Trip Report
RANGING AROUND THE WIND RIVERS and more (TR)
Wednesday September 12, 2012 8:49pm
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Heart of the Wind Rivers
Heart of the Wind Rivers
Credit: crunch
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I knew we were north of the border, but but the time you get to Pinedale, Wyoming, beer from Colorado is labeled an “import.”

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Fat Tire an import?
Fat Tire an import?
Credit: crunch
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Maybe should have seen this coming; in Cheyenne we stopped in at a liquor store, bought a 12-pack and the guy hit us with, “Would you like a bottle with that?” We looked around, finally asked if he had any malt scotch. “Sure! What size?”

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Old building
Old building
Credit: crunch
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Backwater
Backwater
Credit: crunch
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Wyoming suburbia
Wyoming suburbia
Credit: crunch
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Pinedale is a great base for the Wind Rivers. Nice brew pub and a selection of bars and cafes, either staunchly Old-West, like the Wrangler Cafe and the Stockman Restaurant, or flagrantly hippy haunts like the Rock Rabbit. The Winds are a secretive mountain range, you really can’t see the mountains from outside and no roads traverse the range, unlike the picture postcard Tetons.

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Looooong hike
Looooong hike
Credit: crunch
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But,when you hike the ten-plus miles in, the mountains are wildly spectacular.

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Credit: crunch
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Deep Lake
Deep Lake
Credit: crunch
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First day we climbed the Railroad Tracks on Haystack, a sorta 5.9, great climbing, maybe 8 pitches total, on perfect granite.

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Railroad Tracks
Railroad Tracks
Credit: crunch
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Railroad Tracks, Haystack Mountain
Railroad Tracks, Haystack Mountain
Credit: crunch
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The summit of Haystack is wild, with tremendous views in every direction.

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MIke and Cory, summit of Haystack
MIke and Cory, summit of Haystack
Credit: crunch
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Next day we went for a hike:

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Credit: crunch
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Credit: crunch
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Day 3 we climbed the north face of the Steeple, a free standing summit with a long, long approach.

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The pointy thing left of center is the Steeple. Bigger than it looks.
The pointy thing left of center is the Steeple. Bigger than it looks.
Credit: crunch
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Great climb. First couple pitches follow perfect easy cracks.

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Steeple
Steeple
Credit: crunch
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Fran atop pitch 2 of Steeple.
Fran atop pitch 2 of Steeple.
Credit: crunch
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Higher, some serious burrowing was required....

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Credit: crunch
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The 4th-class section:

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"fourth class".....
"fourth class".....
Credit: crunch
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Finally, the summit: Woohoo!

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Steeple summit.
Steeple summit.
Credit: crunch
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Weather was not so great but rain held off until we were safely down to the trail. The descent involves complex wanderings around steep grassy ledges with major drop-offs so this was a good thing.

Last morning:

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Warbonnet, dawn
Warbonnet, dawn
Credit: crunch
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Our next port of call was Jackson to check out Christian Beckwith’s boulder project. He’s been instrumental in installing a fun boulder park in the middle of town.

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CB on the Beckwith Boulders! Best climbing in town.
CB on the Beckwith Boulders! Best climbing in town.
Credit: crunch
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A long, drunken evening ensued (thanks for the hospitality CB!). We stayed at the Climbers Ranch, a sort of Camp 4 with training wheels. Then on the ski tram to climb at Corbet's Couloir.

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Credit: crunch
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A 5.7, in theory....
A 5.7, in theory....
Credit: crunch
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5.10c
5.10c
Credit: crunch
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Excellent limestone.


Then south to Rock Springs. Or maybe not. We meandered off into the Red Desert to stumble onto a volcanic plug called the Boar’s Tusk.

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Boar's Tusk
Boar's Tusk
Credit: crunch
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Boar's Tusk
Boar's Tusk
Credit: crunch
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It’s maybe 200 feet tall, and the easy route up it is only 5.5 or so, but it’s steep and the rock is entertainingly loose.

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Boar's Tusk
Boar's Tusk
Credit: crunch
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Views are superb. To the north are a line of huge sand dunes wandering across the desert, all else is sage and rabbit brush, still, silent, flat. The smoke from the recent fires created a strange haze.

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Credit: crunch
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Credit: crunch
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Then we headed for home.


  Trip Report Views: 3,367
crunch
About the Author
crunch is a social climber from CO.

Comments
Ghost

climber
A long way from where I started
  Sep 12, 2012 - 08:58pm PT
Thanks Crusher. Makes me wish I wasn't sitting at this stupid desk.
goatboy smellz

climber
Gulf Breeze
  Sep 12, 2012 - 09:06pm PT
eggsellant!
kaholatingtong

Trad climber
The fake McCoy from nevernever land.
  Sep 12, 2012 - 09:05pm PT
entertainingly lose rock? hehehe
Reilly

Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
  Sep 12, 2012 - 09:28pm PT
Are those smiles like surgically stuck in that mode? Oh, wait, I forgot
you were in the Winds. Nice pics even if I hate you (I didn't get to
go there this year).
Ezra Ellis

Trad climber
North wet, and Da souf
  Sep 12, 2012 - 09:38pm PT
love the winds, one of the best ranges anywhere!!!

Thanks for taking us along!!!!
-ez
Fritz

Social climber
Choss Creek, ID
  Sep 12, 2012 - 09:57pm PT
Looks like a great fun adventure.

The photos are wonderful too!

