wind river mountains

“I am looking for new information on the southern end of the wind river mountains. Snow nymph i saw your pictures on you websight and your trip looked spectacular. unfortunately i don't have the time for something like that i want to start and finish at Big Sandy trailhead. go through the cirque over lizard head trail, then up over washaki or hailey pass and down the freemont trail back to the trailhead i have time for 5 nights out information or links are welcomed. Thanks, Eric”

“Whats with the disguise?


we all know that by 999 you are really trying to worm your way in and hide what you really are 666!

Evil! Do not fall for this oh great TTers, heed my warning now!!! If you you dont your flimsy foil hats will not protect you! RUN! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!”

“actually the 999 is just the number i got assigned by the iwon.com mailserver so it helps me keep my login names memorized”

“Check out the Wind-o-Rama thread O Evil One.”

“I went up the Bear's Ears Trail a few years back. I camped at Valentine Lake. Then I went over the Lizard Head Trail, down to Cirque of the Towers. I traveled down the valley (along the river) and looped back to the trailhead.

My original plan was to add a loop over both Washaki and Hailey passes. I don't have my maps but I think that's how it went.

I would say you have an ambitious itinerary. Both Washaki and Hailey passes are steep and can be snowy. You may need to take crampons and an ice axe. Taking the Lizard Head trail up from Cirque of the Towers... Well, as the man said in Predator, "I wouldn't wish that on a broke dick dog". That is one steep and long climb. Approaching the Lizard Head from the Valentine Lake/Bear's Ears side would be my choice.

In any case, that is one spectacularly beautiful section of country. I'll go back there some day. I want to do a West to East traverse of the range over Titcomb Basin.”

“arclite thanks for the pointers. I guess now what i really want is information or pictures of hailey and washaki pass.”

“Arclite, is the snow year round over Washaki and Hailey?

Ed, I just noticed those two passes on my map this weekend. I had been looking at Kagevah. I reviewed Kagevah at a National Geographic kiosk and it is labeled a stock trail, though not on the map I have.

Have you looked at the Wind-o-Rama thread? Also, do you have Joe Kelsey's book? I'm thinking it is essential to the planning process.”

“I have Joe Kelseys book and the earthwalk press maps. in the summer of 99 i did a 7 day loop in the northern part of the range from the elkhart park trail head. this time i want to try the southern part of the range and see the cirque of the towers.”

“I don't have the book and can't decide if the Wind-o-rama is sufficiently on to warrant buying it. Could you tell me if Kelsey says anything about those Washakie or Hailey passes? I would really like to cross over the continental divide and be able to look down fromthe top.”

“the book just says rocky and possibility of snow the couple pictures i saw online don't look that steep compared to some passes. looked like your atypical rocky mountain pass. but it is hard to tell how big the rocks are in a picture they could be like cars or fist size sometimes you never know.”

“"...looked like your atypical rocky mountain pass........" as in typical? I'll take a look on the National Geographic kiosk; it may be more/different than the maps.
Are you following the Wind-o-rama thread, too?”

“yeah the pictures where from somewhat of a distance. Washakie pass seemed grassy and less severe when aproached from the west the east side was rocky and moderately steep. Hailey pass seemed pretty similar. the problem is you can never tell how big the rocks are from a distance.”

“I did a Yahoo search for Washakie Pass and Hailey Pass and read a couple trip reports. In one early July trip, the people glissaded down from Washakie Pass!!! I also learned that NOLS is based in Lander. They should know everything. And there was a Sierra Club outing that crossed both these passes plus Texas (no trail on the map and looks near impossible...) and Big Sandy/Jackass Pass. Jackass is apparently aptly named because it crests 3 times and you would never know from the topo. You probably feel like a jackass after saying we're at the top and being wrong over and over.”

“When we were there, the people we talked to came over Hailey Pass, and were doing a loop. Views from Bears Ears, Lizard Pass and Cirque Peak are awesome!”

“Snow Nymph how hard was the climb on the lizard head trail it seems to cover alot of elavation going up from lonesome lake towards the bears ear trail. my plan was day 1 big sandy to Clear lake. day 2 clear lake over jackass pass to Bear lake. day 3 bear lake to somewhere in the ranger park/valentine lake or grave lake. day 4 over either wahakie or hailey pass to either skull or marms lake. then day 5 hike out to car. i generally like to do more milage as the trip progresses as i get acclimated and my pack gets lighter.”