Wind River Range (Wyoming) Backpacking - June 2018
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- Опубліковано 16 жов 2024
- Travis and I got back together in June 2018, and joined up with my son, Christian, to take on the Wind River Range in Wyoming. I’d been wanting to do a hike in the ‘Winds’ since I first started backpacking so when Travis and I started planning for a 2018 western trip the choice of a destination was easy.
We knew that June is early for any hike in the Wind River Range, and 2018 had been a high snow year in that region of the country. But Travis had been staying in touch with the outfitter in Pinedale, Wyoming throughout June and they sounded hopeful that our planned route would be passable by the time we started hiking. We wouldn’t know for sure until we arrived in Pinedale.
Unfortunately, upon arriving we found that the snow was still deep on the passes on our planned route and, worse, the rapidly melting snow was causing the lakes on our route to be many feet above the trails that ran along their shores. So we opted to go with plan ‘B’, deciding to start out of the Big Sandy Trailhead and hiking in an entirely different area of the Winds from our initial plan.
Snow didn’t turn out to be a factor on our hike, but mosquitos sure did! Travis had warned me in advance to bring my bug head net, and I’m sure glad he did because it ended up being our most valuable piece of gear for the trip. I’ve backpacked in some ‘buggy’ places, but nothing could remotely compare to what we encountered on this trip. Thankfully we found two exposed campsites, both with great views, and there was a healthy wind for much of the time we were in camp which made it bearable. But when the wind died down at night and in the early morning… wow!
The trip didn’t end up being anything close to what we planned, but it was still a great trip. I found that all of the Wind River Range is spectacular, and even though we didn’t get to the iconic destinations like Titcomb Basin and the Cirque of Towers the places we did get to, and the views we experienced along the way, were breathtaking. And it just gives us a reason to go back.
For those who have watched my other videos this one is done in the same style - a little under an hour in length, intended to bring the audience along for the ride, and with a still picture slide show with music at the end. If you just have a few minutes just skip to the end and enjoy the pictures.
Equipment / Gear List:
Still Camera: Nikon D810 with Nikkor 20mm f1.8 lens
Video Cameras: Canon Vixia G40 with Rode Stereo Videomic Pro, GoPro Hero 6
Video Editing Software: Vegas Pro 15
Pack: ZPacks Arc Blast 52l
Shelters: Nemo Meta 2P tent (me), Warbonnet Blackbird hammock (Christian)
David, you continue to put together some of the best backpacking videos on UA-cam! Thank you for sharing your adventures with us all!
Thx man. Fun reliving some of the best times of my life through your videos.
You make everything sound fun. I want to quit my job and hike after watching your videos. Dave, you rock !
Gorgeous scenery on this video of the Wind River Range. Thanks for taking us along.
Greetings from Saudi Arabia. I hiked in WRW in 2007, best hike ever. Americans are lucky and blessed to have such places, love your country and Good luck to you all.
We adore these mountains so much !!!!! We too stay in Pinedale and hit the trails .... we go in September to avoid the mosquitoes 🦟........!!!!!! We adore 🥰 your videos, thank you for sharing your adventures!!
It is so realistic, I am itching just watching you put up with the bugs. Thank you for sharing!
Two years of watching outdoor backpacking videos and still haven't found anyone who does it better then you man...really capture the backpacking feel....#fan4ever
Huge fan! It’s always exciting when your videos drop!
I took my first solo backpacking trip at age 17 in 1971. In all the time since, only Glacier and the Winds have drawn me back repeatedly. I'll be in Pinesale, at that motel, again soon. Until then, I'll be watching and rewatching this gem. Thanks for what you do, David. It's truly one of a kind.
Thank you for watching, and for the kind words. Speaking of Glacier... I just returned from my 2018 trip there last weekend, and I'm working on the video now. I plan to have it published by the end of September 2018. Full of 'adventure' and I think it will be a good one!
Thanks for posting these videos,this is the 2nd backpacking video of yours I've watched as we try to decide where to hike is 2019. Your videos are the best I've found.
Thanks again David for taking us on another journey with you really pretty views
Thanks Dave for taking us to another beautiful place!
Your videos are the best content on the Internet. 🙏🙏🙏 thank you
Love the videos. Some of the best I've seen. I found your channel looking for things to do locally but now I watch all of your adventures.
