Trip Report
RANGING AROUND THE WIND RIVERS and more (TR)
Wednesday September 12, 2012 8:49pm
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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.”
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?”
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.
But,when you hike the ten-plus miles in, the mountains are wildly spectacular.
First day we climbed the Railroad Tracks on Haystack, a sorta 5.9, great climbing, maybe 8 pitches total, on perfect granite.
The summit of Haystack is wild, with tremendous views in every direction.
Next day we went for a hike:
Day 3 we climbed the north face of the Steeple, a free standing summit with a long, long approach.
Great climb. First couple pitches follow perfect easy cracks.
Higher, some serious burrowing was required....
The 4th-class section:
Finally, the summit: Woohoo!
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Then we headed for home.
crunch
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About the Author crunch is a social climber from CO. |
Comments
Ghost
climber
A long way from where I started
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Sep 12, 2012 - 08:58pm PT
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Thanks Crusher. Makes me wish I wasn't sitting at this stupid desk.
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goatboy smellz
climber
Gulf Breeze
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Sep 12, 2012 - 09:06pm PT
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eggsellant!
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kaholatingtong
Trad climber
The fake McCoy from nevernever land.
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Sep 12, 2012 - 09:05pm PT
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entertainingly lose rock? hehehe
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Sep 12, 2012 - 09:28pm PT
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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).
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Ezra Ellis
Trad climber
North wet, and Da souf
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Sep 12, 2012 - 09:38pm PT
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love the winds, one of the best ranges anywhere!!!
Thanks for taking us along!!!!
-ez
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Fritz
Social climber
Choss Creek, ID
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Sep 12, 2012 - 09:57pm PT
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Looks like a great fun adventure.
The photos are wonderful too!
Thanks for taking the time to post this!
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SteveW
Trad climber
The state of confusion
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Sep 12, 2012 - 10:14pm PT
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Awesome, Crusher! Thanks for sharing!!!!
(unlike that Donini guy who won't put up his Winds TR). . .
hee hee hee. . .
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S cole
Social climber
Urban hell
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Sep 12, 2012 - 10:16pm PT
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You get big points for actually climbing the Boar's Tusk!
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Gagner
climber
Boulder
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Sep 12, 2012 - 10:19pm PT
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SWEEEET Steve....
Big points like Scott said for doing the Boar's Tusk .... love the Winds!!
Paul
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Dick Erb
climber
June Lake, CA
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Sep 12, 2012 - 10:23pm PT
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Very nice. Makes me long to be there again.
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labrat
Trad climber
Erik O. Auburn, CA
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Sep 12, 2012 - 10:37pm PT
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Nice!
Thank you for posting :-)
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Peter Haan
Trad climber
Wyoming
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Sep 12, 2012 - 10:56pm PT
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Lovely, and fun to see Fran in all those crazy situations! Wonderful trip and thanks1
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Sep 12, 2012 - 11:41pm PT
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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.
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Darwin
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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Sep 13, 2012 - 12:48am PT
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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
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ms55401
Trad climber
minneapolis, mn
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Sep 13, 2012 - 12:59am PT
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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
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crunch
Social climber
CO
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Author's Reply
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Sep 13, 2012 - 11:30am PT
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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.
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WyoRockMan
climber
Grizzlyville, WY
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Sep 13, 2012 - 11:38am PT
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Great trip! TFPU.
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ddriver
Trad climber
SLC, UT
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Sep 13, 2012 - 12:32pm PT
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Keep wanting to do that Steeple. Looks good.
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limpingcrab
Gym climber
Minkler, CA
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Sep 13, 2012 - 12:38pm PT
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Still want to go there, this made it worse.
And I'm talking about the Boar's Tusk, my next destination trip!
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wbw
Trad climber
'cross the great divide
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Sep 13, 2012 - 01:55pm PT
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Eh up Crusher. Great pictures of my old stompin' grounds. Hi to
Fran.
Brad
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tornado
climber
lawrence kansas
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Sep 13, 2012 - 03:45pm PT
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hell yeah!!
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Dirka
Trad climber
Hustle City
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Sep 13, 2012 - 08:31pm PT
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BUMP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Sep 14, 2012 - 04:32am PT
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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,
:)
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FrankZappa
Trad climber
Durango
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Sep 14, 2012 - 10:17am PT
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Way to go Cruncher and Fran!!
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mcreel
climber
Barcelona
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Sep 14, 2012 - 11:46am PT
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Thanks! Lots of good Winds memories were revived.
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micronut
Trad climber
Fresno/Clovis, ca
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Sep 14, 2012 - 02:56pm PT
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Crushed it. Thatns for the great write up and photos!
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Les
Trad climber
Bahston
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Jul 17, 2013 - 10:20am PT
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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!
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RyanD
climber
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Jul 17, 2013 - 11:35am PT
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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!
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steveA
Trad climber
Wolfeboro, NH
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Jul 17, 2013 - 11:49am PT
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I missed this TR, first time around.
It was great meeting you and Fran in there with the crew.
Best Steve and Joan
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ydpl8s
Trad climber
Santa Monica, California
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Jul 17, 2013 - 11:55am PT
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Nice!, the "burrowing" pic had me more than chuckling, great look!
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mcreel
climber
Barcelona
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Jul 17, 2013 - 12:20pm PT
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Great TR, and excellent taste in bumps. Thanks to all concerned. I need to go to the Winds this summer!
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Brandon-
climber
The Granite State.
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Jul 17, 2013 - 12:29pm PT
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Is it a ski hill in winter or just one of those sightseer gondolas??
Jackson Hole.
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lars johansen
Trad climber
West Marin, CA
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Missed it the 1st time. Thanks for the posting, looks like fun.-lars
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