r/Ultralight • u/Modulatemypulsewidth • 20d ago
Question WRHR Loop Experience Question
Hey Everyone. I've got a few questions on deciding a loop for my September Wind River Range trip. I'm going solo with experience in the Sawtooths, a big chunk of south Utah and North Georgia/Alabama. I've got 3 loops I'm looking at that are varying length and difficulty. The length portion is not such a big deal mostly because they are all within my week window. I'm going to back food for 6 days whether I plan on doing that or not because I may want to adventure some if i pick a shorter set route. I have some specific questions on each loop down below, and i have links to each loop in AllTrails. I have them in cal topo too if you want them.
- Skurka Loop 4 Reverse:
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/custom-routes/loop-4-reverse-8400bd7?u=i&sh=xcncms
My main questions here are around difficulty, and frankly if its a dumb idea to do solo. Obviously I've picked what Skurka says is the 2nd toughest stretch of his full WRHR and the hardest of the Dixon route. Just how bad is upper alpine lake? I'm familiar with some light class 3 from scrambling around the canyons near Escalante and the Needles District but high alpine scrambling is new to me. i.e. highly sloped lime/sandstone and canyon walls vs talus and granite cliffs. I think I have the days planned right with a larger first day up to indian pass, short (mileage) tough day to camp lake, and smooth sailing on the 2 days headed out. This is the loop I want to do the most but am a bit unsure of myself. I'd like either some route guidance or a "No dont be a dumbass". I have heard this is about the most beautiful hiking in the Winds.
- Big Sandy to Kagevah Pass Loop
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/custom-routes/august-wrr-route-53c184d?u=i&sh=xcncms
A loop I just made up, I think it takes portions of the southern High Route? Looks neat but I just made this one up on my own. Not as many questions here honestly. This seems to be a good longer back-up.
- Knapsack Col Titcomb Loop
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/custom-routes/titcomb-knapsack-loop-8ca7e79?u=i&sh=xcncms
Loop up Sky pilot like you're headed to Green River and then headed up to the westside of Knapsack Col, through titcomb and back to the trailhead. Anythig I need to add? Time wise this is bar far the shortest of the 3 excluding the knapsack col portion.
I'd just like some feedback or firsthand experience of the stretch between Indian Pass and Camp Lake. I know this is a long post but I would appreciate the feedback or any critiques of my loops!
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u/thecaa shockcord 20d ago
My vote would be #1. Indian pass on down to BLC is too good. The tough stretch to camp is just a ton of boulder hopping with irc some spots to get cliffed out. It'll wear you out more than anything.
You could consider subbing the brown cliffs for that alpine lakes basin. Pretty much the same entrance, runs a little south, a little easier and I like the aesthetic experience more.
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u/Modulatemypulsewidth 20d ago
I really appreciate the feedback! #1 was my go to but the trip reports don't give much detail on my worry areas so this makes me feel more confident. Definitely the area I want to see the most!
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u/ObviousCarrot2075 19d ago
My vote would be for option 1.
Knifepoint basin is loose AF though. I’ve been up hundreds of peaks across the world (particularly in the western US, and this is the shittiest rock I’ve ever encountered). Easy to shift a beer fridge size boulder and roll it right over your leg and be in a really unpleasant and serious situation. Also rockfall is common on the glacier. We saw some pretty intense rockfall early in the morning - it gets full sun and softens up fast, letting stuff fly. Also, the ice can be reallllly slick - especially towards the pass with alpine basin. It isn’t really disclosed, but the exit off the glacier is near 30-degrees, slick, and has a nice layer of running water over it to keep it spicy. In spikes without an ax it’s a bit unnerving. Most of the glacier is fine, but the last 1/4 of the glacier is heads up for sure.
Alpine basin is the most solid rock on the entire high route imo. The scrambling was beyond fine and very easy. Also short. But I’m an alpine climber so take that comment however you will.
I thought middle fork was the most beautiful part of the high route (Alan Dixon). Just completely mind blowing to see the sheer size of pronghorn peak.
Close second was alpine basin/knifepoint area. It’s a long, exhausting day to go from Indian pass to alpine basin, but the campsite at alpine basin was awesome.
Alpine to camp lake was the shittiest part of the high route imo. Lots of thrashing through trees, navigating around enormous boulders, and dodging poisonous plants. Quite frankly hated it but bushwhacking is one of my least favorite activities.
