Winds in mid-September

I've been there in early September and had no problems. But you really want to know about what's normal, not one guy's anecdote. And normal on those dates is unpredictable. Could be brisk, sunny days or could be a howling blizzard. (Though I think the former more likely.)

I've been the last 4 years in the 2nd or 3rd week of September. The first year was in the 3rd week and it was unbelievably good weather (spoiled me). Second year was 3rd week and was cooler and had rain for a day and a half. 3rd year was 2nd week and was pretty cold and just a little rain. Just got out yesterday (2 days early) and it rained hard for most of 48 hours and was still raining hard when I drove away. The forecast called for rain and snow until tomorrow. When I came back over Hay Pass it was really cold and windy and alternating hard rain and hail. I had on liner gloves with nitrile gloves over hem to keep them "dry". I could barely feel my hands. Was really surprised it wasn't snowing. There was lightning right as I got near the top so I was head down and moving over the pass. When I got down lower I turned to look back and just above the pass on both sides there was snow. This was Tuesday and Wednesday was even colder but I had gotten down to about 9000' by Tuesday night. No snow but it was supposed to be even colder on Wednesday night and colder still on Thursday. As I drove into Pinedale, the entire visible part of the range was white. The cold and the rain were bad enough but the trails were running like streams and the mud was really slick. I must have slipped a couple hundred times over two days and would have been on my rear at least a dozen times if I didn't have trekking poles. I can't imagine doing the WRHR in those conditions. I'll be back again next September (my favorite time to be in the mountains) but when my buddy retires sometime in the next few years and we do the WRHR, we'll do it in August. I agree with Dean, crap shoot. I personally wouldn't consider it based on my sample size of 4.

I can't offer much more than has already been said. I usually prefer to go in early September but I have been there as late as the 17th according to my notes. Here are my notes for September 12-17, 2008. These were the temps when I arose, usually about 7am. 31, 31, 29, 30, 35 degrees F. Sunny every morning. Sorry, I don't remember if these were exterior or in-tent temps; probably exterior. I was using a simple thermometer. These are my notes from September 11-16, 2012. I was using a two channel min/max thermometer for simultaneous in-tent and exterior temps. Sunny or nice every morning except for the cold :). Exterior/in-tent temps were 8/21, 8/24, 6/24, 17/33, 21/33 degrees F. The skies must have been very clear to record such cold temps. I don't remember being uncomfortably cold on any of those mornings. The normal routine is to be hiking in a shirt with base layer by 9am, no additional insulation required. I don't attempt to record day time high temps. Obviously mountain weather can deal you any hand it wishes. Here is a photograph of the morning after a hail storm on August 28, 2015 at about 10,800 feet. Hail about 3/4 inch diameter some 12 hours after the storm. I skipped dinner that night, hid in the tent, didn't want to get pounded! Of course there are nice evenings, too. Here was the next evening. Shelter not taut, pitched on concave surface.

Randy, thanks for the insight from your experience. I'm nervous (and more nervous after your post) about going this late in the year. Will be hoping for an earlier start date. With the WRHR being a point-to-point, there wouldn't be much of an opportunity for a bailout. Once we hit the trail we're pretty committed. We've hiked through serious thunderstorms on the Continental Divide. Blizzards would be another matter for this Texan.

Dean, I appreciate the counsel. We'll be considering an earlier start date. Maybe I could just ask you to take care of the weather for us, since you seem to have that end of things under control. :-)

John, thanks for writing and for the pics. Great shots! The crisp cool days sound delightful. Mornings that chilly are OK. But throw in some snow or a storm and it doesn't sound quite that delightful…

I have been going to the Winds yearly for the past 25 years in Sept/Oct and have had a variety of weather conditions. Most all are tolerable but many sections of the high route, in all of it's variants, could be more than you would like in bad weather. Right now the 7 day forecast looks good with days in the 50's and nights in the 30's. I have seen single digits, big snow, and high winds during this time as well as days in the 70's and nights in the 50's. Based on the current forecast I would go and make a judgment on the really high sections…over 11,500 feet, based on lingering snow and ice. The really only two areas I would be concerned about are the Indian Pass through the Alpine lakes and Bonneville pass on the north side which can be very icy. Have fun and let us know how it went!

Thanks, John. And to be clear, this is ADVANCE planning for 2016. Your cautions are wise. If we only have the later September dates, judging weather, we may have to forego the High Route and stick with the Highline Trail, which would offer plenty of adventure.

Sorry I missed the 2016 part. If you forego the high route I would recoomend as much of the Freemont trail as possible as apposed to the Highline – much more scenic.

Thanks for the tip!