6 Day Solo Wilderness Backpacking Trip in the Wind River Range

This video shows the full 57 mile loop through the Wind River Range in Western Wyoming. This hike starts and ends at Elkhart Park (Counter Clockwise) starting on Pole Creek Trail to Seneca Lake Trail to Indian Basin Trail to Titcomb Basin Trail to an off trail boulder hop and scramble over Knapsack Pass and down to connect with the Glacier Trail where the Green River Starts. From Peak lake I connected to the Shannon Pass trail which proved to be a steep ascent to the Highline Trail (which overlaps the CDT for a short time) to Pine Creek Canyon Trail. Pine Creek Canyon trail from Little Trapper Lake to Fremont Creek is still an uncleared maze of blowdowns. Staying on trail was difficult and the first half of the descent is basically a deer trail. Finally I connected to the Long Lake Trail which is a straight up climb to Elkhart Park. #windriverrange #wyoming #backpacking

Full All trails route:

Highlights:

Island Lake - Massive waterfall dumping into the middle of the lake.
Titcomb Basin - Feels like your in a "stadium" of mountains. Spiritual.
Knapsack Pass - Pretty sketchy on the final ascent. No trail. Plan for some climbing, experience hikers only!!! The other side of the pass is not much easier, no trail so you must follow the cairns for a large portion of the descent.
Peak Lake - Steep and blue. You will have to scramble up a rock slide to make it past this lake.
Shannon Pass - I very steep set of switchbacks but well maintained. I should not have done Knapsack and Shannon in the same day but I made it...
Elbow Lake - I stayed here because the passes wore me out. I was pleasantly surprised, this lake is alot like Island Lake. Very scenic.
Borum Lake - I just passed by but I would love to stay here. A beautiful treed lake. This area looked to have a alot of wildlife and seemed like a great place to run into a bear.
Neil Lake - My last night. Had a cow moose and here calves living next door in the willows. I was able to observe them all day. Loaded with small cut throats and rainbows. Great last night.

Summary:

The Winds met and exceeded my expectations. The geology and abundant water made this area much different than my previous mountain hikes. Add world class fishing and this place is tough to beat. I was concerned that the Island lake and Titcomb basin area would be busy but it was reasonable (I was in the area on Monday/Tuesday) but after Knapsack pass I saw very few people until I was almost back to the car.

[garygreenfield]

Terrific video. Loved the time lapse shots, especially the night ones. Thanks for letting the sounds of nature provide the soundtrack and for providing your route points. The Wind River Range and the Tetons are on my Bucket List. You've inspired me to move them up! Great job!

[HuckOutdoors]

Great video and that was one heck of a Golden!!!

[TimSeymour]

The unmaintained trail from Crows Nest Lookout to the bridge over Pine Creek had lots of blow downs in 2017. It must have been quite a challenge this year. (PS I think that horse was recently dead when I was there in 2017! I saw [and smelled] it at the side of the trail under a fallen tree.)

[RM-lsth]

Unbelievable Tyson, I am so impressed! Beautiful country!! Now you know why they call them the "Rocky" Mountains.

[curtisjc]

What kind of tent did you use and how much did it weigh ?

[richardthorne]

At 36 seconds into the video was that the very first part of the trip? or did you have to go off script to see something like that? Another unbelievable video. Well done 👍