Wind River Range – End of August

[Brad Rogers]

I am planning on doing a trip in WRR this year starting Aug 25 thru Sept 3 and was curious as to what kind of conditions I should be prepared for. What temps should I expect? I assume the bugs should be about gone by then, so I am hoping to avoid a bug bivy. I am putting together a gear list based on what I used mid September last year on the JMT. Thoughts?

[Ben Wortman]

You can expect it to get slightly below freezing at night if you are at 10,000 feet

[Brad Rogers]

So if my gear list can take me to 28 or so pretty easy, I should be fine?

[Greg Mihalik]

"So if my gear list can take me to 28 or so pretty easy, I should be fine?"

Well, if it drops to 20° you might spend the night alternating between snoozing and crunches, but you won't die. Wear everything you've got. You'll be fine.

Consider it a chance for a "growth opportunity".

[John Klinepeter]

I will give you some more recorded low temperatures, perhaps they will help. They were gathered using an inexpensive Digital Dangler min/max recording device which was typically hung on a tree branch about six feet off the ground.

Year 2010
August 24 30.6 degrees Elevation 9600 feet
August 25 32.9 9900
August 26 34.7 9900
August 27 40.6 9900
August 28 40.0 9600

Year 2009
August 25 36.5 10,400
August 26 34.7 10,100
August 27 34.0 10,100
August 28 36.1 10,500
August 29 32.0 9500
August 30 37.7 10,000

The 28 degree temperature was noted on a cheap zipper-pull thermometer on August 28, 2004 at about 6:15am, elevation 10,000 feet.

My typical clothing "carried" list:
Montbell Down UL Jacket
REI Gossamer Vest (Primaloft)
Patagonia capilene long sleeve (very light weight cap 1?)
Golite Ether wind shirt
Triumph Anorak rain shell
Silk balaclava
Homemade Epic rain pants
Generic fleece gloves
MLD Event Overmitts
Miscellaneous items: bandana, spare socks, Birdie Pal umbrella.
Carried but rarely used: base layer for legs, Seirus Polar Scarf.

The group I hike with almost always has morning and evening wood camp fires. To the extent that you do not have fires you might want to carry some additional clothing. On a side note, wood availability is usually adequate but not abundant.

[Robert Kelly]

Was there last year in early September, essentially at the same time you will be. I don't think it got below 25, but we did have some below freezing nights. Sleep system was NeoAir, JRB Sierra Sniveller, and (if needed) BPL Cocoon hoody and pants in camp and overnight in the Sniveller. Never cold.

[Mark Ries]

I was in the winds last in 2010 right after John. I believe aug 29 to sept 6 the 1st night was down in the low 20s measured with a cheap zipper pull thermometer and I got 3+ inches of snow most of the snow was melted by morning as the ground was not that cold. Someone else told me they measured temp in the mid teens that night. I think most nights were in the 30s after that. Ive been there other years at the end of aug and it didnt get below 40. I would be prepaired for temps down to 20. Im lucky in the fact that Im pretty warm blooded in the cold.

[John Vance]

I have been in the Winds during that time frame every year for the past 25 years. Sept is my favorite time as the days can still be warm, the bugs are pretty much gone and you can go for more than a week without seeing anyone. I would prepare for temps into the low 20's and have seen single digits before during the Labor Day week. That was in 2010 camped at just a bit over 12k. We had two days where the day didn't warm up enough to melt the ice on rocks and puddles, but that was very unusual.

The wind is what really takes its toll if you are above treeline for days, but below 10k and in the trees it's not bad at all. You will have a great trip no doubt. Last year I took a 40f quilt atop an exped UL7 and was fine. We had frost almost every night and the coldest night was mid to low 20s at ground level.

[Brad Rogers]

I have a custom quilt by the Stateless Society that has 3" of single layer loft that I can take if needed. It really isn't that much heavier than the Ultra 20 and ought to be good down to the mid teens.

I have used the Ultra 20 down to 23* without additional clothing (other than baselayers) and been OK. I also had a Katabatic Palisade with 3oz overfill down to 18* and was OK. (it was a bit narrow though, hence the SS Quilt).

[Andrew Wolff]

Cool Brad, so you've settled on the WRR? I think the previous poster have you covered. Your JMT gear should be real similar to what you'll want. I'd say be prepared for 20*, be prepared for some snowfall, be prepared for some wind. What route are you thinking about?

[Annette Clayton]

Bradford, a group of us from N. Alabama will be there the same time you are (Aug 24 – Sep 2). Which trailhead you starting from?

[Brad Rogers]

We will be starting at Elkhart trailhead on 8/27. Maybe we will run into each other.

[Annette Clayton]

Awesome, so are we! We go in Aug 25 and our son is driving up from Vail, Co to start at Elkhart on the 27th. We're doing a clockwise loop and he's going in counter clockwise to do some climbing at Titcomb Basin. We'll meet him there on the 29th.

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