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Wind River Range Conditions Reports?

PostPosted: Tue Jun 28, 2011 10:33 pm
by aedwards
Have plans to head into the central Wind Rivers in a couple weeks, around the Hailey Washakie pass areas.
Anyone been up there recently? I've heard that there is a lot of snow, and I'm assuming there will still be plenty when we get there.
If you have any more specific details, I'd love to hear them.

Thanks!

Re: Wind River Range Conditions Reports?

PostPosted: Tue Jun 28, 2011 11:22 pm
by Arthur Digbee
No detailed information, but I just got back from driving to/from the Tetons both north and south of the Winds. LOTS of snow visible in Winds. Snowpack everywhere is still high, but melting (check flood conditions). As a point of reference in the Tetons: they were *skiing*, not hiking, Cascade Canyon last week at 7000 feet. (Trail was closed due to two bridges destroyed by floods.)

Re: Wind River Range Conditions Reports?

PostPosted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 3:08 pm
by aedwards
Thanks Arthur, good to know.
I guess we'll have to play it by ear. Mainly worried about flooding, as you mentioned, and the possibility of wet avalanches up high.
Anyone else?

Re: Wind River Range Conditions Reports?

PostPosted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 7:38 pm
by Bill Reed
Haven't been there lately but from what I know, Arthur is right. If you're heading in there in two weeks you'll be dealing with a lot of snow. Snowpack in that range was in some places 200% of average with a lot of May accumulation. If you're prepared for it and set your goals with the snowpack in mind, you'll be all right.

Good luck!

Re: Wind River Range Conditions Reports?

PostPosted: Thu Jun 30, 2011 3:57 am
by Arthur Digbee
I should add that slope, aspect and exposure to wind seem to matter a lot right now. We walked up Mount Washburn (10,200) using the Chittenden Road (north ridge), which had only a few patches of snow. I'm guessing the snow gets blown off that route.

The Dunraven Pass trail on the southwest looked like about three feet of snow on the switchbacks at the start of the trail.

So I'd see if you can get some local beta if snowpack varies so much on a single mountain. Maybe USFS rangers known something?

Re: Wind River Range Conditions Reports?

PostPosted: Thu Jun 30, 2011 3:19 pm
by phatty
At 9200 feet there is still 96" of snow on tetons.

Melt rates have been about 4-6" a day this week (70-80 degree temps). if it gets cold again you can expect it to freeze and last a little longer. Bottom line, still alot of snow to melt off...

Re: Wind River Range Conditions Reports?

PostPosted: Thu Jun 30, 2011 3:23 pm
by aedwards
Thanks, both of you.
Was looking at the Mt Washburn webcam yesterday, saw that there was spotty snow.

Also looking at Tetons webcams and the Wind River Range webcam in Pinedale.

Will be keeping an eye on reports, and calling the FS rangers too.

Thanks phatty, saw that too.
Hoping it melts some, stays stable, and doesn't flood anything...

Also I'll be hanging out in the Teton area from about the 19-25th, solo.
If anyone wants to hike or climb, let me know.
I don't climb too hard, or hike too fast, but can follow up to 9/10a, lead belay, lead easy stuff competently, clean gear, have some experience with multipitch, snow, ice, and glacier travel, and am not a jerk.