Just got back from a three day Adventure myself David, sat at the computer thinking what to do now....then hey your video pooped up, great stuff, cheered me up straight away. Always great watching your videos. The cheddar cheese spread, dunkin doughnuts, Travis and Christian and your cheerful smile, all classic moments, great memories. One thing i have learnt is no video can ever get across the way that pack feels on your back, the amount of sweat you lose, the strains and struggles of the hike, and of course the bugs, nevertheless we wouldnt change any of it because thats what makes the adventure so special. Atb Bill.
Great insights into the 'reality' of backpacking, and also that it seems to be the very things that make it so special and different than our day-to-day lives. It's as if the greater the struggles, the greater the memories. (A little adversity along the way also makes for better videos! :-)
What an awesome place....thank u for sharing this adventure with us David !!
Brother, I don't blame you for punching out early. Those bugs were BRUTAL. Great video, and beautiful scenes as usual.Keep em coming.
Wonderful trip, sorry you had to battle those bugs. Truly beautiful country. May I say your sound quality is impeccable. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you, especially for your comment on the sound quality. I put quite a bit of effort into getting the sound 'right', and it's one of those things that doesn't often get noticed (and I wouldn't really expect it to). But with the 'style' I use (e.g. trying to make it feel like the viewer is in the experience with us) it is important that you hear all the subtleties of the ambient sound - or at least to the extent I can pull them out. It's nice that it gets noticed every now and then!
A real picturesque place. .... a shame about the bugs .... thanks for sharing ... great to see the three of you together looks like a good plan for the future trips ... good luck !
Such a great video. It seems Christian loosens up a bit on the second night in camp and I love the overall camaraderie. Hopefully I can make my way up there for a backpacking trip this year. Thanks for taking me along for the trip. Safe trails!
Always enjoy your videos. I was in that area mid July, gorgeous area. Thanks for sharing😀
Such a beautiful place!!! This so reminded me of a backpacking trip I took last year in a wilderness where the mosquitoes were thick. I was constantly scooping them out of my food and drink. This year I decided to take picaridin with me in another wilderness trip. I Totally will not ever leave home without it now. Not that I like to put on a pesticide, but picaridin has kept the biting flies, ticks, gnats and mosquitoes away from me.
santacruzax Picaridin is great stuff; good DEET alternative. I developed a reaction to DEET, like a mild sunburn; not uncommon for some people. No odor and won’t damage certain gear/clothing materials the way DEET can. (Also, neither is a pesticide.)
Another great vid, thanks so much. I felt my blood draining through osmosis to all those skeeters :) I think you are probably in my age range (55) and my passion for outdoor adventure continues unabated as well.
Wow brings back memories. Lived for four years right under the Snowy Range. That looked like Veedauwoo in the beginning during the drive up. Between Cheyenne and Laramie. A magical place but easily seen in a day or two. Used to ride mountain bikes there 20 years ago. Now I am stuck on the east coast until I retire. I loved Wyoming and still do.
Watching this video previously really helped so THANK YOU! :) We just camped in the Wind River range a few days ago and I warned everybody about the mosquitos so we got prepared and were ready!! There were alot but not as bad you encountered.
Great videos, David! We need to get you a Dunkin' sponsorship!
Awesome edit David! Wind River!!! I live 3.5 hrs away... I need to make the drive! Thanks for taking us along!
I know some awesome guys that can get you anywhere you want to go round there... and big sandy isnt the point where I'd personally go in
Awesome scenery! Wow, those skeeters looked huge....and relentless.
Great video! We are doing the Wind River High Route this summer. Looking forward to some of that epic scenery that can only be had in Wyoming.
When other UA-cam hikers post videos, it makes me smile. When YOU post a video, it makes my whole day. Great video. That place is now on my bucket list, but maybe for a late September hike! Yikes about the mosquitos. Still though, it's always refreshing to have your sense of humor in a not-the-greatest situation. Also, it was great to see Travis and Christian again. Hike on!
WOW!! That is some blue sky!! Another great video, even with the skeeters!! Thanks for posting! :)
I'm a backpacker from Colorado. No way in hell would I enjoy that trip with all those bugs. Thank you now I know never to go on that trail.
its mostly due to the time of year. the mosquitos hatch earlier than the swarms of dragon flies that come later and consume them.
go later into the high country to avoid bugs sheesh!
