Wind River Mountains

Hiking in the Wind River Range, Sept 3-7, 2007

I hiked a loop from the Big Sandy Trailhead in the Wind River Mountains the week after Labor Day, did some fishing and took lots of pictures. I hiked 6-10 miles per day and camped at Big Sandy Lake, Bear Lakes, Little Washakie Lake and along the Washakie River below Shadow Lake (route here). Other than a thunderstorm west of the Washakie Lakes and a frost the last morning out, the weather was comfortable. Plenty of trout, few flowers, a handful of huckleberries and no bugs. For additional photos and a more complete account, see my Journal.

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You see the Wind Rivers on the eastern horizon for most of the drive down from Pinedale. Morning cumulus developing into afternoon showers are typical of the weather this time of year, according to someone I talked to at the Great Outdoors store in Pinedale.

Hiking in the Wind River Range, Sept 3-7, 2007

I hiked a loop from the Big Sandy Trailhead in the Wind River Mountains the week after Labor Day, did some fishing and took lots of pictures. I hiked 6-10 miles per day and camped at Big Sandy Lake, Bear Lakes, Little Washakie Lake and along the Washakie River below Shadow Lake (route here). Other than a thunderstorm west of the Washakie Lakes and a frost the last morning out, the weather was comfortable. Plenty of trout, few flowers, a handful of huckleberries and no bugs. For additional photos and a more complete account, see my Journal.

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I saw a several bands of antelope on the way down. Usually they were grazing in grassy hollows between the sagebrush hills. They tended to flee when I stopped for photos.

Hiking in the Wind River Range, Sept 3-7, 2007

I hiked a loop from the Big Sandy Trailhead in the Wind River Mountains the week after Labor Day, did some fishing and took lots of pictures. I hiked 6-10 miles per day and camped at Big Sandy Lake, Bear Lakes, Little Washakie Lake and along the Washakie River below Shadow Lake (route here). Other than a thunderstorm west of the Washakie Lakes and a frost the last morning out, the weather was comfortable. Plenty of trout, few flowers, a handful of huckleberries and no bugs. For additional photos and a more complete account, see my Journal.

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This coyote was actually a little farther west of the Winds, not far from the Big Sandy River near Farson, WY. Unusually tame and potentially fatal behavior, to linger near the highway when a car or truck stops.

Hiking in the Wind River Range, Sept 3-7, 2007

I hiked a loop from the Big Sandy Trailhead in the Wind River Mountains the week after Labor Day, did some fishing and took lots of pictures. I hiked 6-10 miles per day and camped at Big Sandy Lake, Bear Lakes, Little Washakie Lake and along the Washakie River below Shadow Lake (route here). Other than a thunderstorm west of the Washakie Lakes and a frost the last morning out, the weather was comfortable. Plenty of trout, few flowers, a handful of huckleberries and no bugs. For additional photos and a more complete account, see my Journal.

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Golden meadows and willows line the placid Big Sandy River near the trailhead. Trout hang in the clear sunlit shallows but spook if you try to approach them.

Hiking in the Wind River Range, Sept 3-7, 2007

I hiked a loop from the Big Sandy Trailhead in the Wind River Mountains the week after Labor Day, did some fishing and took lots of pictures. I hiked 6-10 miles per day and camped at Big Sandy Lake, Bear Lakes, Little Washakie Lake and along the Washakie River below Shadow Lake (route here). Other than a thunderstorm west of the Washakie Lakes and a frost the last morning out, the weather was comfortable. Plenty of trout, few flowers, a handful of huckleberries and no bugs. For additional photos and a more complete account, see my Journal.

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The trail in to Big Sandy Lake alternately traversed meadows and lodgepole pine forest like this. Once up in the mountains themselves, Limber Pine and Engelman Spruce were the dominant trees.

Hiking in the Wind River Range, Sept 3-7, 2007

I hiked a loop from the Big Sandy Trailhead in the Wind River Mountains the week after Labor Day, did some fishing and took lots of pictures. I hiked 6-10 miles per day and camped at Big Sandy Lake, Bear Lakes, Little Washakie Lake and along the Washakie River below Shadow Lake (route here). Other than a thunderstorm west of the Washakie Lakes and a frost the last morning out, the weather was comfortable. Plenty of trout, few flowers, a handful of huckleberries and no bugs. For additional photos and a more complete account, see my Journal.

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Big Sandy Lake, 5 miles in from the Big Sandy trailhead, marks the entrance to the mountains. My route tomorrow leads over Jackass Pass, left of center in the photo, to Lonesome Lake in the Cirque of the Towers.

Hiking in the Wind River Range, Sept 3-7, 2007

I hiked a loop from the Big Sandy Trailhead in the Wind River Mountains the week after Labor Day, did some fishing and took lots of pictures. I hiked 6-10 miles per day and camped at Big Sandy Lake, Bear Lakes, Little Washakie Lake and along the Washakie River below Shadow Lake (route here). Other than a thunderstorm west of the Washakie Lakes and a frost the last morning out, the weather was comfortable. Plenty of trout, few flowers, a handful of huckleberries and no bugs. For additional photos and a more complete account, see my Journal.

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The first thing I did upon arriving at Big Sandy Lake was to run around photographing reflections in the still water. On the far (northeast) sides of the two peaks reflected in the lake (Mitchel Peak to the left and Big Sandy Mountain to the right) vertical granite walls plunge 1000' or more to glaciers and talus slopes.

