Texas Pass (Winds) in late July

RyanP

Member
Joined
Mar 1, 2015
Messages
578
I'm considering doing the Texas Pass loop in the Winds in two weeks (big Sandy TH to Shadow lake to Texas Pass to Cirque to...), and was hoping to quiz the bcp community:

1. For Texas pass in late July this year, I should bring which of the following:
A) Crampons + ice axe
B) Microspikes + ice axe
C) Ice axe only
D) None of the above needed---hiking poles alone should be sufficient
E) Too dangerous to attempt solo even with equipment

2. What direction and time of day would be ideal for Texas pass in late July this year?

3. Should I bring snow/winter gaiters? (Not just for Texas pass, but for this trip in general).

I was tentatively planning on doing the loop clockwise, ascending the North side of Texas pass in the mid-morning, and bringing microspikes and an axe (but just my trail runners and summer gaiters, along with bread bags). I just bought my axe a few weeks ago, but have been out a couple of times to practice with it on slopes with similar angle (30 degrees or a little more---if Texas pass is much more than that, please let me know!). But I'm interested in hearing your input!

(Note: I am currently on a camping trip and have almost no reception, so I won't be able to respond to this thread for a while. I will be leaving on my winds backpacking trip right when I get home, though, so I appreciate any feedback!)
 
Last edited:
Did that exact loop last year, but in September. I'd check with the GOS in Pinedale before you leave. Latest report shows Jackass Pass isn't bad. Texas holds more snow and has a good incline but still class 2. My guess is microspikes+poles, but check with GOS to be sure. I always make sure to be off passes by early afternoon, certainly during the summer. Shadow is an easy hike from the trailhead. Great camping. FWIW I always use midweight GTX+summer gaitors, but so many use trail runners successfully that it's unlikely to be any different. Maybe I'll see the light and switch at some point but I like warm feet up there in late September.

 
I've been wondering about Texas as well as Washakie and the other one (name escaping my mind right now, I know it's a female name). Every time I call the rangers or the outdoor shops I get conflicting reports.
 
I've been wondering about Texas as well as Washakie and the other one (name escaping my mind right now, I know it's a female name). Every time I call the rangers or the outdoor shops I get conflicting reports.
Hailey?

(NOT making a jackass joke here :))
 
On a side note about the winds - Does anyone know where I get off the Pyramid Lake trail to get up into the Desolation Valley Lakesbelow Raid Peak and Mount Bonneville? From my topo it's hard to tell exactly where to exit the trail. It looks like if you're up at Pyramid Lake you can side skirt the basin but you will be downclimbing to get into Desolation or do I need to access that area from the Continental Divide Trail all the way at the bottom of the valley and hike my way up?
 
Would highly recommend crossing over north of Midsummer Dome. After that, staying high/east through the basin nets the easiest travel IIRC. when you get there it should be fairly intuitive.
 
Would highly recommend crossing over north of Midsummer Dome. After that, staying high/east through the basin nets the easiest travel IIRC. when you get there it should be fairly intuitive.
Better yet, I would recommend climbing up the south face of the Dome and then walking over the Dome top to the north. it is a way-pleasant climb but gear needed. :)
 
Last edited:
@OldBill ... did you build that map of Nancy's routes from the book by hand?

The map is a link to someone's Caltopo map (1JVK), and is not from Nancy's book. It covers many of the trails/routes in the region. I also referenced the route # from the book for the specific area. Caltopo is a great resource, but having Nancy's book is even more helpful. Just happened to be looking at these for a possible 4 day route from Scab Creek to East Fork and to Cirque via Texas and Jackass.
 
Last edited:
The map is a link to someone's Caltopo map (1JVK), and is not from Nancy's book. It covers many of the trails/routes in the region. I also referenced the route # from the book for the specific area. Caltopo is a great resource, but having Nancy's book is even more helpful. Just happened to be looking at these for a possible 4 day route from Scab Creek to East Fork and to Cirque via Texas and Jackass.
Oh, I see. I misunderstood. It would be nice to have all her routes on one map. The book is the bible for the Winds AFAIC and she includes routes hand drawn in on topo maps. That is just the cost of entry though. Moving those to your own GPS map. Thanks for the info.
 
Oh, I see. I misunderstood. It would be nice to have all her routes on one map. The book is the bible for the Winds AFAIC and she includes routes hand drawn in on topo maps. That is just the cost of entry though. Moving those to your own GPS map. Thanks for the info.
I have them all on a hard copy map.... And scanned on CD...
 
I have them all on a hard copy map.... And scanned on CD...
Do you mean on paper? Wild! :) Yeah I have her CD too which you can buy with the book. Have you read of her posting any more TR's recently?
 
Do you mean on paper? Wild! :) Yeah I have her CD too which you can buy with the book. Have you read of her posting any more TR's recently?
Yep.... Hard copy.... I transferred them all to my winds maps...just haven't to anything like caltopo yet.. no new routes outside what I have created
 
Oldbill. Instead of dropping down to go to Bonneville lake.. . As soon as you get to the saddle by raid peak hang a north thru the minor saddle.... Go down there to Bonneville ... Not a bad scramble saves losing elevation
 
Do you mean on paper? Wild! :) Yeah I have her CD too which you can buy with the book. Have you read of her posting any more TR's recently?

She posts frequently on High Sierra Topix as Wandering Daisy
 
Thanks Bob! I may start a new thread on that route at some point. Think 4 days from Scab Creek TH to Big Sandy TH is possible (camps near Raid and Shadow L, then Lizard Head Meadows). My gf did love the Texas Pass loop as a 3 day and it's a great time or car-constrained option.