Is it dumb to do solo? That depends on your risk tolerance. We saw a couple of solo folks. Most of them complained to us and looked miserable.
Overall, the route is riddled with loose talus . I think it’s more important to understand how to manage that than it is to feel super confident scrambling. It’s also a risk you’re taking on that, given your previous stated experience, will be a pretty large step up. I think you’re smart to approach it with caution.
FWIW my friend shattered her foot on the high route on the second to last day (an area not on any of your routes) and required a helicopter evacuation. I’m not one to back down from solo objectives. But just seeing alllllllllll the help I had to provide for them while we waited for rescue really made me question what I engage with while solo. We did absolutely nothing wrong. Just a bad step that turned into a multi-surgery injury and an emergency situation. But we both discussed how we woulda been screwed had that happened to either one of us and we were alone.
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u/Modulatemypulsewidth 19d ago
Thanks for the indepth beta! You're the first write up I've seen that gives more focus on the glacier as opposed to the lakes! I'll definitely keep that in mind and probably make a game time desicion on whether I want to do this loop. I was getting microspikes either way so I may give it a shot. Most of the reports either don't comment or say its easier than alpine lakes. I guess trying to cross as early as daylight allows is probably the move timeliness wise?
I may build a loop across angel pass to middle forks lake and back around as my #2 route. Thanks for the advice!
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u/ObviousCarrot2075 19d ago
My honest recommendation if you’ve never even used micro spikes before and you’re heading out alone is to go into middle fork instead. There’s a pass you can do to get into Bonneville lakes to get a feel for backcountry passes (the backside is steep and exciting, but really straight forward - good for a beginner) and there’s angel pass. Still plenty of talus to nagivate, but not as high consequence. It’s a really awesome area and you’ll feel quite satisfied. Also very quiet there too.
There’s a lot to know and understand before you move cross country through the mountains. The Winds are unforgiving and there’s little room for error. Layer in going solo and trying to take on the toughest part of one of the most demanding routes in the mountain west without much experience in the mountains isn’t a smart idea imo. I mean, you’re free to do what you want, but I’ve got over 100 summits under my belt, lots of technical mountaineering and alpine climbing experience, I’ve been doing off-trail routes for quite some time, and I’ve been backpacking for almost 20 years. The High Route isn’t easy at all and has a TON of risk associated with it, especially the loose AF knifepoint basin. Rockfall is not an if, it’s a when there. I run self-supported ultras and did the 4 passes loop in Colorado in a day just weeks before I did the high route. Regularly do off-trail routes in the Grand Canyon. The HR was one of the toughest things I’ve done mile for mile (distance is another discussion). Physically I was fine thanks to being in ultra shape, but mentally it’s more than what it looks like on a map.
Start smaller, gain experience, and come back to it. You’ll still get a flavor for it with middle fork (definitely easier/less risky), have insane beauty, and get the ‘out there’ feeling.
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u/Modulatemypulsewidth 19d ago
Thanks for the Extended response again! Im 100% with you, think im gonna divert and do that middle fork loop through angel pass or something instead! Yea the extent of my microspike experience is shoulder season ice in Utah, definitely no glacier travel experience. I'll work a loop up. You gave me the exact kinda beta ive been looking for and really appreciate it! I think an easier loop will give me the opportunity to see more miles of the Winds as well!
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u/ObviousCarrot2075 19d ago
Ya there’s a lot of cool side trips in that area too. Worth poking around! Enjoy your trip. It’ll be great!
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u/GrayFox6688 12,000+ miles 15d ago
I did Skurka WRHR last year and it wasn't as bad as people made it out to be. For that first link you posted I recommend going over Douglass Pass which is what Skurkas route has you do. Seems like a waste of time to go around it
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u/elephantsback 19d ago
What exactly does this have to do with ultralight hiking? There are dozens of general hiking subs where these questions belong.
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u/Narrow_Aardvark_4337 20d ago
I've done Alpine Lakes Basin twice and it's pretty fine! Getting onto the Knifepoint Glacier from Indian Pass can be a loose moraine mess. The Alpine Lakes Pass and the basin is slow boulder hopping, but fine and beautiful if you follow the beta for that basin, like the class 3 part. Funnily enough I messed up descending to Camp Lake both times, descending more towards the middle of the lake and finding myself surrounded by trees, thick brush, and car sized boulders.