I've been backpacking the Winds for over 40 years and never tire of them. You've selected an ambitious loop, looking forward to following along with you.
Three trips there over three decades and now I'm wondering about snowshoeing in the springtime. Like a 3 week photo expedition and I'm wondering about avalanch dangers and such. Does this sound practical?
I've never hiked the Winds in the winter/spring, tho I hiked the length of Upper Alpine Lake(near Knife Point glacier) on the ice in late August. Trailhead access would be my concern. Middle Fork Lake(via Scab Creek TH) and the surrounding peaks would be amazing in the snow! Minimal avalanche exposure. Good luck.
You never fail to impress, Eric. I've watched quite a few videos of the Wind River Range, yet you've managed to come up with an area I've never seen, Ross Lakes. Looked like some sketchy hiking. I'm glad both you and Katie came out unscathed. Some beautiful footage of the lake and surrounding areas. Thanks for sharing.
It's not a well traveled route but it gets hiked occasionally, through Ross Lakes and over the Divide. And it's a great route! The winds are always sketchy enough to make it feel like an adventure, yet they always seem to be workable routes. That's what I love about this place
Ive seen some of your CDT adventures and your ODT adventure and at intro when you say its 10 days yet 105 miles. I was like wow 10 miles a day vs the normal 20 plus. I can see why some days may be low miles. scenery is spectacular
That hike is still among my favorites in the lower 48. Looking to see what the unplanned situation was, but I hope you made it to grasshopper and connie glaciers.
In the northern Winds, it's hard to go somewhere that's not the best thing you've ever seen. We didn't make it over Indian Pass, basically did half the route and the miles to Elkhart TH when we bailed to Pinedale. Had to hitch all the way back to Dubois, that was fun!
@@SeekingLost Ouch, I've heard that hitch is an all day affair. But makes sense, most people are going up to Teton and Yellowstone that drive that way and not out to Dubois. Anyways, more reason to go back out there. Plus did hear in the next video you did the high route already. That section on the high route in that northern section definitely worth revisiting.
I’ll have to watch this entire series. This is about the 4th video I’ve watched from various TH-camrs on hiking the WRR. I’m curious if the forest service monitors these trails to ensure that everyone is safe and not overcome by difficulties? Seems like there could be foot injuries that might occur or even wildlife such as bear and mountain lions? Looks like the experience of a lifetime though. I love to hike here in Colorado but have never done anything quite like this before. Being 66 years old I’d have to go with an experienced team for sure.
I've seen both bear and mountain lions in the Wind River range, actually. But I wouldn't worry about either very much. I hiked the high route in 2014, and a saw ranger hiking on a trail near peak lake, on my 2nd day, and near big sandy trailhead on my last day. The ranger near peak lake was coming up over a boulder field, carrying nothing but an axe. We just said hi in passing, but i always regret asking him what the hell he was doing way up there, no trees around, with nothing but an axe. Mysteries of the Winds, i guess
My Beartooth Publishing map of the Winds stops just shy of showing the TH that you left from. What map if any were you referring to? Always enjoy your efforts!!
Hey, you picked up a girl. How did that happen? What a great scenic hike this one is! It's cool seeing your desert hikes and all but this is more my style right here. Greenery and mountains!
Katie is my friend from the CDT in 2018, we hiked together for about a month, along with our friend Hopeful. Episodes 20-24 from my CDT playlist. Yep it's tough to beat these majestic mountains. The Winds are my all-time favorite hiking destination, anywhere!
@@SeekingLost that's saying something coming from you!! Certainly can't disagree. I've only done the Cirque?Texas/Jackass pass route, Titcomb Basin and the New Fork Lake area but soo much more to cover. I'd really like to approach from the east sometime and go up Dinwoody drainage to Gannet but I hear it's like a $300 fee to go through the Reservation. Anyone know if that's accurate?
Great video. We’re headed back to winds in September. I did Dixon route few years back and bailed on skurka’s route last year. What’s your feed back on the loop you put together. Looks so much easier and cheaper vs shuttle. Are considering boulder trail head up the range from near raid peak to downs mtn and back to green river lakes TH. Love your input! Thx R
As you'll see in the later episodes, we only did the first half or so of the route, to Indian Pass, before bailing to Elkhart TH and Pinedale. We had to hitch all the way back to Dubois, that was fun! Most of the loops routes here in the north are more of a true high route than ours, since they take Gannet Glacier on the east side right over to Grasshopper Glacier. But since Katie and I had already done this along our high route on the CDT in 2018, we wanted to hit some places that would be new to us. So, we planned to drop to Milky Lakes, go over Horse Ridge and up Klondyke Lake to get to Grasshopper. But since we climbed up to the divide last time, we figure we'd stay just below here. At the end of the day, no matter what route you take in the Winds, it's going to be one of the best hikes of your life. The Winds are just that good.