Hiking in the Wind River Range, Sept 3-7, 2007

I hiked a loop from the Big Sandy Trailhead in the Wind River Mountains the week after Labor Day, did some fishing and took lots of pictures. I hiked 6-10 miles per day and camped at Big Sandy Lake, Bear Lakes, Little Washakie Lake and along the Washakie River below Shadow Lake (route here). Other than a thunderstorm west of the Washakie Lakes and a frost the last morning out, the weather was comfortable. Plenty of trout, few flowers, a handful of huckleberries and no bugs. For additional photos and a more complete account, see my Journal.

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The next thing I did was scramble up the ledgy ridge which drops down to the lake from Schiestler Peak just to the south. If you like ledges, the Wind River Range is the place for you.

Hiking in the Wind River Range, Sept 3-7, 2007

I hiked a loop from the Big Sandy Trailhead in the Wind River Mountains the week after Labor Day, did some fishing and took lots of pictures. I hiked 6-10 miles per day and camped at Big Sandy Lake, Bear Lakes, Little Washakie Lake and along the Washakie River below Shadow Lake (route here). Other than a thunderstorm west of the Washakie Lakes and a frost the last morning out, the weather was comfortable. Plenty of trout, few flowers, a handful of huckleberries and no bugs. For additional photos and a more complete account, see my Journal.

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I camped with two doctors from Minnesota on a ledgy point overlooking the small lake just downstream from Big Sandy. In the morning I got up before sunrise to fish that lake and a half-mile or so of the river below it. Shallow, slow-moving water, lots of brook trout.

Hiking in the Wind River Range, Sept 3-7, 2007

I hiked a loop from the Big Sandy Trailhead in the Wind River Mountains the week after Labor Day, did some fishing and took lots of pictures. I hiked 6-10 miles per day and camped at Big Sandy Lake, Bear Lakes, Little Washakie Lake and along the Washakie River below Shadow Lake (route here). Other than a thunderstorm west of the Washakie Lakes and a frost the last morning out, the weather was comfortable. Plenty of trout, few flowers, a handful of huckleberries and no bugs. For additional photos and a more complete account, see my Journal.

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Fishing with a dry fly, I caught numerous brook trout ranging from 6-11" long, mostly in the stream. I also caught one cutthroat but kept only four of the larger brook trout (except that the second fish from the top is a brown trout). All were males. I don't know why there is so much color variation between the two bottom trout and the top one.

Hiking in the Wind River Range, Sept 3-7, 2007

I hiked a loop from the Big Sandy Trailhead in the Wind River Mountains the week after Labor Day, did some fishing and took lots of pictures. I hiked 6-10 miles per day and camped at Big Sandy Lake, Bear Lakes, Little Washakie Lake and along the Washakie River below Shadow Lake (route here). Other than a thunderstorm west of the Washakie Lakes and a frost the last morning out, the weather was comfortable. Plenty of trout, few flowers, a handful of huckleberries and no bugs. For additional photos and a more complete account, see my Journal.

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Setting out along Big Sandy Lake in the morning. The doctors headed up to Jackass Pass and the Cirque of the Towers but I made a detour to Black Joe Lake, beyond the ledgy ridge at center-right in the photo.

Hiking in the Wind River Range, Sept 3-7, 2007

I hiked a loop from the Big Sandy Trailhead in the Wind River Mountains the week after Labor Day, did some fishing and took lots of pictures. I hiked 6-10 miles per day and camped at Big Sandy Lake, Bear Lakes, Little Washakie Lake and along the Washakie River below Shadow Lake (route here). Other than a thunderstorm west of the Washakie Lakes and a frost the last morning out, the weather was comfortable. Plenty of trout, few flowers, a handful of huckleberries and no bugs. For additional photos and a more complete account, see my Journal.

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Haystack mountain separates long narrow Black Joe Lake from the other lakes south of it in the Big Sandy drainage. It was reported to have lots of cutthroat. I caught a scrappy 10" cutthroat in the outlet stream, saw others in still shallows but couldn't approach without spooking them.

Hiking in the Wind River Range, Sept 3-7, 2007

I hiked a loop from the Big Sandy Trailhead in the Wind River Mountains the week after Labor Day, did some fishing and took lots of pictures. I hiked 6-10 miles per day and camped at Big Sandy Lake, Bear Lakes, Little Washakie Lake and along the Washakie River below Shadow Lake (route here). Other than a thunderstorm west of the Washakie Lakes and a frost the last morning out, the weather was comfortable. Plenty of trout, few flowers, a handful of huckleberries and no bugs. For additional photos and a more complete account, see my Journal.

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Too sunny to determine if there were fish in the lake. That will have to wait for another trip.

Hiking in the Wind River Range, Sept 3-7, 2007

I hiked a loop from the Big Sandy Trailhead in the Wind River Mountains the week after Labor Day, did some fishing and took lots of pictures. I hiked 6-10 miles per day and camped at Big Sandy Lake, Bear Lakes, Little Washakie Lake and along the Washakie River below Shadow Lake (route here). Other than a thunderstorm west of the Washakie Lakes and a frost the last morning out, the weather was comfortable. Plenty of trout, few flowers, a handful of huckleberries and no bugs. For additional photos and a more complete account, see my Journal.

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View towards Deep Lake and East and main Temple peaks from the lower slopes of Big Sandy mountain. Intriguing terrain - ledges, little meadows, open forest of limber pine and Engelman spruce. Lots of Cassin's finches and pine grosbeaks.

