Wind River High Route

UNITED STATES

Wind River High Route

Wyoming’s Wind River High Route is considered one of the finest, non-technical, end-to-end alpine journeys in the United States. Staying above 10,000 feet for 80 miles, this mostly trail-less track takes the hiker on rugged class 3/4 scrambles for 20,000 feet of cumulative gain through spectacular granite towers, wildflower-covered meadows and past hundreds of glacier-fed lakes and streams.

WRHR, day 1: Green River Lakes to Peak Lake, 18 miles

August 30, 2022

It’s beautiful walking along azure lakes under the gaze of the Square Top, then 2,400 feet up Cube Pass.

WRHR, day 2: Peak Lake to Indian Basin: 10 miles

August 30, 2022

It’s big climbs over Knapsack Col into stunning Titcomb Basin then up towards Indian Pass.

WRHR, day 3: Indian Basin to Alpine Lakes: 6 miles?

August 30, 2022

The hardest day yet across Knifepoint Glacier, up Alpine Pass and Class 3 scrambling to a magical camp spot.

WRHR, day 4: Alpine Lakes to near Hay Pass, 11 miles

August 30, 2022

It’s a long day beginning with pouring rain, then passes, including Hay, and lakes in forest and above treeline.

WRHR day 5, near Hay Pass to Bonneville Lakes: 13 miles

August 30, 2022

Bog, rock ramps, gullies, talus and bushwhacking take us over one of the most stunning passes yet.

WRHR, day 6, Bonneville Lakes to Shadow Lake: 13 miles

August 30, 2022

It’s a big pass with big talus in wild wind to a magical camp behind the towers.

WRHR, day 7, Shadow Lake to Big Sandy Campground: 15 miles

August 30, 2022

The final day takes us over Texas Pass into the astounding Cirque of the Towers.

Face the fear, even if it’s only a tiptoe outside of your comfort zone instead of a leap. Progress is progress.

Annette White

Next week, I’ll start the Wind River High Route with these lovely, off-route, thru-hiking, bad ass chicks.

I’m posting this as Richard and I drive west to Wyoming. We’re headed to Green River Lakes Campground, about two hours east of Jackson Hole and 8,000 feet above sea level. It’s one of the most beautiful places in the world and the beginning of a thru-hike in the Wind River Range.

With forty named peaks over 13,000 feet, the “Winds,” as they are affectionately known, make up the highest spine of the Continental Divide in Wyoming. Seven of the largest glaciers in the Rockies are here, including the biggest of all, and the range is filled with water, including 1,300 named lakes. (it’s the unnamed lakes, though, that we’ll use for much of our navigation.

The Winds are less like the Grand Tetons, their more popular cousin to the north, and more like the Sierra, made up of rugged granite peaks and spires as well as glacier-carved cirques, kettles, and hanging valleys.

And guess what? I have never been there before!

This is the route! Thanks to Alan Dixon for creating the route and Walking-with-Wired for this awesome tour.

Our non-technical “high route” starts on trail, but then veers up, staying above 10,000 feet as it climbs over pass after pass for 80 miles with a cumulative elevation gain (and loss) of around 20,000 feet. There will be snow-fields and talus, plus masses of wild flowers, alpine meadows with elk, bighorn sheep and maybe a grizzly in some of the most thrilling alpine scenery in the world.

We’ve honed our navigation chops and will bring ice ax and crampons, plus gear for wild weather swings. I can hardly wait to put these blissful feet on the Winds to tackle this trail-less route with two tough young women. Climb on and have fun!

Thanks John Reamer and Associates for their support of my video project on the WRHR.

Tagged Continental Divide Trail Wind River High Route

8 Responses

Joyce+Morehouse says:

August 28, 2022 at 2:30 pm

High altitude, black flies, and bears –
Oh My! You’ll make it, “Dorothy”!

Reply
1. alison young says:
  
  September 10, 2022 at 5:50 pm
  
  haha! the only gear I did not use (happily) – the bear spray!
  
  Reply

UNITED STATES