Funny you should ask about the R1. That's one of my least favorite articles of outdoor clothing I've ever bought. I hate that thing. I never had the older models, which probably would have been fine, but this one, the lower portion of the shirt is made from a different material, very thin. The hood just feels weird and awful around my face, it covers too much of it. And the worst thing, it is impossible to just put on over another layer, that isn't something like a wind jacket, where it would slide easily over it. The R1 material just catches other fabrics, and is just a pain to "put on". Sounds ridiculous, but it IS ridiculous! No puffy, I always bring a fleece in place of a puffy. I can wear the fleece while hiking if I want and not worry about ripping it, like the puffy. Basically just wear a puffy at camp, they just seem pointless to me. It's lighter, but the fleece is more versatile to me. Plus, I use the fleece as my pillow. No idea what the total weight was, I practically never weigh my pack anymore. Don't have a scale in my van!
Thanks for this new videolog of a journey we've not seen! Excellent!
Inspirational, again! I'll be content with my short hikes in the Gila and the Colorado rockies... for now. ;)
RASP-berries 😃!! Funny because that's how it's spelled. Can't wait to watch this series! Incredible scenery!!
I really enjoy your videos. Awesome scenery. Very ambitious backpacking trip. Thanks.
I've been backpacking the Winds for over 40 years and never tire of them. You've selected an ambitious loop, looking forward to following along with you.
Three trips there over three decades and now I'm wondering about snowshoeing in the springtime. Like a 3 week photo expedition and I'm wondering about avalanch dangers and such. Does this sound practical?
I've never hiked the Winds in the winter/spring, tho I hiked the length of Upper Alpine Lake(near Knife Point glacier) on the ice in late August. Trailhead access would be my concern. Middle Fork Lake(via Scab Creek TH) and the surrounding peaks would be amazing in the snow! Minimal avalanche exposure. Good luck.
You never fail to impress, Eric. I've watched quite a few videos of the Wind River Range, yet you've managed to come up with an area I've never seen, Ross Lakes. Looked like some sketchy hiking. I'm glad both you and Katie came out unscathed. Some beautiful footage of the lake and surrounding areas. Thanks for sharing.
It's not a well traveled route but it gets hiked occasionally, through Ross Lakes and over the Divide. And it's a great route! The winds are always sketchy enough to make it feel like an adventure, yet they always seem to be workable routes. That's what I love about this place
Funnel of death. That’s way beyond hiking. Beautiful though.
Too scary for me! I've done some scary hiking, but I think those days are over at my age! Beautiful scenery!
Ive seen some of your CDT adventures and your ODT adventure and at intro when you say its 10 days yet 105 miles. I was like wow 10 miles a day vs the normal 20 plus. I can see why some days may be low miles. scenery is spectacular
Oh yeah, we COULD do it in less days, but why? We wanted to frolic through the Winds, not run through them :)
This is stunning! You have always done incredible filming!
Thanks Steph!
@@SeekingLost Thank you for letting me live vicariously through you. You are an incredible young man!
Wow! Some sketchy hiking for sure, but the scenery is definitely worth it.
Great video! I did this route in 2017 (the snowy year) and it was STUNNING! I can't wait to see your next videos and relive the adventure!
That hike is still among my favorites in the lower 48. Looking to see what the unplanned situation was, but I hope you made it to grasshopper and connie glaciers.
In the northern Winds, it's hard to go somewhere that's not the best thing you've ever seen. We didn't make it over Indian Pass, basically did half the route and the miles to Elkhart TH when we bailed to Pinedale. Had to hitch all the way back to Dubois, that was fun!
@@SeekingLost Ouch, I've heard that hitch is an all day affair. But makes sense, most people are going up to Teton and Yellowstone that drive that way and not out to Dubois.
Anyways, more reason to go back out there. Plus did hear in the next video you did the high route already. That section on the high route in that northern section definitely worth revisiting.
Beautiful scenery Eric! Thanks for sharing. I'd invite you to try the Enchantments near Leavenworth, WA sometime if you are ever in the PNW area.
I've heard good things about the Enchantments. One of these days I'll get out to the PNW and spend some time exploring, I'll keep that in mind!