Mosquitos in the Winds rival northern British Columbia. Later in the summer they can still be thick in some areas, but not everywhere
Great video! Even though it didn't go as planned looked like you guys still got some amazing views and a great adventure.
Mosquitos!....hate them...in June and July they are bound to be a pain in the ass. Right after snow melt...thats why I do all my trips in the Fall...late August through September. Always wanted to check out the Wind Rvr. Range. Great to see it on your trip.
David, thanks for your videos. What happened with the Thermo cell? I live in southern Oregon and backpack a lot in the Sky Lakes Wilderness wich is notorious for skeeters... ask any PCT throughhiker... once i learned how to use my Thermocell i won't go without it. Just fire it up, set it down and it takes 15 min or so to take effect... but it does work. Sometimes we actually have to go in the trees outta the wind for it to work but you'll know when it does. Good luck and keep up the videos. Ray
don,t know how old you are? but don,t stop. I,am 62 years old now been backpacking for over 30 years. not much the last 15 years now. been in rocky mt park tentons Yellowstone wy backpacking with my kids back in the day love it out there. in joy you videos now. how many years bachpacking for you now. dale n3reb from PA.
I just turned 58 and I took my first backpacking trip in 2010, so pretty much still a 'rookie' in comparison to your hiking experience. But I have no thoughts of stopping anytime soon. I plan to keep backpacking until I'm not physically able to do it any longer, which I hope is a long way off! There are just so many destinations I want to get too, and far too few vacation days each year. I'm not sure when I will be able to retire from the 'day job' but it's not too many years off, and I have no plans to retire to a lounge chair on a beach somewhere - I plan to 'retire' to the trail!
I guess I'd only be able to go in a little cooler weather. That was pretty crazy. Such beautiful scenery. I'm glad you got the chance to go and spend time with the fellas. I'm sure you'll be back. Thank you for the video. Looking fwd to the next trip. Take care.
Looks so beautiful there (except the bugs), always enjoy your videos David. Especially the pictures at the end. Cheers!!
Bugs have been terrible in the Adirondacks but WOW! That would've driven me crazy. Hope they aren't so bad when you go to Glacier! Love your video was sad to see "the end." I've started to do a little backpacking this year with my husband and our four year old son, so far we love it! Our treks have only been around a mile in length but gotta start some where. Your treks with your son have been an inspiration! Looking forward to the next adventure, happy trails!
I think the bug situation will be fine for Glacier in September... I'm far more concerned about the forest fire situation, since late August/September is when the fires peak out there (and I've been effected by fires on multiple hikes, including the cancellation of the September Glacier hike last year). I did hike in Glacier in July 2014 and the bugs were bad, but once you get into August it is typically not an issue.
That was my second thought. We went in 2013 and much of the area we ventured was burned. Hoping to go back in 2023 if everyone is in good shape and can hike longer distances. It will be interesting to see how much the place has changed. I remember you canceled Glacier last year (probably a good call) and published your trip to the Smokies a week before we left for our Smokies trip. Hoping they don't have fires this year and that the big snows helped. I don't know about out west but it has been a really dry summer here.
Julie M, we started my daughter off in the ADKs around the same age. So glad that we went just a little at a time! Great memories for all!
I just got back from Glacier and the bugs weren't bad at all, a few flies, but really was a great week. Later in Aug the skitters won't be as bad in the Winds. have you ever tried the Uintahs in Utah? amazing, the skitters aren't as bad either, love the video
I love Packit Food too I discovered it when I backpacked the West Rim trail at Zion this spring. Your videos have given me some ideas for future hikes. Thank you for making your videos
Hello, I am the gentleman who talked to you in the parking lot of Bowman Lake at Glacier. I am finally home and got a chance to sub your channel. I look forward to seeing your new videos and getting your take on my favorite trails and park (Glacier).
Wow, I remember that conversation well since I was just finishing my Kintla to Bowman hike when I met you in the parking lot. I've actually just now finished the first cut of editing for that video, and I should have it published by next weekend. It looks to be a good one, and I think you'll enjoy it if you choose to watch it. I didn't capture our encounter in the backcountry parking lot but I think you'll recognize the 'monologue' at the end of the video you watched me doing.