But that 2000+ ft gain from Scab Creek with a full pack is a rough way to start. When I went to Rainbow a few years ago I got passed by an ATV. He started his hike at the wilderness boundary fresh. Told me "I've done this before".

May send you a PM too - heard rumors of some interesting fishing in that vicinity and didn't want to get too off-topic here.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Bob
Similar threads
Thread starter Title Forum Replies Date
pstm13 Texas Pass Cirque of Towers Lower Wind River Range August 2018 Trip Planning 7
Lincsco Wind Rivers - Texas Pass Trip Planning 5
jjmcwill Southern Wind River Range - Texas Pass on Aug 11th Trip Planning 44
jjmcwill Cirque of the Towers - Texas Pass in August Trip Planning 4
The Trout Whisperer Show me th cold, icy and snow pics…Burnin up here in Texas! General Discussion 35
toddrparr Easy family backpacking in Big Thicket Preserve, Texas Trip Planning 0
4 New From E Texas Noobs: Introduce yourself! 3
F Any where good? (in Texas) Trip Planning 4
CavalryRoadie Hey, from Dripping Springs, Texas... Noobs: Introduce yourself! 1
N Howdy from Texas Noobs: Introduce yourself! 1
Adventures With BeeGee Trip Report: Palmetto State Park, Texas Hiking & Camping 0
Adventures With BeeGee Some Texas News General Discussion 1
Adventures With BeeGee Lockhart State Park, Texas Hiking & Camping 3
Adventures With BeeGee Noob from Texas Noobs: Introduce yourself! 0
uintahiker Texas High Point: Guadalupe Peak Hiking & Camping 0
Clint_N Arch and Texas Canyons, February 25-28 Backpacking 13
gnwatts Texas Canyon 2008 Backpacking 6
lostlandscapes Wind River Range: Big Sandy/Deep/Cirque/Texas Loop Backpacking 24
scatman Yellowstone's Thorofare, Headwaters of Thorofare Creek, Majo Pass, Younts Peak, Bob's Canyon, and Cub Creek - August 9, 2023 - Days 7 through 10 Backpacking 34
scatman Yellowstone's Thorofare, Headwaters of Thorofare Creek, Majo Pass, Younts Peak, Bob's Canyon, and Cub Creek - August 9, 2023 - Days 1 through 6 Backpacking 56
balzaccom Desolation: Rockbound Pass Backpacking 0
Outdoor_Fool Brooks Range trek - Anaktuvuk Pass to the Haul Road - Cancelled Flight - last minute change-up Backpacking 21
shredhiker YNP Fawn Pass to Sportsman, Crescent, Shelf Lake Backpacking 11
uintafly Chepeta Lake to Hayden Pass Trip Planning 0
shredhiker YNP Fawn Pass to Sportsman & Crescent Lake Trip Planning 14
P Season Backcountry Pass at Yellowston General Discussion 9
marquiri Wind River Range - Angel Pass Trip Planning 24
NorthwestWanderer Backpacking Grand Teton National Park : Fossil Pass,Fox Creek Pass,Indian Lake,Alaska Basin,Hurricane Pass,Ice Floe Lake,& Snowdrift Lake Backpacking 19
Mikjik86 Another Wind River Trip Planning! Elkhart/Titcomb/Knapsack/Shannons Pass loop back to Elkhart, or continue to Green River Lakes Trailhead? Trip Planning 10
TeamJenkins17 Bonneville Pass - August 2021 Hiking & Camping 6
TeamJenkins17 Looking for info on Clark Creek drainage/Pierpont Pass into Hidden Basin in the Washakie Wilderness Trip Planning 5
C Dinwoody/Bonney Pass Summer Conditions Trip Planning 1
BackpackingtheSierras Republic Pass Trail North Absaroka into Yellowstone Cache Creek and Lamar River Trip Planning 1
marmot_boi Hailey Pass-Cirque of The Towers loop Backpacking 14
NorthwestWanderer Washingtons Okanogan National Forest : PCT/grass hopper pass Backpacking 7
fossana Wire Pass fire (impacting House Rock Rd/Buckskin Gulch) Trip Planning 3
SteveR Blueberry Hill and West Elk Pass, Alberta Winter Sports 1
b.stark Wrangell-St Elias "Seven Pass Route" Backpacking 29
NorthwestWanderer Route Finding adventure, Copper Pass to Blue Lake - Goats, Bears, Lions, Oh my! Backpacking 3
NorthwestWanderer Backpacking the Pasayten Wilderness : Harts Pass, PCT, Windy Pass, Buffalo Pass, Foggy Pass, Jim Pass, Hulman Pass & Rock Pass Meadows Backpacking 3
Perry July 14th Dead Horse Pass Recon Trip Hiking & Camping 10
NorthwestWanderer Dayhike to Gothic Basin & Foggy Pass Hiking & Camping 1
S Washakie: E. Dunoir Creek - Shoshone Pass Info Trip Planning 13
woodmaker_58 Table Mt to Hurricane Pass/ Teton Crest Trail Trip Planning 5
NorthwestWanderer Overnighter in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness : Ingalls Pass and Lake Ingalls Backpacking 9
Rockskipper Snowshed on Red Mountain Pass, Colorado, 3-16-19 General Discussion 7
NorthwestWanderer Washington - 4x4 to Bear Lake & Little Deer Pass Off Road 0
Born to Hike Windriver 36 mile loop: Skull Lake, Washakie Pass, South Fork Lakes, Lizard Head Trail, The Cirque, Big Sandy Lake Backpacking 6
Mikjik86 Backpacking Four Pass Loop Backpacking 2
NorthwestWanderer Copper Pass, North Cascades (Day Hike + Bear sighting) Hiking & Camping 1

Similar threads

Back
Top