Wind River Range – Equipment 2015

[Russ W]

Greetings BPL Community,

A few months previous, I was up in arms because I failed to secure permits for Glacier or Rainier for an epic trip for me and my two adult children, so I decided to pursue another option, the Wind River Range. I asked for help with the BPL community and received some great responses. In particular, George Frazier provided an incredible amount of insight, including general advice, map planning, book selection, and advice to ask this community to respond to gear questions and insight. He said you guys love the Winds and would welcome the opportunity to provide input on my direction. Instead of dragging you into the weeds, I wanted to narrow our equipment decisions down to the items we’re evaluating and will consider altering based on comments.

Sleeping Bags: I’m planning for 30 degrees as the low temp with the ability to wear clothes and jackets if it gets colder– Here are the 3 combinations for me and the guys. Will these suffice for the Winds in early August? We have options to go colder with a weight penalty if necessary.

1.Jacks R Better Sierra Sniveler + Exped Downlite LW (this one is mine and the
added clothes would be a Borah down sweater + pants)
2.Ray Jardine Quilt (Alpine thickness) + Big Agnes Insl. Air Core
3.Kelty 40 degree Dri-Down + Molly Mac 14.5 oz syn quilt + Big Agnes Insl. Air Core

Stoves: I’m trying to decide one of the following options (you pack to your fears):
1.Konevia Spider
2.BRS 3000T
3.Konevia Spider + BRS 3000T as a backup
4.BRS 3000T + BRS 3000T as a backup

Fuel (you pack to your fears):
We’re going to boil water for most of our cooking We’ll be out a total of 10 days. Most of my past involves white gas and alcohol, but recently I threw canister stoves in the mix, so forgive my ignorance with the gas canisters. On a recent 4.5 day trip, we used the better part of a 220g Snow Peak cylinder. For this trip, I thought we would double the volume, plus add a 110g for insurance. Any opinion about the general volume of fuel for 3 people over 10 days? Would you pack two 220’s or a single 450-500g instead? I’m thinking the tradeoff would be less weight of the single tank for the equivalent weight of the fuel, but with a single tank a failure or leakage would be more catastrophic.

Rain Gear:
I have all kinds of overly-expensive and yet crappy options for me, but I needed something on the cheap and light for my guys, so I’m going with Frogg Toggs for all, plus GoLite umbrellas for all. Being above tree line, I’m assuming the bushwhacking factor will not be a concern. Conceivably I could find some more hardy pants, but unless it’s less than 40 degrees I usually just get wet and hike on. Given the area, should I be concerned about these choices?

Water Filtration:
I switched from the Sawyer Mini for solos to a Platypus Gravity with the larger 1 gallon capacity for the 3 of us during a recent trip in the Great Smokies, per recommendations from this site. I thought it worked extremely well. Do any of you carry backup? Got a better recommendation?

Clothes/Bugs:
I’ve heard all about the famous Wind River Mosquitoes and plan to douse a good portion of my clothes with Permethrin, and DEET for the unexposed surfaces. Almost 100% of everything I wear is synthetic, i.e., running shorts, shirts, capaline, long sleeve synthetic shirts, wind pants and jacket. Right now I know I have redundancies to cull out. Will the synthetic clothes + permethrin suffice? I've survived some really terrible bugs and lived to tell the tale. Should I cave in and get a long-sleeve woven shirt?

Bear Bags:
I’m an East Coast bear-bagger, using the PCT method. The thought of adding rigid canisters to the mix is very unpleasant to me. Has anyone experienced unusual negative consequences in the Winds with sufficient bagging and hanging? We’re using ZPAKS bags.

Bear Spray:
I’ve read all the pluses and minuses and think that between the three of us, we’ll pack one or two cans. Talk me out of it….

