End of June/Early July ideas

Dreamer said:
Only that one 4 nighter in the Gro Vont versus 610 nights in the Winds. In my opinion the Winds are unhikable in June and barely so in early July, at least what one would consider a normal trip. You won’t see many bugs (none? only down low in the trees and who wants to stay there anyway) but the snow travel will be likely extensive (not just passes) and all creek crossings (the ones you can’t snow bridge over) will be a challenge and some undoable by most sane people. Four feet of snow in Fish Creek Park out of Big Sandy mid June of ‘17. I’ve seen a 16” standing wave in very fast moving mid thigh deep water at the Seneca Lk outlet creek by Hobbes Lk first week of July (short but intense with high consequence) - which most get an ankle deep easy as pie crossing during normal season. Plus the access roads - both Big Sandy and Green River have a good chance of being a muddy rutted 4wd high clearance mess in spots and Elkhart could still be snowed in in mid June. There are good reasons most wait until the bugs begin to dissipate in mid August. The Vont is about 3000ft lower than the Winds. On the hike there (just a snapshot in time) I do not recall seeing a single bug. Must’ve been too early for em. We walked on snow a fair bit up high but it was well consolidated.
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I really appreciate that perspective. Looking at my calendar, this trip would be first week of July, but I was already a little leary. And, I had not considered the roads part of the winds. The road to Big Sandy was a washboarded mess in September 2021, I definitely don't want to deal with mud on top of that.

I'll reconsider the Winds in June once I have a better idea of snow and melt. Thanks again
 
Bob said:
Always go with me and Scat on July 7......
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What are you planning? I'd have to talk to my son, he might not want to hang out with a bunch of old guys :)
 
Snake river range, Wyoming..
 
Thought of a couple possible early season Winds trips.

Union Peak/Simpson Lk is an easy low use area that I’ve been to over July 4th. I followed the ORV track from Union Pass.

A hike starting at the New Fork trailhead going up to Lozier Lks and the Hidden Lks area might not be too challenging water/snow wise. The trail crosses the river twice but you could likely bushwhack that mile. Dodge Ck could be an issue but it doesn’t drain a large area. I suspect that the north facing Palmer Canyon switchbacks (nice example of some CCC work) might be snowy in early July so go up by Kenny Lk. Only been in this area in August.


I had some fun scrolling the archives and pulled a few early season Winds pictures.

Fish Ck Park - June 14, 2017
DSC00097.jpeg

Miller Park - June 19, 2017
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Pipestone Lk - June 29, 2017
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trail by Howard Lk - June 29, 2017
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Island Lk - July 8, 2017
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Seneca Lk outlet by Hobbes Lk - July 8, 2017 _DSC0973.jpeg

Roaring Fork - July 9, 2018
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Crecent Lk Ck - July 9, 2018
DSC09137.jpeg

view from Downs Mt - July 12, 2016
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view from head of Tourist Ck - July 12,2018
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Indian Basin - July 13, 2014
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Knifepoint Ck - July 14, 2014DSC08080.jpeg

Fremont Ck - July 16, 2018
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view from Knapsack Col - July 20, 2019 DSC00240.jpeg

Barren Lk north of Texas Pass - July 26, 2011
IMG_1521.jpeg
 
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Thanks for posting those pics @Dreamer! I love that you put the dates on each. I commented here just to make sure I can find this in the future, because I'll likely want to reference this (comparing the pics to historical snowpack numbers for the year) to give me a feel for snow levels
 
Dreamer said:
Thought of a couple possible early season Winds trips.

Union Peak/Simpson Lk is an easy low use area that I’ve been to over July 4th. I followed the ORV track from Union Pass.

A hike starting at the New Fork trailhead going up to Lozier Lks and the Hidden Lks area might not be too challenging water/snow wise. The trail crosses the river twice but you could likely bushwhack that mile. Dodge Ck could be an issue but it doesn’t drain a large area. I suspect that the north facing Palmer Canyon switchbacks (nice example of some CCC work) might be snowy in early July so go up by Kenny Lk. Only been in this area in August.


I had some fun scrolling the archives and pulled a few early season Winds pictures.

Fish Ck Park - June 14, 2017
View attachment 140301

Miller Park - June 19, 2017
View attachment 140300

Pipestone Lk - June 29, 2017
View attachment 140302

trail by Howard Lk - June 29, 2017
View attachment 140303

Island Lk - July 8, 2017
View attachment 140304

Seneca Lk outlet by Hobbes Lk - July 8, 2017 View attachment 140305

Roaring Fork - July 9, 2018
View attachment 140307

Crecent Lk Ck - July 9, 2018
View attachment 140308

view from Downs Mt - July 12, 2016
View attachment 140310

view from head of Tourist Ck - July 12,2018
View attachment 140309

Indian Basin - July 13, 2014
View attachment 140311

Knifepoint Ck - July 14, 2014View attachment 140312

Fremont Ck - July 16, 2018
View attachment 140313

view from Knapsack Col - July 20, 2019 View attachment 140314

Barren Lk north of Texas Pass - July 26, 2011
View attachment 140315
Click to expand...

That is a lot of snow in that first pic.

thanks for the ideas, I'll take a look at the map of the Union Pass area and see if I have any questions for you.
 
2017 and 2018 were extremely heavy snow years up here..
 
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