Wind River Range in August

Elkhart-Mary Lake-Tommy Lake-Jean Lake-Shannon Pass to Peak Lake-Knapsack Col-Titcomb-Seneca lake-back out to Elkhart.

http://forums.backpacker.com/cgi-bin/forums/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=953107219;t=9991159869

This is a nice hike that would be enjoyable.

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=45585&skip_to_post=390846#390846

Just got back from a similar trip,(6 days/5 nights). Elkhart Park to Island Lake/Titcomb/Indian Basin to Elbow Lake up Shannon Pass/Cube rock, and out through Green River. Original plan was knapsack col but the amount of snow and cornice made us rethink and head around Island lake up to Elbow Lake,which was beautiful. Great trip.

Last year I went over knapsack Col the first week of Sept and it was mostly bare, just a bit of snow at the top. The last 150 yards or so were on a combination of ice and frozen gravel. What were the bugs like with all the extra moisture?

Bugs were crazy! We even joked about a mosquito that found us on the top of Fremont Peak. There is no escape…

I sure hope another month makes a difference in the bugs. I'll be there for my yearly Fall trip 8/29 through 9/7 or so and hopefully we will have a couple of hard freezes by then. Thanks for the update!

Usually by mid-August the bugs should be gone.

Typically they are. I have been going to the Winds for nearly 40 years since first visiting as a scout on a 75 mile trip. Most of those years the bugs have been little to none at the end of August into Sept. There were a few that were miserable and we pulled out a couple of days early before we went insane as none of us had any repellent or head nets. Now I don't leave home without them.

I hope they are gone the end of August. I will be there 8/28 – 9/1.

Hope they're gone by Sunday, which is when we're starting! We're going to do the sky pilot loop. Can't wait. Plan on doing Knapsack Col if it's not too bad.

Knapsack col is awesome. I did it in 2012 going west from Titcomb to Peak lake. Have fun.

Please report back on the bugs, etc.

Yes, please do. I'll be there starting the 24th or so.

There are still bugs active as of last night. Exited at Elkhart Park this am and had skeeters at Seneca, Wall, and Peak lakes within the last few days and all over heavy for the last six weeks. It has been an active bug season. I found them worse than in past years generally. It is raining now and this summer has seen plenty of precipitation. I have not used the head net (and I never use poison) for about 15 days but I have a high tolerance. In just the last few nights the temps are starting to drop so those pests should really start to fall quick now.

I am hoping for a good hard freeze in the next week or so…may be wishful thinking. Still not sure if I will be in the north end or south end and may not decide until I am coming up on Big Piney.

Any other info? What's the snow like? Or, more accurately, what is Knifepoint Glacier like? Is it passable without crampons? How about Knapsack Col?

EDIT—

nm, I made a new thread:

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=94490