Hiking in the Wind River Range, Sept 3-7, 2007

I hiked a loop from the Big Sandy Trailhead in the Wind River Mountains the week after Labor Day, did some fishing and took lots of pictures. I hiked 6-10 miles per day and camped at Big Sandy Lake, Bear Lakes, Little Washakie Lake and along the Washakie River below Shadow Lake (route here). Other than a thunderstorm west of the Washakie Lakes and a frost the last morning out, the weather was comfortable. Plenty of trout, few flowers, a handful of huckleberries and no bugs. For additional photos and a more complete account, see my Journal.

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A mountain chickadee stops for a drink in a ledge-puddle left by yesterday's afternoon rain shower.

Hiking in the Wind River Range, Sept 3-7, 2007

I hiked a loop from the Big Sandy Trailhead in the Wind River Mountains the week after Labor Day, did some fishing and took lots of pictures. I hiked 6-10 miles per day and camped at Big Sandy Lake, Bear Lakes, Little Washakie Lake and along the Washakie River below Shadow Lake (route here). Other than a thunderstorm west of the Washakie Lakes and a frost the last morning out, the weather was comfortable. Plenty of trout, few flowers, a handful of huckleberries and no bugs. For additional photos and a more complete account, see my Journal.

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This isn't actually the pass but instead one of several ridges the trail ascends up, over and down on the way up to the pass, which marks the entrance into the Cirque of the Towers from the south.

Hiking in the Wind River Range, Sept 3-7, 2007

I hiked a loop from the Big Sandy Trailhead in the Wind River Mountains the week after Labor Day, did some fishing and took lots of pictures. I hiked 6-10 miles per day and camped at Big Sandy Lake, Bear Lakes, Little Washakie Lake and along the Washakie River below Shadow Lake (route here). Other than a thunderstorm west of the Washakie Lakes and a frost the last morning out, the weather was comfortable. Plenty of trout, few flowers, a handful of huckleberries and no bugs. For additional photos and a more complete account, see my Journal.

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The classic Wind River Range photo op, Lonesome Lake in the Cirque of the Towers is surrounded by granite crags popular with climbers. The loop I plan to hike will take me around to the other side of these peaks two days from now.

Hiking in the Wind River Range, Sept 3-7, 2007

I hiked a loop from the Big Sandy Trailhead in the Wind River Mountains the week after Labor Day, did some fishing and took lots of pictures. I hiked 6-10 miles per day and camped at Big Sandy Lake, Bear Lakes, Little Washakie Lake and along the Washakie River below Shadow Lake (route here). Other than a thunderstorm west of the Washakie Lakes and a frost the last morning out, the weather was comfortable. Plenty of trout, few flowers, a handful of huckleberries and no bugs. For additional photos and a more complete account, see my Journal.

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Lonesome Lake is also surrounded by huckleberries which were tangy and sweet, though slow picking because they are rather small. Another species of huckleberry, equally tasty but even smaller, grows on low green little-leaved bushes under pine woods.

Hiking in the Wind River Range, Sept 3-7, 2007

I hiked a loop from the Big Sandy Trailhead in the Wind River Mountains the week after Labor Day, did some fishing and took lots of pictures. I hiked 6-10 miles per day and camped at Big Sandy Lake, Bear Lakes, Little Washakie Lake and along the Washakie River below Shadow Lake (route here). Other than a thunderstorm west of the Washakie Lakes and a frost the last morning out, the weather was comfortable. Plenty of trout, few flowers, a handful of huckleberries and no bugs. For additional photos and a more complete account, see my Journal.

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In the water, cutthroats can be distinguished from brookies by the absence of a white edge on the fins. I caught only cutthroats in the Popo Agie river below Lonesome Lake. They appeared to be of two different subspecies, one brownish and drab-colored, the other bright yellow and red. The larger trout here is about 10" long.

Hiking in the Wind River Range, Sept 3-7, 2007

I hiked a loop from the Big Sandy Trailhead in the Wind River Mountains the week after Labor Day, did some fishing and took lots of pictures. I hiked 6-10 miles per day and camped at Big Sandy Lake, Bear Lakes, Little Washakie Lake and along the Washakie River below Shadow Lake (route here). Other than a thunderstorm west of the Washakie Lakes and a frost the last morning out, the weather was comfortable. Plenty of trout, few flowers, a handful of huckleberries and no bugs. For additional photos and a more complete account, see my Journal.

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About a mile below Lonesome Lake as I was hurrying up to camp at the Bear Lakes I turned a corner in the trail and found this cow moose 50' in front of me. When she began walking towards me, I backed up in a hurry.

Hiking in the Wind River Range, Sept 3-7, 2007

I hiked a loop from the Big Sandy Trailhead in the Wind River Mountains the week after Labor Day, did some fishing and took lots of pictures. I hiked 6-10 miles per day and camped at Big Sandy Lake, Bear Lakes, Little Washakie Lake and along the Washakie River below Shadow Lake (route here). Other than a thunderstorm west of the Washakie Lakes and a frost the last morning out, the weather was comfortable. Plenty of trout, few flowers, a handful of huckleberries and no bugs. For additional photos and a more complete account, see my Journal.

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Sunrise on the north side of Big Sandy mountain from my second night's camp at Bear Lakes. Rain, or maybe sleet, fell during the night but left no trace in the morning. The pink glow at sunrise was followed by a mostly cloudy day with a sleet shower in the morning, sunshine at lunchtime and an active thundershower in the late afternoon. My cooking stuff hangs in the blue stuffsack because it wouldn't fit in the bear canister I used for my food.

