Wind River WY Temps August

Typically nights then are in the low 40’s but you certainly could see freezing or below.   A 30f bag that you are comfortable in down to 30f should work great.  Unusually cold temps could be augmented with additional clothing you will be carrying.

My go to bag there for the first two weeks of September has been a 30-40f bag then quilt starting about 18 years ago when I ditched bags altogether and went quilt only.

I have been in the Winds the middle of August, right after a snowstorm, and the night time temps hit 20°F.

Thanks John. I’m struggling with what temp quilt to get. Looking at the EE 20, KB 22 or their higher 30 degree bags. My 7 yr old Brooks-Range 20 bag (20 oz 700fp) didn’t quite cut it last year at 11K-13K in CO Rockies and that was with layers. Want to sleep and snore and not shiver.

Thanks Charles, maybe the lower degree quilt is the way to go.

I would recommend getting 20 degree. I spent a week+ around labor day and we had a blizzard and a few nights in the 20s.

Ben you should post that picture again of the stretch at Alpine Lakes Pass. I went right by there this Labor Day going down Knifepoint Creek and thought of that image. BTW it was really warm.

I’ve spent a week in the Winds in August four different years.   Normal seems to be around 30, but I’ve seen as low as 20* and had one week in the middle 40’s.

I’d go with a 20* quilt if it were me.  I’ve also had it snow 10” in August.

I always reccomend anyone use a 20* bag in the central Rockies in summer.

Ken where are those temps from?   Are they the average from Pinedale or Lander?   Those seem way too hot for 10k feet in WRR.

@obx, yep, it was a little scary that night; it was blowing.

I’m with Brad, those highs seem way to high. Either that or I have had really bad luck.

March 2 Posting doc

https://www.areavibes.com/lander-wy/weather/

Lander, 2018 Climate Summay Below

The average temperatures are in the 45°F (7.2°C) to 85°F (29.4°C) range with 24 sunny days across the state. The southeast mountain ranges, such as Laramie have moderate temperatures in the 47°F (8.3°C) to 78°F (25.6°C), while the northeast is a little higher in the range of 52°F (11.1°C) to 86°F (30°C). Burgess Junction in north-central Wyoming is a little cooler between 40°F (4.4°C) to 70°F (21.1°C).

I have been there four different summers, late August to early September and have never needed anything more than my +35*F WM Caribou.  I once took a ten degree bag and it was way too warm.

I did the ‘High Route’ a few years ago in August and there was frost on the ground several mornings.

I used a Zpacks 20 bag and was glad to have it. YMMV.

Lander is @ 5600′. Figure Avg 10,600 sleeping el. in the Winds proper. 4 degrees+- per thousand feet. 25 to 65 degrees.  Maybe sometimes colder and maybe 70-75 on a warm and sunny day. The sunny days stat was also a little miss-leading since the Winds are the cloudcatcher keeping Lander in the sunshine. Most of the “weather” like anywhere in the US comes from the west so the Winds are lifting the airstream and creating their weather to some degree. There is the occasional Nor’east backlash but seems more short term and less severe than the ones that lash us into submission. They got the name right too and I am well acquainted with wind.

I don’t think a 35* bag would have done it for me on my 4 trips. Might have been OK for 60% of the nights but there’d have been some cold ones too. Then again I’m an old boomer who sleeps cold. I’ve seen plenty or icy mornings though once you get moving and the day warms up all is lovely. Never got caught in snow that accumulated but beat feet out of the way twice. All between 8/15 and 9/6.

Might help if I state my tentative planned route:

Begin Big Sandy Trailhead>Shawdow Lake>Texas Pass>Lonesome Lake>Jackass Pass>Big Sandy Lake>Trailhead.

Seems like a nice 24 mile loop. I think I’ll use a KB Flex 22.

Good choice.  I have one and it’s very “flex”able temperature wise.

Shadow lake is a nice sheltered camp.  Texas Lake is a fantastic exposed camp.   The climbers camp in the cirque is nice but be aware the use Trail there puts you on the right of arrowhead lake where you have to cross a small talus field.  It’s not difficult but might go slower than you think.   The “official” trail stays high above the lake on the left.

Thanks Brad. I’ll have my lab with me but should not be an issue. He’s got 4 years and many miles under his paws but I won’t forget his booties.

You can take the trail that will avoid the talus field but to do that DON’T follow the obvious use trail down to Arrowhead lake.  The official trail cuts off on the rock face to the left (coming from the cirque) and passes high.  You’ll miss it if your not looking for it as the use trail that goes down to the lake appears more traveled than the real trail.

Texas Pass is steep and has some loose screw but there are use trail(s)that are obvious.  Who knows which the best one is.   Everything else should be a piece of cake even for the lab.

Have fun!!!

Either i am getting used to it, or the talus around Arrowhead lake is getting easier over the last few years.  definite path thru it now.  i have seen dogs doing quite well thru it.  I’ve had light snow in August and teens with inches of snow in Sept.  Also had mid 40’s in the same time spans.  that probably does not help a bit!

I too think the talus around Arrowhead is more stable than it was a decade ago.

Shadow Lake is where I got dusted with snow on 8/15/17. Melted by the time the sun came up. The 22 sounds perfect. Good detail by Brad about Arrowhead. If you end up going west of Arrowhead Lake on the false trail/climbers route from the cirque just stay high and right near the wall of Warbonnet at the start of the Talus. Once you get in @ 100 yards and the talus gets smaller trend towards the middle of the talus bed (between the mt. wall and the lake) and it gets to be just a rock hop with sandy stretches and sort of a trail. The talus down by the lake on that north end is no bueno. The route crosses the outlet at the south end of the lake and weaves through the rocks SE over to the “real” trail. That whole section is only maybe 400 yards so no biggy either way. If you’ve got 3 nights/4 days you could make a bigger loop going over Hailey pass and by Grave Lake to Valentine and over the Lizard Head Plateau to the Cirque and out.

Bear Lakes from the Lizard head Plateau. If you look closely you can see the “Lizard’s” round eye at right below the peak. When you get that it looks just like an iguana lying there looking to the right. Well maybe more so full size ;)

Two trips in two years to the Winds. WM Megalite both times, plenty warm.

This year coming out past Arrowhead Lake I had a climber kick a 100lb + rock off that went across the trail at terminal velocity and in to the lake. Good times.