[Lead Dog]

I am planning a hike in the Bridger Wilderness 7/21/03-7/29/03. Have room for 1 or 2 people who would like to go. If interested leave message on this forum and I'll give the details of what to expect.

[MtnMan]

just a question - are you familiar with the Wind Rivers? I have some time off in June and August and am looking for some good secluded trips. thanks for any help you can offer

[Brian Curtis]

Where you going, Lead Dog?

[Lead Dog]

June might be to soon to hike the Winds, unless they have a real light snow year! It's getting harder to find solitude even in the Winds. Your best bet is to stay away from Titcomb Basin, Island Lake, Jean Lakes, Cirque of The Towers, Big Sandy Lake, and Indian Basin. To bad that these are also some of the best places. Your best bet is to buy Hiking in the Wind River Range put out by Falcon Press. That guide will give you alot more info. than I can give you on this forum. Good luck!

[Lead Dog]

We will be spending 8 days in the lower and upper Cook Lake basin area, Baldy Lakes basin area, Chain Lakes, and Bald Mtn. basin. This is mostly a fishing trip. We are planning to base camp at Thousand Island Lake. From there we can fish 25-30 different lakes. Some have Golden Trout in them but most have the usual Cutthroat, Rainbow, Brown, Brook,and Lake Trout. Some of the lakes are well off the trail so they don't get much pressure. This is also a beautiful place. Base camp is at 9600'- great views!!! Interested?

[Brian Curtis]

I'm always interested in the Winds, but I can't get away at that time. We went through that area in the late seventies.It is beautiful, but there were insane numbers of people in the Titcomb Basin even back then.

[Lead Dog]

When you went to the Winds, did you stay in Pinedale? It's unbelieveable that a place so far away could be so crowded!! It can't be as bad as it is in the Alpine lakes? The places we are going are off the beaten track. Thousand Island Lake is not on the main trail.

[Brian Curtis]

We do long trip every year. Trips have ranged from 8 to 15 days. Our normal strategy is to drive all night and time it such that we can get breakfast and fishing licenses in the nearest town before starting to hike. With 4 people we can drive one hour and sleep 3. So, while I've been through Pinedale quite a few times, I've never stayed there. I take that back. One trip we arrived in Pinedale at about 3:00 AM and we had to meet someone in Pinedale the next morning so we plopped ourselves in the local KOA. It is very crowded in the Winds in certain areas. One day we came down from Indian Pass to Island Lake where we had lunch. A troop of 31 Boy Scouts marched by with firewood bundles on their packs. That afternoon, including the Scouts, we counted 96 people heading up to the Titcomb Basin. The cars in the Elkhart Park lot can number in the hundreds. But, the area is big, the people concentrate in certain areas, and you can get away from the crowds quite easily. Just like anywhere, get off the trails and you'll leave the crowds behind. But the popular places are popular for a reason and they shouldn't be missed.

[Lead Dog]

At this time it looks like we will have 4 going. I made reservations at the Fremont Lake Lodge and hope to get in to Pinedale at 4:00 and 5:00 pm. By the looks of the route it's going to be a 17 hr. drive. I heard the steaks at Mc Gregers Pub are as big as hubcaps so guess where we will be. The cub scout story was great! I've seen them with folding lounge chairs strapped to their packs!

[Backpacker Joe]

I'd be interested if there is room available. TB

[Lead Dog]

Right now there are 3 of us going. If you want to go you are welcome to. This is mostly a fishing trip, but there will be some scrambling and lots of picture taking. We will have access to 30 different lakes from 9400' to 10300'. Our base camp will be at 9600'. My main goal is catch a Golden Trout and to climb up to the Continental Divide. I don't have a computer at home. My only access to a computer is at work and they don't allow me to use it to receive e-mail!!!! So would you like to get together to discuss the other details? And before you spend 10 days with someone you don't know? I read your bio from this website, it looks like we have alot in common. The other 2 guys that are going are avid fisherman!I look forward to meeting you. Please leave response on this forum. Thanks!

[Tom]

Lead Dog, since you don't have an email address (and thus can't register) I've set you up as a registered user so that you can use this board's private messenging feature, among other member benefits such as automatic display of read/unread posts, ability to edit/delete posts, ability to list all topics you've posted in with a click of a button, etc. Just login as LeadDog (without a space). Whatever password you use will become your password.

[Lead Dog]

There is still room for 1 person. it would be nice to 5 have going.