Hiking in the Wind River Range, Sept 3-7, 2007

I hiked a loop from the Big Sandy Trailhead in the Wind River Mountains the week after Labor Day, did some fishing and took lots of pictures. I hiked 6-10 miles per day and camped at Big Sandy Lake, Bear Lakes, Little Washakie Lake and along the Washakie River below Shadow Lake (route here). Other than a thunderstorm west of the Washakie Lakes and a frost the last morning out, the weather was comfortable. Plenty of trout, few flowers, a handful of huckleberries and no bugs. For additional photos and a more complete account, see my Journal.

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I camped between the two Bear lakes after eating trout for supper along the shore of the nearer lake.

Hiking in the Wind River Range, Sept 3-7, 2007

I hiked a loop from the Big Sandy Trailhead in the Wind River Mountains the week after Labor Day, did some fishing and took lots of pictures. I hiked 6-10 miles per day and camped at Big Sandy Lake, Bear Lakes, Little Washakie Lake and along the Washakie River below Shadow Lake (route here). Other than a thunderstorm west of the Washakie Lakes and a frost the last morning out, the weather was comfortable. Plenty of trout, few flowers, a handful of huckleberries and no bugs. For additional photos and a more complete account, see my Journal.

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Ledges and meadows with Big Sandy mountain in the background. The granite ledges here are glacier-polished unlike the rough weathered rock up on top of the plateau a thousand feet higher up.

Hiking in the Wind River Range, Sept 3-7, 2007

I hiked a loop from the Big Sandy Trailhead in the Wind River Mountains the week after Labor Day, did some fishing and took lots of pictures. I hiked 6-10 miles per day and camped at Big Sandy Lake, Bear Lakes, Little Washakie Lake and along the Washakie River below Shadow Lake (route here). Other than a thunderstorm west of the Washakie Lakes and a frost the last morning out, the weather was comfortable. Plenty of trout, few flowers, a handful of huckleberries and no bugs. For additional photos and a more complete account, see my Journal.

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The Wind River Range appears to consist of a high rolling plain into which glaciers have cut vertical-walled and round-bottomed valleys. Remnants of the plateau persist as flat-topped ridges capped with boulder-studded meadows and scattered outcrops of weathered granite. Wind River peak, on the horizon on the left, is one of the high points of the old plateau.

Hiking in the Wind River Range, Sept 3-7, 2007

I hiked a loop from the Big Sandy Trailhead in the Wind River Mountains the week after Labor Day, did some fishing and took lots of pictures. I hiked 6-10 miles per day and camped at Big Sandy Lake, Bear Lakes, Little Washakie Lake and along the Washakie River below Shadow Lake (route here). Other than a thunderstorm west of the Washakie Lakes and a frost the last morning out, the weather was comfortable. Plenty of trout, few flowers, a handful of huckleberries and no bugs. For additional photos and a more complete account, see my Journal.

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The Lizard Head trail follows one of these high ridges northeast of Lizard Head peak. A shrinking glacier continues to cut into the north face of Lizard Head. The flat boulders in the foreground have eroded in place out of the granite bedrock.

Hiking in the Wind River Range, Sept 3-7, 2007

I hiked a loop from the Big Sandy Trailhead in the Wind River Mountains the week after Labor Day, did some fishing and took lots of pictures. I hiked 6-10 miles per day and camped at Big Sandy Lake, Bear Lakes, Little Washakie Lake and along the Washakie River below Shadow Lake (route here). Other than a thunderstorm west of the Washakie Lakes and a frost the last morning out, the weather was comfortable. Plenty of trout, few flowers, a handful of huckleberries and no bugs. For additional photos and a more complete account, see my Journal.

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Buffalo Head (Payson Peak on some maps) is the bulbous crag just left of center in the photo. The low point on the horizon to the left and behind Buffalo Head is Washakie Pass. My camp tonight will be in the meadow-forest patchwork of the valley just behind the toe of Buffalo Head.

Hiking in the Wind River Range, Sept 3-7, 2007

I hiked a loop from the Big Sandy Trailhead in the Wind River Mountains the week after Labor Day, did some fishing and took lots of pictures. I hiked 6-10 miles per day and camped at Big Sandy Lake, Bear Lakes, Little Washakie Lake and along the Washakie River below Shadow Lake (route here). Other than a thunderstorm west of the Washakie Lakes and a frost the last morning out, the weather was comfortable. Plenty of trout, few flowers, a handful of huckleberries and no bugs. For additional photos and a more complete account, see my Journal.

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Descending west off the Lizard Head plateau via a shallow valley just north of Cathedral Peak, I found these gentians not long gone by but no longer opening to the late summer sunshine.

Hiking in the Wind River Range, Sept 3-7, 2007

I hiked a loop from the Big Sandy Trailhead in the Wind River Mountains the week after Labor Day, did some fishing and took lots of pictures. I hiked 6-10 miles per day and camped at Big Sandy Lake, Bear Lakes, Little Washakie Lake and along the Washakie River below Shadow Lake (route here). Other than a thunderstorm west of the Washakie Lakes and a frost the last morning out, the weather was comfortable. Plenty of trout, few flowers, a handful of huckleberries and no bugs. For additional photos and a more complete account, see my Journal.

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While I sat enjoying the first real sunshine of the day, I spotted a pine marten among the boulders behind me. It kept diving under the rocks then reappearing for another look so while it was underground I scuttled over to a closer vantage point. For about ten minutes the marten kept popping up behind first one boulder then another, apparently trying to figure out what I was. Each time it appeared it made a low worried growl, something like "mmrrrrr". Terminally cute.

