Wyoming
Wind River High Routes
Yellowstone National Park
Wind River Range
Northern High Route
I started the northern High Route through the Wind River Range at the Green River Lakes Trailhead
One of the moose at Green River Lakes, going for a pond feeding on a cold morning in late September
Smoky Indian Basin and Harrower Peak
The Alpine Lakes area was a highlight and the most time consuming section
Coming down to lower elevation for the evening
Douglas Peak and the colors of late September
Final look at Golden Lakes going up Hay Pass
A snowstorm in the south
Approaching Texas Pass
Sunrise at Papoose lake before exiting the range
Northern High Route
The northern high route was completed as a four day loop from the Trail Lake Trailhead. I camped in the Goat Flats on the first evening with a view of the range around Gannett Peak, the high point in Wyoming
The section from Yukon Peak to Gannett Peak is the highlight of the mountain range
Sourdough Glacier and Baker Lake from the southern plateau of Yukon Peak
Hikers crossing Gannett Glacier
Return walk on the Glacier Trail alongside Dinwoody Creek
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone South Backpacking Loop
In early September I walked an eight day loop around southern Yellowstone. I started in the Pelican Valley, spending the first few nights camping along the eastern side of Yellowstone Lake
Yellowstone River Valley at the Southeast Arm of the Lake
Fording the Yellowstone River
Heart Lake shoreline
My original plan was a figure eight loop around the park, but due to the flood damage earlier in the year (2022) only the southern portion around Yellowstone Lake could be completed. The entire map is outlined above for reference
The southern loop took eight days with some shorter days near Old Faithful including a night at the Inn. I used the facilities at Fishing Bridge and Canyon Village to reduce the food carry. The south is fairly straightforward without much elevation change and the only real challenge (fording the Yellowstone River) is a non-factor in September
Calm night at Basin Beach. The trip picked up here with the final four days in the center of the park
Shoshone Geyser Basin
The Lone Star Geyser erupted as I sat down for a morning snack. Unplanned and probably my favorite part of the walk
Old Faithful fighting the wind on a stormy night. I stayed overnight at the inn with two shorter hiking days planned around the visit
The thunderstorms cleared in the late evening at the Sentinel Meadows camp. Feels isolated despite being located only a few miles from main attractions
Sunrise from above Grand Prismatic Spring
Bison sloshing through the basin
What ended up being close to a 30 mile day over Mary Mountain with the morning visit to Grand Prismatic Spring. The east side had no trees for protection from bison which lengthened the walk
Wildfire smoke settled in on the final day as I visited the Canyon area and walked back to the car at Fishing Bridge. The picture above is from a previous visit to Lower Falls in the wintertime
Yellowstone Winter
Morning Glory Pool in winter at Yellowstone National Park
The roads are closed in the winter, park shuttles are offered to access the lodges
Testing the heat with its paw
The snowshoe to Fairy Falls was probably the best experience in the Old Faithful area
Colored Pools around Mammoth
