hail storm and said it was the first time she was actually scared.
The alternate CDT route through Cirque of the Towers is now an official option so has become very popular. The previously faint use-trail over Texas Pass is now quite distinct. At Barren Lake I had to decide if I would go over Illinois Pass to continue the route counter-clockwise or just get back on my original route. I chose the latter because I simply did not want to do the difficult Illinois Pass with a full pack. I left the distinct trail to check out an older trail around Billys Lake. At Shadow Lake I ate lunch with a father and his two kids and then headed downstream to the crossing of Washakie Creek at the Pyramid Lake Trail a bit after 1PM. A group was fishing and I stopped for a rest. They too were hoping to get to Pyramid Lake but a few members of their group were feeling the altitude.
There were lovely campsites at Skull Lake and fish jumping! I almost stopped, but it was still early so continued. I again kept an eye out for campsites at Mae Lake but none appealed to me. When I got up to Pyramid Lake it was exceptionally crowded, and spent almost an hour to find a somewhat secluded campsite well above the lake across the outlet. The mosquitoes were horrible and everyone fishing said the fishing was also horrible so I just walked to the inlet in the late afternoon. Dinner was a miserable exercise in trying to eat while walking in circles. It was humid and not a breath of wind. I retreated to the tent.