I need a backup plan for Wind River
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Planning on climbing NE face of Pingora and some other fun stuff Sept 16-19. Weather has been looking pretty cold. If things dont shape up, looking for other options. Flying into Denver and have plans later in the week to climb Devils Tower. Id love some back country multi pitch suggestions in the 5.9 range either in CO or somewhere towards Devils Tower. |
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Look at the South Platte or RMNP |
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RMNP is great. South Face of Petit Grepon is a 50 classics of North America that runs at 5.8 for 8 pitches |
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I would imagine weather to be better in the winds than in RMNP. I did NE face a couple weeks ago and it was colder than we expected but honestly as long as the weather is dry I think you’ll be fine. |
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Have you been to the Winds, Garrett? Not a challenge, honest question. I went in August of last year and the weather was quite heinous. Predictably unpredictable patterns of thunderstorms at any time of day and heavy winds every night that made sleep very difficult. Multiple parties got stuck in storms on Pingora's peak (my party included) during the week that I camped in the Cirque. I am curious about your experience if you had a positive outcome with weather on any trips in the area. |
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Yeah like I said I did the NE face a few weeks ago, it was colder than what we were expecting but still great weather. Like I said I think the most important part of the forecast will be precipitation. Afternoon thunderstorms and the like are less likely the later in the season you climb, but September will have the risk of bad weather moving in by then. Both places could be climbable is all I’m saying. If you do go hope you enjoy it! |
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Consider going to Winds anyway? Easy for me to say, I know. Yeti and Ragan said, all weather is climbing weather. And its never too cold to climb. “No excuses in a team of two and no ego in a team of two.” Raganowicz leading. [Photo] Marek Raganowicz I'm just kidding (sort of)! I wouldn't want to be freezing my arse off with you |
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Cherokee Nunes wrote: Exactly |
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Honestly the 18 F summit temps were scaring me more than the precip. True, gear and clothing solves all but its just too early to break out the ice tools in earnest. Thanks for the suggestions. The Petit looks pretty sweet. |
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Late season conditions in WY can be a gamble. Pretty good snowfall on the Tetons and summit temps barely above freezing about three weeks ago. Now it's back to summer conditions. |
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B Donovan wrote: A high in the 40s and a low in the 20s with scattered rain/snow is not summer conditions, last time I checked. At this time of the year, always plan on the potential for snow, as long as its not wet/windy, no problem |
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Jack Leitner wrote: I would agree with that. I saw some photos of friends in trail runners and shorts flying a kite on the Grand on this past Saturday, though. My main point was really that it's a gamble. |
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When it comes to weather--it's all a crap shoot. I've spent over 50 seasons climbing in the Wind Rivers, and in general have been pretty lucky with the weather. September can be good, but the days are shorter. Went to do the Petit/Grepon in RMNP once with my son, in July, and it was so windy, you could barely stand up, and COLD. I've always been partial to the climbs at Turkey Rocks, which are a little more stable, when it come to weather issues. |
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Few know the Winds any better than Steve who posted above, and I am in full agreement with him. In my experience, there is often a stormy/cold period in late August/early September, then 'often' ( nothing in the mountains is certain ) a stretch of 2 or 3 weeks of nice stable weather with 'tolerable' temperatures. One option, if the higher peaks are out of condition, there are several granite 'domes' on the western edges of the range that offer more accessible climbs of several pitches. I acknowledge that I have never climbed on them but they look quite attractive and have some multi-pitch routes. I recall that several are covered in a guidebook to the Pinedale area. Further east, and on route towards Devil's Tower, and at a significantly lower altitude, there are domes with multi-pitch routes in the Sweetwater Granites. |