Fishing:
This is a first for me..we’re packing 3 little collapsible “Pen” rods and spin reels, a Ruta Locura Ti grill (1.3 oz.), and some various rooster-tail spinners, etc. I’m still trying to figure out what we’ll do if we’re lucky enough to catch some trout…I’m thinking grill and/or poach. I’m packing dehydrated refried beans, pico, burritos…can you say “fish tacos”? Has anyone actually gone the sushi route with WRR Trout, i.e., pack the wasabi and soy?

Thanks for reading this and considering input to help my trip. I really appreciate your insight.

Russ

[Brad Rogers]

You will not be disappointed with the winds. I have been twice, for a week each time, both in late august.

One week the temps were in the mid thirties, the second week temps were in the upper twenties.

I would either go with a caldera cone or a upright canister stove.

I can get 15 boils out of a 100g canister though I don't use canisters much anymore. I would do some trial runs and calculate your fuel usage. Depending on how much you boil, I might take a single 220 and a 100g.

I have been rained one both trips and snowed on once, though you would probably be ok with frog toggs if the pants hold up. I think it would generally be too windy to use the umbrella.

I use Aquamira but used the platy filter on a group trip in 2011 and it worked great but a bit heavy. The water quality was very good.

I went the last week of August both times and didn't see a single mosquito either time. I am not sure about the first of August.

I hung the first time I went and used a canister the second time. I had no problems either time nor any signs of bears. I took the canister the second time because being above treeline it was hard to find a boulder to hang from.

I didn't take bear spray either time but did ask the guy at the gear store in Pinedale about it. He said he wouldn't bother with it. We didn't see any signs of bears but we were above tree line most of the time.

I didn't fish so I can't help with that.

Have fun.

[John Klinepeter]

Good destination choice. You will enjoy the Wind River Mtns. as I have the last 15 years.

Fuel:
I switched to solid fuel and alcohol stoves a number of years ago and tend to do my own cooking even though I am almost always with a group; the group uses wood fires almost exclusively. The exception was in Sept. of 2012 when there was a fire ban in place so the three of us shared a canister stove and used most of a 450gm fuel canister. We cooked fish using the stove, thus the large fuel usage for a 6 day/5 night trip. Fire bans are fairly rare. Lots of good info on fuel use here: http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/lightweight_canister_stoves_test_report.html

Rain Gear:
The Wind River trails tend to be clear of brush. I have no Frogg Toggs experience but I would guess they would be OK. An umbrella (Birdie Pal Dainty) is a part of my kit; I can remember being very glad that I had it on at least two occasions but that is not many over 15 years.

Water Filtration:
The Sawyer has been my filter of choice the last few years. I carry about 10 liters worth of chemical treatment tabs as backup.

Bugs:
Friends who have been there in early August say the mosquitoes can be bad. My experience has been almost 100% bug-free from late August onward.

Bear Bags:
Depending on where I am going (prior knowledge)and the expected length of time I will use a hanging technique or a bear canister. Finding appropriate trees can be a challenge (where is it easy?). Adding a canister onto the list for a a 10 day trip does not sound like fun and is probably not needed unless you will be camping above tree line.
We once had a problem with rodents or squirrels attacking food bags (not very well stored).

Bear Spray:
Not many people carry it.

Other Animals:
Last year an animal (deer?) entered our camp at night and chewed some hiking pole straps and a pack belt to the point of unusability. Probably a good idea to keep those items in your tent. This has happened only once in 15 years.

Happy Trails!

[Mark Ries]

Sleeping bags, the owner of the outdoor shop in pinedale will tell you he would not venture into the winds with less than a zero degree bag, then try to sell you a wm kodiak. I always take a 30° bag the coldest I've seen has been low teens at the end of aug/ early sept. I think your bags will work at the start of aug. I always brought way to much gas when I used a canister stove so I will give no advise here… I lied THINK ESBIT. I love those stinky little white tabs. Rain gear I use dry ducks but take different rain pants, but I'm now wondering if the dry ducks pants would work ok if I fabricated a UL set of suspenders to give me a UL wedgie as I always rip the crotch out. Your good down to fishing, at least one of you needs to get a decent pack rod to make the other two jealous, casting distance in the lakes can make a huge difference in what you catch. Good luck have fun. Where in the winds do you plan to travel?

