Our first car trouble put Marge up on the rack in Jackson…. But at least we will have working brakes now!
Adventures in Wyoming’s Wind River Mountains
There is dispute in the internationally recognized Echelon system for rating beauty as to whether a four or five echelon rating scale is more appropriate. However, there has largely been agreement that there is no need for a sixth echelon. Well that is because those who developed the echelon system had never visited Wyoming’s Wind River Mountains.
Now that’s a Sixth Echelon camp!
En route:
Most of the hike in followed this meandering river upstream to Sandy Lake.
That’s our peak, Haystack, in the distance!
Views into the Cirque en route to the Temples
And the stunning Temple and East Temple peaks and icy lakes
A quick map check as thunderstorms approach
Alpine summit in the Wind River
The Wind River mountains are blessed with some of the most impressive Alpine granite in the world. Home to some of the most famous climbs in North America (Wolf’s Head and Pingora), these awe inspiring towers make trekking all the gear in well worth it! It also makes the climbs a bit more daunting, looking out across the imposing landscape of the Cirque of the Towers.
We got an early Alpine start, a quick approach from base camp and a unimaginably wind-free* ascent of Haystack, a 5 pitch 5.6, topping out around 12,000 feet.
*The guide book reads, “If there is wind anywhere in the world, there will be wind on the north face of Haystack.”
From our basecamp at Clear Lake, the beginning of the north face was a quick hour scramble.
Halfway up the route the views were already amazing and the weather was uncharacteristically clear.
Summit!
From here you can see into the Cirque of the Towers (top right) and almost to our base camp at Clear Lake (bottom left)!
Wow who would have thought that I would get reception 12,000 ft high in the wind river range
Wild Iris: Rock and Wildflowers
Wyoming is picturesque! Rivers winding through grassy meadows, thunderheads dotting the horizon, and snow capped peaks rising from the high planes.
From Evanston, Wyoming we drove up to Wild Iris, a beautiful limestone crag nestled in the meadows of the southern Wind River range. The white washed pocketed walls rise out of rolling grasslands, dripping in wild flowers, with a back drop of the largest peaks in the Wyoming Rockies.
A half hour stroll through a meadow of wildflowers you head out to the cliffs.
To find steep, pocketed sport climbs leave the arms feeling like jello by the end of the day!
Smiles after an exhaustingly awesome day of climbing…
…and no better way to finish off the day than lounging in the hammock and enjoying our favorite Utah beer: Hop Nosh
One of the great perks of climbing Wild Iris is what the town of Lander has to offer: Wild Iris Mountain Sports for the friendliest and most knowledgeable folks around town (Thanks, Kyle!); American Fork Cafe, Old Town Coffee Shop, and Lander Brewery are all delights.
Wyoming skies
“The days are just packed”
From Utah’s lush meadows and rivers of the Uintas, to the small town charm of Evanston, Wyoming, another packed summer day!
Utah’s Uintas mountains showcase the diverse and beautiful country of Utah. A stark contrast to the deserts Utah is known for, the lush meadows, rivers and lakes of the Uintas.
Also a perfect place to do some electrical work on the van:
Finishing up the day by taking my lady out on the town in Evanston at the local brewery, Sud Brothers.
And then on to the Painted Lady. Snake river makes delicious beer!
“Well behaved women rarely make history”
“Never drink unless you’re alone or with somebody”
Little cottonwood canyon
Becky’s route in little cottonwood canyon was a superb return to trad climbing. 3 pitches of steep granite cracks and we were blessed with delightfully cool, cloudy skies!
Maple Canyon, an awesome day of climbing
We woke up this morning in a canyon of Pinnacles-esque, conglomerate rock (ie a petrified stream bed of pebbles and boulders turned on its end), and climbed ourselves silly. (K: The routes are so well bolted, I was even able to comfortably lead some routes.)
We almost missed this gem. A super knowledgeable and friendly guy at Mountain Works in Provo sent us this way. Thank you!
