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Wind River Range in Mid-March?

Original Post
Chelsea12 Stacy · · Denver, CO · Joined Jan 2015 · Points: 0

Does anyone have any experience climbing in the Wind River Range in March? My boyfriend and I were thinking about going there for spring break, but it seems like not many people have gone in March. Just wanted to know if there's a reason for that/ how feasible it would be to get climbing done there at that time.

Petsfed 00 · · Snohomish, WA · Joined Mar 2002 · Points: 989

You'll be at the mercy of the winter. If the next 6 weeks are dry and warm, it could be fantastic. If they're more wintery, forget it. Plan on carrying snowshoes and/or crampons for when the trails are blocked, and expect bitter cold if the weather goes bad.
All of the Cirque of the Towers climbs start from above treeline. Hopefully you've got some experience of the kind of weather you can expect above tree line, in late winter/early spring.

Mr. Wonderful · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2014 · Points: 10

Depending on the snow, I cant imagine how you would even get to any of the trail heads without a chained up 4x4 or snowmobile. You could ski in from a highway but that would be a slog.

I would also be worried that even if you can drive into a trail head, you may not be able to drive out if you get a blizzard in between.

Also my experience (and why I dont even try anymore) is the snow can be really deep, light, and fluffy so that busting a trail becomes a huge amount of work.

Whatever you do, dont leave the highway without a shovel and chains.

Cameron Sumpter · · Lander, WY · Joined Aug 2010 · Points: 65

The Winds at the time is pretty full on winter conditions. The best mode of travel that time of year would probably be skis and a sled behind you - but even then most of the climbs will have snow/ice in the cracks.

Mr. Wonderful is quite right - it would be full on adventure mode and self reliance would be important.

Not to deter you from going in at that time, but it would be more of a ski touring paradise that time of the year than a fair weather rock climber's good time. I have been in the Winds for a month before in May/June and we were in snowshoes 80+% of the time.

That said - Main Wall @ Sinks is awesome here year around as long as the sun is out, and fair number of other places around Lander.

Sage Eddie · · Salt Lake City, UT · Joined Mar 2013 · Points: 315

The winds in march are an excellent place, the cooler temps keep the snakes away and the grizzlies are escaping higher elevations, probably in the Sinks(Thanks Cameron....) The summer storms will not surprise you, but the cooler temps make the trip less popular.

builttospill · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2006 · Points: 0

A little late, but a friend of mine has been in the Winds in early May (2009). He has a lot of photos here which might help give you a sense of what to expect.

Nicholas Patterson · · Sheridan, WY · Joined Aug 2009 · Points: 55

awesome idea. often wondered the same myself. sounds like adventure. imagine that. right here in the lower forty-eight. adventure.

Terrible Terry · · Pinedale,Wy · Joined Jul 2012 · Points: 0

July

Matt Hartman · · Leavenworth WA · Joined May 2007 · Points: 240

I did an attempted ski traverse from north to south a few years ago. The only access points in Winter that don't require sno-mo or 4wheeler is Bruce's Bridge in Sinks (16 miles or so to Cirque) or Trail Lakes (regular route to Gannett) and maybe Dickinson Park. I saw ice and alpine objectives that would be mega classics if they weren't far from the road. That time of year one would likely focus on ice and mixed routes as it will be cold. I saw ski lines all over the place that rivaled the big lines in the Tetons. They were everywhere. Wild west for sure. With all the Summer trailhead closed we didn't see a soul from Sweetwater Gap to Titcomb Basin.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Wyoming, Montana, Dakotas
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