Hiking in the Wind River Range, Sept 3-7, 2007

I hiked a loop from the Big Sandy Trailhead in the Wind River Mountains the week after Labor Day, did some fishing and took lots of pictures. I hiked 6-10 miles per day and camped at Big Sandy Lake, Bear Lakes, Little Washakie Lake and along the Washakie River below Shadow Lake (route here). Other than a thunderstorm west of the Washakie Lakes and a frost the last morning out, the weather was comfortable. Plenty of trout, few flowers, a handful of huckleberries and no bugs. For additional photos and a more complete account, see my Journal.

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A little pond sits at the base of this boulder where for some reason the willows and grasses don't grow. I wonder if winter winds eddying around the rock scour the snow away, exposing the vegetation to killing cold and dry air. Graves Lake, north of my route, hides behind the meadow-topped ridge at upper center-left in the photo.

Hiking in the Wind River Range, Sept 3-7, 2007

I hiked a loop from the Big Sandy Trailhead in the Wind River Mountains the week after Labor Day, did some fishing and took lots of pictures. I hiked 6-10 miles per day and camped at Big Sandy Lake, Bear Lakes, Little Washakie Lake and along the Washakie River below Shadow Lake (route here). Other than a thunderstorm west of the Washakie Lakes and a frost the last morning out, the weather was comfortable. Plenty of trout, few flowers, a handful of huckleberries and no bugs. For additional photos and a more complete account, see my Journal.

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Pallid clouds fringing the thunderstorm brewing off to the west are reflected in this placid stream-pool below Little Valentine Lake. I could hear the thunder already and but couldn't determine yet if the storm was going to intersect my path or not.

Hiking in the Wind River Range, Sept 3-7, 2007

I hiked a loop from the Big Sandy Trailhead in the Wind River Mountains the week after Labor Day, did some fishing and took lots of pictures. I hiked 6-10 miles per day and camped at Big Sandy Lake, Bear Lakes, Little Washakie Lake and along the Washakie River below Shadow Lake (route here). Other than a thunderstorm west of the Washakie Lakes and a frost the last morning out, the weather was comfortable. Plenty of trout, few flowers, a handful of huckleberries and no bugs. For additional photos and a more complete account, see my Journal.

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Trail junction at Valentine Lake. In addition to the marked and mapped trails, older stock (sheep-herder?) trails criss-cross the range. One such trail descends the shallow valley above Valentine Lake; I followed another from Black Joe Lake along the 10,400' contour to the Jackass Pass trail. In the trail above Valentine Lake I found chips of agate and jasper, geologically out of place, which must have been dropped years ago by an earlier trail user. Who, and when - mysteries that contribute to the appeal of the mountains.

Hiking in the Wind River Range, Sept 3-7, 2007

I hiked a loop from the Big Sandy Trailhead in the Wind River Mountains the week after Labor Day, did some fishing and took lots of pictures. I hiked 6-10 miles per day and camped at Big Sandy Lake, Bear Lakes, Little Washakie Lake and along the Washakie River below Shadow Lake (route here). Other than a thunderstorm west of the Washakie Lakes and a frost the last morning out, the weather was comfortable. Plenty of trout, few flowers, a handful of huckleberries and no bugs. For additional photos and a more complete account, see my Journal.

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Thunder every few seconds only a few miles to the northwest and rain approaching from the west - where I'm headed. I donned raingear then hurried down into the forest below Valentine Lake to reduce the risk from lightening. Although it rained for a half-hour or so and the temperature dropped ten degrees, the thunder receded off to the north. Relieved, I went fishing.

Hiking in the Wind River Range, Sept 3-7, 2007

I hiked a loop from the Big Sandy Trailhead in the Wind River Mountains the week after Labor Day, did some fishing and took lots of pictures. I hiked 6-10 miles per day and camped at Big Sandy Lake, Bear Lakes, Little Washakie Lake and along the Washakie River below Shadow Lake (route here). Other than a thunderstorm west of the Washakie Lakes and a frost the last morning out, the weather was comfortable. Plenty of trout, few flowers, a handful of huckleberries and no bugs. For additional photos and a more complete account, see my Journal.

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My only photo of one of the colorful subspecies of cutthroat trout which I caught in the stream below Little Washakie Lake. Most of the fish I caught were the more drab-colored brownish cutthroat variety. Odd that both coexist in the same stream. I didn't keep any because I'd had trout for lunch and it was late and cold and I wasn't up to preparing them for supper. Rain + chilled wet hands + slippery rocks + flopping trout + haste = blurred photo.

Hiking in the Wind River Range, Sept 3-7, 2007

I hiked a loop from the Big Sandy Trailhead in the Wind River Mountains the week after Labor Day, did some fishing and took lots of pictures. I hiked 6-10 miles per day and camped at Big Sandy Lake, Bear Lakes, Little Washakie Lake and along the Washakie River below Shadow Lake (route here). Other than a thunderstorm west of the Washakie Lakes and a frost the last morning out, the weather was comfortable. Plenty of trout, few flowers, a handful of huckleberries and no bugs. For additional photos and a more complete account, see my Journal.

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Sun illuminates the ridges northeast of Valentine Lake as the thunderstorm moves off to the north. Toe of Buffalo Head on the left.