Great video. Your mosquito mimic totally freaked out my dog. He kept shaking his head/ears!! LMAO
Sorry about freaking out the dog! I've watched the video more than a few times myself in the editing process, and I think my mosquito impersonation is spot on!
A great video as always David. Thanks for sharing your adventure, and some spectacular scenery with us.
All the best from down in Australia.
Going out to the Winds in a week and was trying to get a sense of what to expect. Pretty much exactly as I thought. Bugs should be interesting but well worth the hassle for those views!
Thanks for a great share. Happy hiking
It's great that you're going to get out to the Winds. Incredibly beautiful. You may actually run into a lot more snow than we did - it's been a really heavy snow year out there. Maybe the snow will slow down the skeeters?! Last year we hit it basically right after all the snow had melted, and all the ground was really marshy - perfect mosquito breeding habitat. Have a great hike!
@@davidgrayin yeah it seems like snow is lingering for much longer this season. Probably going to have to miss both Cirque and Titcomb but you never know. Will let you know how everything turns out. Thanks. Enjoy the 2019 season!
Great video! I really enjoyed it. Looking forward to the next one
I sure enjoy your videos. The scenery is always great and your commentary is good as well. Sad about the mosquitos.
Hey David,
Just finished Mt. LeConte today stayed overnight. You won’t believe but it rained the whole time. It was still a good experience. I ate the rueben sandwich too it was delicious. Thanks for sharing your videos.
Horrible mosquitos but gorgeous everything else! Another great video David!
Awesome video as always David! I’m putting this hike on my list. We are doing the Chicago basin hike this week near Durango Colorado.
Another great video! I love following your adventures & learning from you. I must admit that I was laughing about those mosquitoes. If you ever need another person to go on an adventure with, I live in Dayton! Keep inspiring us!
Excellent video David. Big fan! Yep you definitely can see the mosquitoes. They looked like hummingbirds!!!
Keep the videos coming ! Awesome to see people enjoying life to the fullest. Visited Indiana for the first time this summer. Hit my 40th state West Virginia while hiking New River Gorge.
How'd you like WV? I live in MD and try to do four 3+ day backpacks out there every year, most the time in Monongahela or Washington Jefferson NF but usually once a year in NRG... Its my favorite state for backpacking in the country besides Washington, There's just a homey vibe I get in WV, WA and ME that I've never gotten in CA, CO, VA, TN, NC, NH or UT...
Nugs McDankerson I live in CO so for me depending on where you go you get a different vibe. Hiking in CO along I70 very tourist laden. Hiking in Southern CO an hour fromy house are Sangre De Cristo Subrange and people are scarce. I prefer dry heat vs humidity. I enjoyed the lushness of WV. Also found an awesome campground/Mtn bike rental/bar called Bike Farm in Fayetteville , WV.
Enjoyed the video. Thanks! Beautiful place, for sure, but those bugs would have pushed me out before planned as well. Still looks like you all had a good time. Hope Travis' knee is doing better.
It looks like you guys sure had fun! It has been like 12 years since I backpacked in the wind river mountains. ‘Twas very pretty! I live up in Montana so it’s a drive down to the winds! You all should come up and backpack up here in southwestern Montana.
Wind river vs Sierra's? Which is better or why are they equal? Both look amazing can't wait to enjoy both
Awesome video as always. Thanks my friend.
Wow, crazy mosquitoes! We just got back from the Indian Peaks Wilderness and thought we had it bad, you guys endured psychological warfare with those little vampires. Another great video, thxs for sharing.
I just got back from a trip in the Weminuche Wilderness. It was awesome and you'll definitely have a good time there in August!
I absolutely love your videos! Keep up the good work and thanks for sharing....
Mosquitoes in the morning with temps in the 30's. That's crazy. 50 degrees in the south usually keeps them at bay. Great video David.
Wow! Kudos for withstanding the skeeters!! Great views and I liked some of those flat trails! Thanks for sharing. Guess I better buy a bug net for the head!! 😎😎
Great video and loving the commentaries as always! So, John Muir Trail 2019? I"m hiking it for a 2nd time this Sep, this time solo.
