Wind River – Conditions on Knapsack Col & Knifepoint Glacier?

[danibananiiii]

Looking at a route in the Winds in mid-July, near Titcomb Basin. Our route has us going up the west side of Knapsack Col and down the glacier on the east. It also includes heading up to Indian Pass and then down Knifepoint Glacier, before going by Alpine Lakes and eventually Hay Pass.

I'm comfortable off trail, have done my fair share of glissading and summer snow travel, but never anything on an actual glacier. So I guess I want to make sure I'm not getting myself into anything crazy here. I've read some reports from previous years and from what I gather, both are doable in trail runners (and possibly microspikes, depending on conditions).

I am prepared for steep slopes, loose rocks, and lack of traction. I know nothing about crevasses or glacial travel. But I figured I would ask here about these two places, specifically, to make sure I've got my information right. Anyone done Knapsack Col and/or Knifepoint Glacier and can tell me what to expect?

 

[fossana]

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From experience of doing that exact route from Indian Pass, Knifepoint can be slow going with your choice of an unstable moraine or crossing a long sheet of glacial ice. I would carry microspikes.

 

[OldBill]

Haven't done either but read a lot of reports. No crevasses on either but some sections of Knifepoint are likely to be icy and steep so use of microspikes at least to be safe. Knapsack is the easier of the two. A 2024 report on BPL details a late July crossing of Knapsack Col from Peak L

From Pallister/Wandering Daisy (2023):
"I think late July would be fine but there will be significant snow on the southeast side of Knapsack Col, and the Knifepoint Glacier may still have some current year snow. I have used crampons on the Knifepoint Glacier, and it will allow faster travel, but the main advantage is keeping feet above the water flow. There often is an inch of water running down the glacier. I have never tried it in micro-spikes; it is not steep so they should work but you may get wet feet. That said, I generally do the northern part of the range in mid-August. I have only walked part way up Knapsack Col from the Titcomb side."

 

[Bob]

You can go around the north side on Indian... traverse near the toe of the glacier and eliminated most snow / ice crossing. Below the toe was pretty stable (no real climbing morraines) when i did that. Depends on your comfort level.....

I would not do trail runners in that rocky, scree country..... my opinion.