Wind River Ranging

[ITTOG]

Last night on the trail is always a tough one for me. I never want it to end. Granted my hikes are usually short at six days on average. I might feel differently if I had a two week hike.

 

[TripLeader]

August 2024

Part 41 [To Big Sandy Trailhead]

Dawn light snuck through the remnants of smoke in the atmosphere. It was our seventh day on the trail. It would be our shortest.



Other backpackers were already heading out.



We joined in a line heading downhill from the lake. This was the busiest place we traversed.






The trailhead was getting close.



Eighty miles came to an end.

 

[TripLeader]

Last night on the trail is always a tough one for me. I never want it to end. Granted my hikes are usually short at six days on average. I might feel differently if I had a two week hike.

It's always bittersweet when it ends. It takes a lot of effort to plan, drive, and hike. But I'm always worn out and ready for a real bed when it's over.

 

[TripLeader]

August 2024

Part 42 [Big Sandy Lodge]

We happily found out the shuttle driver had parked the Nissan in the front row at the trailhead. We loaded our packs into it. We knew what was coming next.



We had discovered the Big Sandy Lodge during our last trip here. It was about a mile from the trailhead. We had been planning on stopping for giant hamburgers again this time. We paused in the parking lot to change clothes and obfuscate our trail smell as best we could. Then we went in for lunch. We had been having food fantasies during the last couple of days in the wilderness.

 

[TripLeader]

August 2024

Part 42 [Farewell, Wyoming]

We put in the miles on dirt roads to head back toward pavement.



Our last views of the Winds were obscured by the smoke.



The mandatory blurry-pronghorns-out-the-car-window photo.








And we put Wyoming behind us.



We made for Ft. Collins, Colorado and checked into a hotel upon arrival. We picked up pizza and relaxed in the room. We went to breakfast the next morning and then made the long drive home.

 

[TripLeader]

August 2024

Part 43 [Wind River Ranging]

Seven days. Six nights. Snow. Eighty miles. Cirque of the Towers. Two great friends. Wilderness.









That was it. Feet began to heal. The soreness left our muscles.


The Wind River Range has a special meaning to me.


Thanks for reading. The end.

 

[ITTOG]

August 2024

Part 43 [Wind River Ranging]

Seven days. Six nights. Snow. Eighty miles. Cirque of the Towers. Two great friends. Wilderness.
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That was it. Feet began to heal. The soreness left our muscles.


The Wind River Range has a special meaning to me.


Thanks for reading. The end.

Sounds like the makings of a beautiful experience. Memories forever.

 

[TripLeader]

Sounds like the makings of a beautiful experience. Memories forever.

Absolutely, it was.

 

[DirtWhiskey]

Love this thread, thank you so much for sharing. Alas this was the first year in 17 that I wasn't able to get to the Winds. Work pfffff, so it been nice following along. Been knocking off drainages and trailheads since my first trip there when I was eleven, trusty Nancy Pallister (NOLS) beta in hand. IMHO the greatest range in the lower 48.

 

[jim65wagon]

Thanks for sharing that looks like such a great experience!

Sent from my SM-G986U1 using Tapatalk

 

[TripLeader]

Love this thread, thank you so much for sharing. Alas this was the first year in 17 that I wasn't able to get to the Winds. Work pfffff, so it been nice following along. Been knocking off drainages and trailheads since my first trip there when I was eleven, trusty Nancy Pallister (NOLS) beta in hand. IMHO the greatest range in the lower 48.

17 years was a good streak. I'm sorry it came to an end.

 

[TripLeader]

Thanks for sharing that looks like such a great experience!

Sent from my SM-G986U1 using Tapatalk

I'm happy to share, it was great.