Hiking in the Wind River Range, Sept 3-7, 2007

I hiked a loop from the Big Sandy Trailhead in the Wind River Mountains the week after Labor Day, did some fishing and took lots of pictures. I hiked 6-10 miles per day and camped at Big Sandy Lake, Bear Lakes, Little Washakie Lake and along the Washakie River below Shadow Lake (route here). Other than a thunderstorm west of the Washakie Lakes and a frost the last morning out, the weather was comfortable. Plenty of trout, few flowers, a handful of huckleberries and no bugs. For additional photos and a more complete account, see my Journal.

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I was grateful for this camp when I found it around sunset just up the slope from Little Washakie Lake. Some previous occupant had built up pine needles and cone debris to make a soft tent platform and stacked fallen limbs between the tree trunks to make a windbreak. I was a little concerned to camp under the most prominent trees in the area in case another thunderstorm came through, but figured that was unlikely.

Hiking in the Wind River Range, Sept 3-7, 2007

I hiked a loop from the Big Sandy Trailhead in the Wind River Mountains the week after Labor Day, did some fishing and took lots of pictures. I hiked 6-10 miles per day and camped at Big Sandy Lake, Bear Lakes, Little Washakie Lake and along the Washakie River below Shadow Lake (route here). Other than a thunderstorm west of the Washakie Lakes and a frost the last morning out, the weather was comfortable. Plenty of trout, few flowers, a handful of huckleberries and no bugs. For additional photos and a more complete account, see my Journal.

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A couple was working their way along Washakie Lake fishing while I searched for a sunny spot for breakfast. They'd caught only a few small brook trout when I asked. Had they asked, I would have mentioned the numerous 8-10" cutthroat in the stream below the toe of Buffalo Head a mile to the northeast.

Hiking in the Wind River Range, Sept 3-7, 2007

I hiked a loop from the Big Sandy Trailhead in the Wind River Mountains the week after Labor Day, did some fishing and took lots of pictures. I hiked 6-10 miles per day and camped at Big Sandy Lake, Bear Lakes, Little Washakie Lake and along the Washakie River below Shadow Lake (route here). Other than a thunderstorm west of the Washakie Lakes and a frost the last morning out, the weather was comfortable. Plenty of trout, few flowers, a handful of huckleberries and no bugs. For additional photos and a more complete account, see my Journal.

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View up the first of two valleys which offer possible routes south over to the Shadow Lake valley from the Washakie Lakes. I chose the second, higher valley and found my way up onto the ridge at the right. Nice view and initimidating drop from that prominent crag.

Hiking in the Wind River Range, Sept 3-7, 2007

I hiked a loop from the Big Sandy Trailhead in the Wind River Mountains the week after Labor Day, did some fishing and took lots of pictures. I hiked 6-10 miles per day and camped at Big Sandy Lake, Bear Lakes, Little Washakie Lake and along the Washakie River below Shadow Lake (route here). Other than a thunderstorm west of the Washakie Lakes and a frost the last morning out, the weather was comfortable. Plenty of trout, few flowers, a handful of huckleberries and no bugs. For additional photos and a more complete account, see my Journal.

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Old limber pines above Washakie lake. I believe it is the seeds of these pines which sustain the Clark's Nutcrackers common in the area. The understory consists of low green huckleberry bushes though berries themselves were scarce during my visit.

Hiking in the Wind River Range, Sept 3-7, 2007

I hiked a loop from the Big Sandy Trailhead in the Wind River Mountains the week after Labor Day, did some fishing and took lots of pictures. I hiked 6-10 miles per day and camped at Big Sandy Lake, Bear Lakes, Little Washakie Lake and along the Washakie River below Shadow Lake (route here). Other than a thunderstorm west of the Washakie Lakes and a frost the last morning out, the weather was comfortable. Plenty of trout, few flowers, a handful of huckleberries and no bugs. For additional photos and a more complete account, see my Journal.

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Chipmunks and the similar but larger golden-mantled ground squirrels were common everywhere I went in the Wind Rivers.

Hiking in the Wind River Range, Sept 3-7, 2007

I hiked a loop from the Big Sandy Trailhead in the Wind River Mountains the week after Labor Day, did some fishing and took lots of pictures. I hiked 6-10 miles per day and camped at Big Sandy Lake, Bear Lakes, Little Washakie Lake and along the Washakie River below Shadow Lake (route here). Other than a thunderstorm west of the Washakie Lakes and a frost the last morning out, the weather was comfortable. Plenty of trout, few flowers, a handful of huckleberries and no bugs. For additional photos and a more complete account, see my Journal.

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The prevailing westerly wind shapes the limber pines growing near treeline, here at 10,700'.

Hiking in the Wind River Range, Sept 3-7, 2007

I hiked a loop from the Big Sandy Trailhead in the Wind River Mountains the week after Labor Day, did some fishing and took lots of pictures. I hiked 6-10 miles per day and camped at Big Sandy Lake, Bear Lakes, Little Washakie Lake and along the Washakie River below Shadow Lake (route here). Other than a thunderstorm west of the Washakie Lakes and a frost the last morning out, the weather was comfortable. Plenty of trout, few flowers, a handful of huckleberries and no bugs. For additional photos and a more complete account, see my Journal.

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This was the most difficult section of my hike, a scramble up talus and outcrops onto the ridge south of Washakie Lake in order to gain the pass just northeast of Big Chief Mountain (aka Bair Peak on some maps).