Thanks for taking the time to post this!
SteveW

Trad climber
The state of confusion
  Sep 12, 2012 - 10:14pm PT
Awesome, Crusher! Thanks for sharing!!!!

(unlike that Donini guy who won't put up his Winds TR). . .
hee hee hee. . .
S cole

Social climber
Urban hell
  Sep 12, 2012 - 10:16pm PT
You get big points for actually climbing the Boar's Tusk!
Gagner

climber
Boulder
  Sep 12, 2012 - 10:19pm PT
SWEEEET Steve....

Big points like Scott said for doing the Boar's Tusk .... love the Winds!!

Paul
Dick Erb

climber
June Lake, CA
  Sep 12, 2012 - 10:23pm PT
Very nice. Makes me long to be there again.
labrat

Trad climber
Erik O. Auburn, CA
  Sep 12, 2012 - 10:37pm PT
Nice!
Thank you for posting :-)
Peter Haan

Trad climber
Wyoming
  Sep 12, 2012 - 10:56pm PT
Lovely, and fun to see Fran in all those crazy situations! Wonderful trip and thanks1
donini

Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
  Sep 12, 2012 - 11:41pm PT
Beautiful pictures Crusher! Hope you and Fran liked the trout. I'll be over in the Republic the end of the month...let's climb.
Darwin

Trad climber
Seattle, WA
  Sep 13, 2012 - 12:48am PT

You win! Really tfpu. Wind Rivers is a place that I would really like to see, and you got to some tops of beautiful mountains, not to mention chossy volcanic plugs.

Dariwn
ms55401

Trad climber
minneapolis, mn
  Sep 13, 2012 - 12:59am PT
when I saw the beer menu I couldn't help but hear:

I'm a little bit coun-try

and I'm a little bit Rock-and-Roll!!

nice report with good photos = I want to climb in the Winds
crunch

Social climber
CO
Author's Reply  Sep 13, 2012 - 11:30am PT
Ah, yes, we did run into a lot of Coloradans, Donini included. Jim, one day, went fishing and caught a dozen trout to feed everyone, including me and Fran. Hmmmm, delicious! That was generous, thanks Jim (and Angela for all the cleaning and gutting). Jim's working on the "turning lake water into a nice chardonnay" for next summer.



WyoRockMan

climber
Grizzlyville, WY
  Sep 13, 2012 - 11:38am PT
Great trip! TFPU.
ddriver

Trad climber
SLC, UT
  Sep 13, 2012 - 12:32pm PT
Keep wanting to do that Steeple. Looks good.
limpingcrab

Gym climber
Minkler, CA
  Sep 13, 2012 - 12:38pm PT
Still want to go there, this made it worse.

And I'm talking about the Boar's Tusk, my next destination trip!
wbw

Trad climber
'cross the great divide
  Sep 13, 2012 - 01:55pm PT
Eh up Crusher. Great pictures of my old stompin' grounds. Hi to
Fran.

Brad
tornado

climber
lawrence kansas
  Sep 13, 2012 - 03:45pm PT
hell yeah!!
Dirka

Trad climber
Hustle City
  Sep 13, 2012 - 08:31pm PT
BUMP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
neebee

Social climber
calif/texas
  Sep 14, 2012 - 04:32am PT
hey there say, crunch...


thanks for the really neat trip report...
sorry, can't comment on pics,:(
dial up too slow tonight and lately, :(


sounds like they are just as neat as the report, though,
:)
FrankZappa

Trad climber
Durango
  Sep 14, 2012 - 10:17am PT
Way to go Cruncher and Fran!!
mcreel

climber
Barcelona
  Sep 14, 2012 - 11:46am PT
Thanks! Lots of good Winds memories were revived.
micronut

Trad climber
Fresno/Clovis, ca
  Sep 14, 2012 - 02:56pm PT
Crushed it. Thatns for the great write up and photos!
Les

Trad climber
Bahston
  Jul 17, 2013 - 10:20am PT
Sweet TR - but the Winds, and no mention of mosquitoes??? Holy crap, those things were from hell when I was there!

"entertainingly loose" -- excellent description!
RyanD

climber
  Jul 17, 2013 - 11:35am PT
I had no idea! The place looks beyond beautiful, never thought I'd find myself dreaming about Wyoming but I think that warbonnet image will haunt me for some time.

Really good TR, awesome to get a glimpse of a low key area like this.


What's up with the tram/limestone area?? Is it a ski hill in winter or just one of those sightseer gondolas??




eKat, ur killing it on the bumps! Thanks!


steveA

Trad climber
Wolfeboro, NH
  Jul 17, 2013 - 11:49am PT
I missed this TR, first time around.

It was great meeting you and Fran in there with the crew.

Best Steve and Joan
ydpl8s

Trad climber
Santa Monica, California
  Jul 17, 2013 - 11:55am PT
Nice!, the "burrowing" pic had me more than chuckling, great look!
mcreel

climber
Barcelona
  Jul 17, 2013 - 12:20pm PT
Great TR, and excellent taste in bumps. Thanks to all concerned. I need to go to the Winds this summer!
Brandon-

climber
The Granite State.
  Jul 17, 2013 - 12:29pm PT
Is it a ski hill in winter or just one of those sightseer gondolas??

Jackson Hole.
Larry Nelson

Social climber
  Jun 4, 2016 - 01:47pm PT
A Fun TR
Great photos
lars johansen

Trad climber
West Marin, CA
  Jun 4, 2016 - 05:52pm PT
Missed it the 1st time. Thanks for the posting, looks like fun.-lars
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