This trip is an opportunity to challenge yourself physically while experiencing ‘up close and personal’ some of the most extraordinary and unspoiled high country in North America– the Wind River Range in the Bridger Wilderness, Wyoming. We will ramble the high country for 90 miles and 11 days, much of it above 10,000 feet elevation. The trip is classified as strenuous, with a typical day involving 8-13 miles of walking with a pack. Most days will involve 1000’ of elevation gain though we will... More

This trip is an opportunity to challenge yourself physically while experiencing ‘up close and personal’ some of the most extraordinary and unspoiled high country in North America– the Wind River Range in the Bridger Wilderness, Wyoming. We will ramble the high country for 90 miles and 11 days, much of it above 10,000 feet elevation. The trip is classified as strenuous, with a typical day involving 8-13 miles of walking with a pack. Most days will involve 1000’ of elevation gain though we will have a couple of days with shorter mileage and more elevation. Participants will carry backpacks with their own shelter and bedding and a share of the other gear and food. We will receive an on-trail resupply by pack horse midway through the route (so that participants need carry only 5-6 days of food at a time) and stay in comfortable, basic cabin lodgings at the start and the end. A local shuttle service will provide us with transport from Pinedale to the trailhead and from trail’s end back to Pinedale. The group will meet in Pinedale Wyoming on Sunday 9/2 right after lunch for a gear/supply review and any last minute supply shopping, and spend the night in comfortable three-star lodgings in or near Pinedale where we will enjoy a group dinner. (We can help with carpooling or even flight arrangements based on group needs.) After a fortifying breakfast at the hotel, a shuttle will arrive early the next morning to take us to our trailhead approx 50 miles north of Pinedale at Green River Lakes CG where we will start our hike. Our route will link the Highline and Fremont trails from Green River Lakes in the northwest to Big Sandy Lodge in the southeast, tracking on or closely along the Continental Divide trail. The itinerary also builds in side trips to explore high passes and glacier views from base camps in Titcomb Basin and Cirque of the Towers. We will end our trek at the Big Sandy Lodge on Sept 13, where we will have the opportunity to rest, eat a good family-style meal and take a shower. On the morning of Friday Sept 14 after a hearty breakfast our shuttle will arrive to take us back to Pinedale and our vehicles for the drive back to Seattle. Participants will have the opportunity to contribute to our final route during planning meetings through the spring and summer, and of course on-the-ground conditions could drive some adjustments as we go. Some routefinding, boulder crossing and stream crossings will be involved. Based on participants’ preferences, participants may choose to purchase their own trail food and bring their own stoves and cooking gear, or for the trip leader to organize this at cost for the group. These details will be worked out during spring and summer planning meetings. Bear canisters will be required on this trip, and the leader can assist with rental of canisters (as well as other gear items as needed) for participants who don’t own one. Dinners and continental breakfasts will be included with the rooms at the beginning and the end of the trip. An informational meeting will be held on February 12, 2012 at the Newport Way library for anyone interested in learning more about the trip. This is a physically demanding trip, so participants should be able to demonstrate a recent history of hiking and backpacking in the strenuous category (10+ miles/day, 2500’ or more of elevation gain) and an ability to hike with a full pack for extended periods at 1.5-2 mph without frequent rest stops. Investment in lightweight gear is strongly recommended so that participants can get their pack weight down to 35 lbs or less including ~15 lbs of food at a time, to increase their enjoyment of the trip. Participants will be expected to carry their own copies of all the trip maps and a compass, and to have the skills to use them. Trip Price: 4 people $735 per person, 8 or more people $470 per person. To register, contact the leader. After the leader’s approval, a deposit of $470 will be due by April 1. If the group is smaller than 8 people as of June 1, or if the group decides to have the leader organize and purchase trail food and/or rent gear for the trip, an additional payment may be requested then ($265 plus any shared food/gear costs).

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