Hiking in the Wind River Range, Sept 3-7, 2007

I hiked a loop from the Big Sandy Trailhead in the Wind River Mountains the week after Labor Day, did some fishing and took lots of pictures. I hiked 6-10 miles per day and camped at Big Sandy Lake, Bear Lakes, Little Washakie Lake and along the Washakie River below Shadow Lake (route here). Other than a thunderstorm west of the Washakie Lakes and a frost the last morning out, the weather was comfortable. Plenty of trout, few flowers, a handful of huckleberries and no bugs. For additional photos and a more complete account, see my Journal.

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Back on the high plateau again, this time above Washakie Lake. Washakie Glacier in the background on the north side of Big Chief Mountain (or Bair Peak) is typical of others I saw - a small accumulation zone at the top above a large ablation zone, indicating that the glacier is shrinking, withdrawing upslope from its terminal moraine which is visible as the gravelly ridge below center in the photo. This glacier may have already become a static ice patch, no longer actively flowing.

Hiking in the Wind River Range, Sept 3-7, 2007

I hiked a loop from the Big Sandy Trailhead in the Wind River Mountains the week after Labor Day, did some fishing and took lots of pictures. I hiked 6-10 miles per day and camped at Big Sandy Lake, Bear Lakes, Little Washakie Lake and along the Washakie River below Shadow Lake (route here). Other than a thunderstorm west of the Washakie Lakes and a frost the last morning out, the weather was comfortable. Plenty of trout, few flowers, a handful of huckleberries and no bugs. For additional photos and a more complete account, see my Journal.

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Alpine willow, bright yellow in the fall, is a common component of the high plateau vegetation.

Hiking in the Wind River Range, Sept 3-7, 2007

I hiked a loop from the Big Sandy Trailhead in the Wind River Mountains the week after Labor Day, did some fishing and took lots of pictures. I hiked 6-10 miles per day and camped at Big Sandy Lake, Bear Lakes, Little Washakie Lake and along the Washakie River below Shadow Lake (route here). Other than a thunderstorm west of the Washakie Lakes and a frost the last morning out, the weather was comfortable. Plenty of trout, few flowers, a handful of huckleberries and no bugs. For additional photos and a more complete account, see my Journal.

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Washakie Lake and Loch Leven from the crag above Washakie Lake.

Hiking in the Wind River Range, Sept 3-7, 2007

I hiked a loop from the Big Sandy Trailhead in the Wind River Mountains the week after Labor Day, did some fishing and took lots of pictures. I hiked 6-10 miles per day and camped at Big Sandy Lake, Bear Lakes, Little Washakie Lake and along the Washakie River below Shadow Lake (route here). Other than a thunderstorm west of the Washakie Lakes and a frost the last morning out, the weather was comfortable. Plenty of trout, few flowers, a handful of huckleberries and no bugs. For additional photos and a more complete account, see my Journal.

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It is hard to convey the vertigo induced by peering over the edge.

Hiking in the Wind River Range, Sept 3-7, 2007

I hiked a loop from the Big Sandy Trailhead in the Wind River Mountains the week after Labor Day, did some fishing and took lots of pictures. I hiked 6-10 miles per day and camped at Big Sandy Lake, Bear Lakes, Little Washakie Lake and along the Washakie River below Shadow Lake (route here). Other than a thunderstorm west of the Washakie Lakes and a frost the last morning out, the weather was comfortable. Plenty of trout, few flowers, a handful of huckleberries and no bugs. For additional photos and a more complete account, see my Journal.

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The summit of Big Chief Mountain (Bair Pk) consists of upended slabs of weathered granite like a stack of pancakes standing on edge. A flock of a hundred or so black rosy-finches was flying over the summit just as I took the picture.

Hiking in the Wind River Range, Sept 3-7, 2007

I hiked a loop from the Big Sandy Trailhead in the Wind River Mountains the week after Labor Day, did some fishing and took lots of pictures. I hiked 6-10 miles per day and camped at Big Sandy Lake, Bear Lakes, Little Washakie Lake and along the Washakie River below Shadow Lake (route here). Other than a thunderstorm west of the Washakie Lakes and a frost the last morning out, the weather was comfortable. Plenty of trout, few flowers, a handful of huckleberries and no bugs. For additional photos and a more complete account, see my Journal.

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The backside of the crags west of Lonesome Lake viewed from the saddle northeast of Big Chief Mountain. Texas Pass is the low point at center left in the photo.

Hiking in the Wind River Range, Sept 3-7, 2007

I hiked a loop from the Big Sandy Trailhead in the Wind River Mountains the week after Labor Day, did some fishing and took lots of pictures. I hiked 6-10 miles per day and camped at Big Sandy Lake, Bear Lakes, Little Washakie Lake and along the Washakie River below Shadow Lake (route here). Other than a thunderstorm west of the Washakie Lakes and a frost the last morning out, the weather was comfortable. Plenty of trout, few flowers, a handful of huckleberries and no bugs. For additional photos and a more complete account, see my Journal.

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My route down to Billys Lake which is above Shadow Lake.

Hiking in the Wind River Range, Sept 3-7, 2007

I hiked a loop from the Big Sandy Trailhead in the Wind River Mountains the week after Labor Day, did some fishing and took lots of pictures. I hiked 6-10 miles per day and camped at Big Sandy Lake, Bear Lakes, Little Washakie Lake and along the Washakie River below Shadow Lake (route here). Other than a thunderstorm west of the Washakie Lakes and a frost the last morning out, the weather was comfortable. Plenty of trout, few flowers, a handful of huckleberries and no bugs. For additional photos and a more complete account, see my Journal.

