I am a 53 year old with two twenty something sons. We have done quite a bit of backpacking, with pack weights getting lighter through the years. A couple of years ago, we did the 90+ miles from Wolf Creek Pass to Stony Pass on the CDT in about 6 days. Now we'd like to take a trip to the Wind River Range in Wyoming in September. Anyone with good experience in this area who could suggest interesting trips, trailheads, etc...?
Dave Smith (San Antonio, Texas)

Anywhere in the Winds is great. My wife and I went in out of Elkhart Park this summer and you could make a loop of any distance you wished. I would highly recommend getting back into the Titcomb Basin. This should give you an idea of what the area looks like.http://www.flickr.com/photos/d1948n/sets/72157613350662376/

Edited by dpnoll on 02/25/2009 04:46:35 MST.

You may also want to go to the forums at backpacker.com and send a PM to swimswithtrout. He has been going to the Winds since the 1970's.

How many days are you planning for?

Thanks for the reply - and I love the concept of goat-packing! We'd probably like to be on the trail for about a week.

Don't have a lot of experience with winter camping, but know we would have to be prepared for it if we go to Wyoming in September.

My avatar photo is on Washakie Pass in the Winds at 11,600 ft.

I good loop is starting out at the Big Sandy TH, up and over Hailey Pass, circle back over Washakie Pass and back to the TH.

7 days of time does not really do the Winds justice, but there are routes like the one suggested above that will provide you with great scenery.

Get ahold of the Earthwalk maps of the Winds and they will help you look at the whole Range with trails marked in red.

Charles,

Thanks for the help. I've ordered the Earthwalk maps of the southern and northern parts of the Wind River Range and am looking forward to obsessing over them for the next several months!