Thank you. JMT in 2019? Hmmm... probably more likely in 2020 or 2021, but I wouldn't rule it out for 2019. Getting the 3 weeks straight off work is a bit of a problem, but I'm starting to seriously think about doing it. What it would mean is that would probably be about the only trip I'd be able to do in the year I do it (maybe 1-2 more... maybe) so it's a big commitment, but I HAVE to do the whole JMT sometime soon. Good luck on your hike in September... I'n envious!
Beautiful country.....Thank you for sharing.
Yes!!! I was just rewatching your older videos last night and hoping a new one was coming soon!
It is out! Bring your bug spray and head net while you watch it - you just might need it even when viewing on TV :-)
That looks like a beautiful place to backpack. Before I watched the entire video I thought this would be somewhere I could I investigate going to this spring. After seeing all of the mosquitos, I'm not sure now.
I wouldn't worry too much about the mosquitoes - they are a 'spring' thing (of course 'spring' in the Winds stretches into July sometimes, like this year). If you go in August or September I'm guessing you wouldn't see any. They explode as the temperatures warm and the last of the winter snow is receding - basically all of the ground is like a marsh at that time of year, perfect mosquito breeding conditions. After the snow disappears everything dries out very quickly, and the mosquitoes disappear. It's a really beautiful place - I'd get there if you ever get the chance (I know I'm planning on returning, a bit later in the season!).
Excellent video as always. That's a crazy amount of bugs. It made me want to put on bug spray just to watch your video.
Another very nice video, thanks for sharing!
Still watching the video. I heard a low clearance car cannot make it to Big Sandy TH, yet I saw 2 cars in the parking lot. Maybe there is hope for my Honda Civic after all.
Loved hearing the frogs the first night.
I love your hiking and eating vlog videos!!!
You and Syntax77 have the best videos on UA-cam. Love the videos!!
Awesome as always. Keep on keeping on!!
Great trip and great video as usual! That looked like bird feathers on the wing of the plane at 49:52 .... lol! Thanks for sharing!!
Just was there last week. Started off from Elkhart Park and came out at Boulder Lake. Bugs were much better. Fishing was incredible. Still lots of snow in Indian Pass and Alpine Lakes. Next timeI will try some more southern sections.
Nice to see you back on the trail..enjoy your hiking events.
Lovely scenery and good commentary.
The vast spaces makes the uk tiny in comparison.
What a beautiful place. Wind River Range.
If Dunkin dounuts ever goes out of business, you will have to stop hiking. LOL
This is amazing because this is the exact route I’ve been planning for next summer. I’ve already bought a mosquito headnet as I’ve heard they are horrible in June and July.
Very inspirational, I will get this one done.
Looks like you lost a pint of blood just standing there Dave, lol!!!
I'am just wondering if any spry would help for the mosquitoes or nothing can help :) they are so many...
Great video! So I got one question are the bugs bad? LOL
Love ❤️ your videos, I always anxiously await them!
Just wondering if you use permethrin on your clothes and gear?
My niece and I just did a trip to Pictured Rocks. We were forewarned there could be black biting flies depending on which way the wind was blowing. We did take head nets to keep them from buzzing in our ears.
Most of our trip was a trail that hugged Lake Superior and we didn’t have any problem with that, the wind was in our favor. We did a couple of nights around Lakes and the mosquitoes were fierce! For me, anyway! My niece had sprayed her gear and clothes and didn’t have a single bite.
Permethrin... ahhh. that's sort of a 'funny', coincidental topic. Yes, I had previously treated all my clothes with permethrin, but I'm not exactly sure when that was, probably the beginning of the 2017 hiking season (and many washings ago given all the 'day' hiking I do with my dogs with my hiking garb). I may have been getting some small residual effect, but clearly not that effective. The 'funny' part of the story is that Travis had warned me that it might be a 'bit' buggy (yeah... right!), and in anticipation I had ordered some extra bug nets (which came in) as well as a couple of spray bottles of Sawyer Permethrin (which didn't come in... until the night before I left). The permethrin arrived via Amazon courier service while I was right in the midst of last-second packing, and I made the fateful decision to let the newly-arrived permethrin sit on my counter rather than spraying all my clothing at the last second. One of those proverbial 'bad calls'! It's still sitting on my counter in that exact spot, by the way!
David Gray , those buggers up there leave a mark for a couple of weeks! I’m spraying for sure next time!
