Wind River Mtns Backpack Trip 2- August, 2004

Introduction note: We enjoyed our 4th of July backpacking trip in the Wind River Mountains so much that Christine and I went back up there just six weeks later over the weekend of August 12-14. The mosquitoes were a steady presence, but rarely overwhelming. We went in at the Scab Creek trailhead which is a bit southeast from the Elkhart Park trailhead we used in July, and over a thousand feet lower in elevation at 8200'. The approach trail to reach the bench was quite gradual so it took us until sometime Saturday to get above treeline and get a view of the Continental Divide. We got up to the Dream Lake area before turning back toward the lowlands to complete our loop.

The return trip was less fun as we fought to keep track of a seldom used trail. We were often led astray by cowpaths. It seemed out of place to see cows grazing up here. They even seemed less docile due to their less frequent human interaction. We gave the bulls a wide buffer and completed our 22-mile loop sometime early Sunday afternoon. Following are just a few of the photos.

Click on thumbprint photos to see them enlarged.

Christine rests by Little Divide Lake.	The Continental Divide.	Joe reaches a clearing on the bench.	The Continental Divide.	Joe with a view.