[John Vance]

I have been to the Winds pretty much every year since 1975 and with few exceptions, you will be fine with 30f bags. Just check the weather report to make sure something unusual isn't going on when you leave. I don't use bear canisters and have never had a problem with bears. A couple of times rodents got into things but they didn't eat much. ;-)

I have never had problems with any stove I have used from alcohol to white gas to canister. Just use whatever you are most comfortable with. It can often be windy so shielding the stove can be a bit tricky if you haven't planned for it. I have been using a jetboil since they came out and it's worked great up to about 13k. It still works, but is a bit fiddley using the piezo.

I have used a golite poncho with a piece of bungee cord around my waist to tame it above treeline. There is little in the way of bushes to tear at your clothing but you may find yourself in willows from time to time but you should be OK even with somewhat delicate rain gear. Umbrellas could work at or below treeline, but I haven't had much luck above treeline as the wind tends to make them more trouble than they are worth, particularly if you use trekking poles.

Bugs, particularly the biting gnats, can be bothersome and I have used a headset even while hiking from time to time. I have had success with DEET and permitherin treated clothing as well. It really varies from year to year and even from drainage to drainage, but it is best to be prepared for the worst.

The range is spectacular and my favorite in North America and perhaps beyond. Have a great time!

[Russ W]

Thanks for the insight thus far….my confidence is building!

Sounds like we're OK with the sleeping temperatures…I do have a 20 degree and 0 degree quilt, but again for a weight penalty.

Everyone seems to agree that the Frogg Toggs are adequate with the exception of the pants…I may try to do something else.

I'll continue to pray about the bear spray and mosquitoes. Bear-bagging it is!

I love the suggestion about the one really nice fishing rod to make the other two jealous…nice!!!!

I'm playing around with a Central WRR loop, trying to camp in some really cool areas and not attempt too much of a forced hike. This is what I have so far but I'm still firming the trip up…feel free to weigh in for adding or cutting from the general loop:

• Start at Elkhart Park
• Get on the Highline Trail…go SE past Chain Lakes, Barnes Lake,
Horseshoe Lake, Lake George, North Fork Lake
• Freemont Trial past the Pipestone Lakes down to Dream Lake
• East to Dream Lake to Rainbow Lake to Middle Fork Lake
• Off trail between Horseshoe Ridge and Medina Mountain
• Go past Long Lake, Glacier Lake
• Golden Lakes, Fall Creek Pass
• Timico Lake, Spider Lake
• Cook Lake, Wall Lake, Island Lake
• Titcomb Basin
• Seneca Lake and out to Elkhart

I failed to mention our tent arrangements. I'm going to use a TarpTent Notch, and the boys will use a Six Moons Lunar Outfitter I got through the lemons to lemonade sale. I could shave 1.5 lbs off the total and let them use my TT Strat 2, but I have visions of them tearing it up via a wrestling match. Does that make me a bad person?

Thanks again folks…much appreciated!

[John Klinepeter]

John V: Good point about the willows. They can be thick around creeks and lake shores. Care would be needed to protect a delicate rain jacket while fishing. I also vaguely remember some brushy trail heading NE from Rainbow Lake.

Heckuva route! You will be going to some places I have not yet visited. Halls Lake is worth a look-see; you appear to be going very close to it in any case. Europe Canyon is a good approach to Long Lake. The area near Glacier Lake is very wet but very walkable as I recall.

Other highlights in that big neighborhood (I realize you can't do it all!) are the Bonneville Basin and Indian Basin. Bonneville has a fairly good and obvious trail, not shown on the map, that leads most of the way to your goal. Indian Basin is gorgeous walking near the Titcomb Basin.

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