David Gray, check out our videos, we were inspired many times! ua-cam.com/video/sJtGrwSp5Vs/v-deo.html
Fantastic video, as usual!
Thank you Christian for showing that it's possible to hike without ski poles. Good god man...mosquitos just about cancel out the pleasurable aspect of the hike. Did they bite through clothing?...guess so....beautiful there though.
The mosquitoes didn't seem to be able to bite through the clothing, at least when I was wearing long 'Railrider' pants, a long sleeve wool base layer, and a lightweight wind jacket. Add a bug head net to the mix, and a layer of DEET on your hands and it seemed like you were pretty much impervious to them. The only issues at that point were having to watch the outstanding views through a 'screen', and the constant buzzing sound. You kind of got used to it, and just accepted that was your current 'reality', but the underlying 'bummer' was you just couldn't relax, kick back, and enjoy it all without the 'mozzies' dominating all your thoughts and actions. But, it really was beautiful and no matter what else was going on that it what I tried to focus on - there just isn't anything remotely like it in my home state of Indiana.
Indiana...yikes...at least you are able to branch out all over the country and hike interesting locations. I keep wondering if a mosquito can bite through a hammock on a hot night just wearing shorts...have yet to try it.
David.. read about the trappers there in 1842. My sixty years on the plains, by William Thomas Hamilton !!!
Another great video thanks for sharing.
Another great video. Thanks for sharing. The mosquitoes are HORRENDOUS this year in NW Montana, too. It has been impossible to enjoy being outside without DEET. They are winding down, but still bad, and it is late July. Of course, they are being replaced by biting flies, yellow jackets and bald-faced hornets. The price for living in the wooded mountains....
so great to see a hiking video from you again David...lovin it!! I wanna do a trip to Colorado or Wyoming or SOMEPLACE from North GA in the fall... would love to get some input from you... if i can get a week or 10 days...ahhhh!
I have backpacked all over CO and been 2 the Winds 4 or 5 times. The Winds are hands down my favorite. Camping at Island Lake and exploring the Titcomb Basin is incredible. I have been to Dads, pyramid, Shadow and the Cirque. The Cirque is awesome but I want to go back to Titcomb Basin. We have always gone late August when the mosquito population is down.
Good to see you on trail,,great location with reasonably good weather. I think the mosquitoes are pretty bad this year all over,maybe some of the wildfires push them around. Always an awesome video,beautiful scenery....til next time....Stay Safe and God Bless....
so beautiful ! Thank you !
Great video as always.
Dave nice job loved the views what happened to Travis propane bug thing didn't work
Sadly, the Thermacell was a complete bust. I'm kicking myself for not doing a follow-up to that initial shot, but after we couldn't get it going we all sort of forgot about it. Basically, Travis couldn't get it lit. It doesn't have a way to manually light it - only an igniter button - and Travis tried about 100 times to light it, but it never lit. He tried at both campsite locations, multiple times, but never got it going. Very sad too, because I think in the light wind situations it could have been very helpful.
WOW thats a crazy amount of mosquitos , Thank you Great Video
Nice video as usual! keep up the good work and be safe!!
Those pesky skeeters would ruin any trip, can't blame you a bit for bailing early. The scenery is magnificent though and you do a great job of showing that.
Another terrific video. Wind River looks unbelievable. It looks like the perfect trip except for the mosquitoes. Question: Does your better half like the outdoors? 😉
I love one wyoming of my favorite states, so beautiful out there.
I was a guide for Blucher Creek Outfitters outta pinedale and I loved every minute... even the flight into Jackson hole... I haven't seen which trail head you left out of but if yall went out of Elkhart that was a trail I ran almost daily between 2011 to 2013 and spent thousands of miles in that area
And big sandy is the worst trail to head outta in that area... it's all uphill in any direction... go out of Boulder or Elkhart which is way easier... but I was on horseback with a pack string of dude horses and mules
I actually made it back out to the Winds last week (September 2019) and we went out of the Elkhart Park trailhead. You are certainly correct that it is the easiest trailhead to get to in that area. I've never been to the Boulder TH but maybe in the future. We did the Island Lake area on this year's trip and it was spectacular. Working on that video now and it should be published in a few weeks.
Love this video. I am sitting in my living room on my recliner and feel bugs buzzing and biting me.