Not a easy hike!! We all know it’s so worth it tho and I can’t wait to watch this series ❤ amazing vid as always ❤
Absolutely worth all the effort here! Thank you :)
I’ll have to watch this entire series. This is about the 4th video I’ve watched from various TH-camrs on hiking the WRR. I’m curious if the forest service monitors these trails to ensure that everyone is safe and not overcome by difficulties? Seems like there could be foot injuries that might occur or even wildlife such as bear and mountain lions? Looks like the experience of a lifetime though. I love to hike here in Colorado but have never done anything quite like this before. Being 66 years old I’d have to go with an experienced team for sure.
I've seen both bear and mountain lions in the Wind River range, actually. But I wouldn't worry about either very much. I hiked the high route in 2014, and a saw ranger hiking on a trail near peak lake, on my 2nd day, and near big sandy trailhead on my last day. The ranger near peak lake was coming up over a boulder field, carrying nothing but an axe. We just said hi in passing, but i always regret asking him what the hell he was doing way up there, no trees around, with nothing but an axe. Mysteries of the Winds, i guess
My Beartooth Publishing map of the Winds stops just shy of showing the TH that you left from. What map if any were you referring to? Always enjoy your efforts!!
I'm using the usgs maps, the scanned topo map layer, in caltopo. I also use the usfs map layer, but prefer the usgs maps
Hey, you picked up a girl. How did that happen? What a great scenic hike this one is! It's cool seeing your desert hikes and all but this is more my style right here. Greenery and mountains!
Katie is my friend from the CDT in 2018, we hiked together for about a month, along with our friend Hopeful. Episodes 20-24 from my CDT playlist. Yep it's tough to beat these majestic mountains. The Winds are my all-time favorite hiking destination, anywhere!
@@SeekingLost that's saying something coming from you!! Certainly can't disagree. I've only done the Cirque?Texas/Jackass pass route, Titcomb Basin and the New Fork Lake area but soo much more to cover. I'd really like to approach from the east sometime and go up Dinwoody drainage to Gannet but I hear it's like a $300 fee to go through the Reservation. Anyone know if that's accurate?
Great video. We’re headed back to winds in September. I did Dixon route few years back and bailed on skurka’s route last year. What’s your feed back on the loop you put together. Looks so much easier and cheaper vs shuttle. Are considering boulder trail head up the range from near raid peak to downs mtn and back to green river lakes TH. Love your input! Thx
R
As you'll see in the later episodes, we only did the first half or so of the route, to Indian Pass, before bailing to Elkhart TH and Pinedale. We had to hitch all the way back to Dubois, that was fun! Most of the loops routes here in the north are more of a true high route than ours, since they take Gannet Glacier on the east side right over to Grasshopper Glacier. But since Katie and I had already done this along our high route on the CDT in 2018, we wanted to hit some places that would be new to us. So, we planned to drop to Milky Lakes, go over Horse Ridge and up Klondyke Lake to get to Grasshopper. But since we climbed up to the divide last time, we figure we'd stay just below here. At the end of the day, no matter what route you take in the Winds, it's going to be one of the best hikes of your life. The Winds are just that good.
😊😊😊😊😊
Looking at your gear list - is the PG R1 sufficient warm layer? No puffy? So with a base weight of 16 pounds, plus 10 days of food, what's your total?
Funny you should ask about the R1. That's one of my least favorite articles of outdoor clothing I've ever bought. I hate that thing. I never had the older models, which probably would have been fine, but this one, the lower portion of the shirt is made from a different material, very thin. The hood just feels weird and awful around my face, it covers too much of it. And the worst thing, it is impossible to just put on over another layer, that isn't something like a wind jacket, where it would slide easily over it. The R1 material just catches other fabrics, and is just a pain to "put on". Sounds ridiculous, but it IS ridiculous! No puffy, I always bring a fleece in place of a puffy. I can wear the fleece while hiking if I want and not worry about ripping it, like the puffy. Basically just wear a puffy at camp, they just seem pointless to me. It's lighter, but the fleece is more versatile to me. Plus, I use the fleece as my pillow. No idea what the total weight was, I practically never weigh my pack anymore. Don't have a scale in my van!
Why are you'll not using trek poles?
Used to use them, but stopped halfway through the CDT. I just like having my hands free, for both climbing/scrambling and my frequent camera use.
Part 2 “Enter Perry”
And watch him fall down Knap Sack Cole
Dude come on now that's not true. that's not until like episode 6