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View southwest towards the outlet of Billys Lake. It would have been nice to have an extra day to explore around here.

Hiking in the Wind River Range, Sept 3-7, 2007

I hiked a loop from the Big Sandy Trailhead in the Wind River Mountains the week after Labor Day, did some fishing and took lots of pictures. I hiked 6-10 miles per day and camped at Big Sandy Lake, Bear Lakes, Little Washakie Lake and along the Washakie River below Shadow Lake (route here). Other than a thunderstorm west of the Washakie Lakes and a frost the last morning out, the weather was comfortable. Plenty of trout, few flowers, a handful of huckleberries and no bugs. For additional photos and a more complete account, see my Journal.

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Each of these shallow little pools in the outlet stream below Billys lake contained one or more brook trout. Typical of all the trout I caught in this drainage, they had relatively large heads and small bodies, indicative I think of overpopulation.

Hiking in the Wind River Range, Sept 3-7, 2007

I hiked a loop from the Big Sandy Trailhead in the Wind River Mountains the week after Labor Day, did some fishing and took lots of pictures. I hiked 6-10 miles per day and camped at Big Sandy Lake, Bear Lakes, Little Washakie Lake and along the Washakie River below Shadow Lake (route here). Other than a thunderstorm west of the Washakie Lakes and a frost the last morning out, the weather was comfortable. Plenty of trout, few flowers, a handful of huckleberries and no bugs. For additional photos and a more complete account, see my Journal.

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I did my small part for trout population control by catching and eating half a dozen for supper. The boulder doubled as table and dinner plate, simplifying cleanup. Camp for the night was a mile or two downstream.

Hiking in the Wind River Range, Sept 3-7, 2007

I hiked a loop from the Big Sandy Trailhead in the Wind River Mountains the week after Labor Day, did some fishing and took lots of pictures. I hiked 6-10 miles per day and camped at Big Sandy Lake, Bear Lakes, Little Washakie Lake and along the Washakie River below Shadow Lake (route here). Other than a thunderstorm west of the Washakie Lakes and a frost the last morning out, the weather was comfortable. Plenty of trout, few flowers, a handful of huckleberries and no bugs. For additional photos and a more complete account, see my Journal.

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I awoke at 5:30AM too cold to stay asleep any longer. The temperature was 27 in my tent. The meadows were all frosted when I started hiking before sunrise. Shadow Lake lies at the foot of the sharp peaks on the horizon.

Hiking in the Wind River Range, Sept 3-7, 2007

I hiked a loop from the Big Sandy Trailhead in the Wind River Mountains the week after Labor Day, did some fishing and took lots of pictures. I hiked 6-10 miles per day and camped at Big Sandy Lake, Bear Lakes, Little Washakie Lake and along the Washakie River below Shadow Lake (route here). Other than a thunderstorm west of the Washakie Lakes and a frost the last morning out, the weather was comfortable. Plenty of trout, few flowers, a handful of huckleberries and no bugs. For additional photos and a more complete account, see my Journal.

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Sunrise on peaks of an outlier ridge west of Halley Pass and Pyramid Lake. From here it is an 8 or 9 mile hike south back to the Big Sandy Trailhead.

Hiking in the Wind River Range, Sept 3-7, 2007

I hiked a loop from the Big Sandy Trailhead in the Wind River Mountains the week after Labor Day, did some fishing and took lots of pictures. I hiked 6-10 miles per day and camped at Big Sandy Lake, Bear Lakes, Little Washakie Lake and along the Washakie River below Shadow Lake (route here). Other than a thunderstorm west of the Washakie Lakes and a frost the last morning out, the weather was comfortable. Plenty of trout, few flowers, a handful of huckleberries and no bugs. For additional photos and a more complete account, see my Journal.

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Mist rising from the calm surface of Marm's lake as the morning sun reaches it.

Hiking in the Wind River Range, Sept 3-7, 2007

I hiked a loop from the Big Sandy Trailhead in the Wind River Mountains the week after Labor Day, did some fishing and took lots of pictures. I hiked 6-10 miles per day and camped at Big Sandy Lake, Bear Lakes, Little Washakie Lake and along the Washakie River below Shadow Lake (route here). Other than a thunderstorm west of the Washakie Lakes and a frost the last morning out, the weather was comfortable. Plenty of trout, few flowers, a handful of huckleberries and no bugs. For additional photos and a more complete account, see my Journal.

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Mirror Lake living up to its name. While I ate breakfast on the grassy saddle at the right of the photo, two prairie falcons showed up and put on an aerial dogfight, diving on each other. Two red-tailed hawks in two nearby snags looked on. One redtail, an immature, had a pale face and pale stripe over the eye, the other had a dark face and head.

Hiking in the Wind River Range, Sept 3-7, 2007

I hiked a loop from the Big Sandy Trailhead in the Wind River Mountains the week after Labor Day, did some fishing and took lots of pictures. I hiked 6-10 miles per day and camped at Big Sandy Lake, Bear Lakes, Little Washakie Lake and along the Washakie River below Shadow Lake (route here). Other than a thunderstorm west of the Washakie Lakes and a frost the last morning out, the weather was comfortable. Plenty of trout, few flowers, a handful of huckleberries and no bugs. For additional photos and a more complete account, see my Journal.

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The trail from Marm's and Dad's lake to the north joins the Big Sandy Lake trail along the Big Sandy river just a half mile from the traihead. The river was a welcome sight - my long hike out was almost done.