A somewhat ambitious plan to start with. That's only natural. In the end we spent five days in the Winds rather than seven But I did get up Arrowhead on the 3rd day. Day 4 we decided to start the hike out. A good decision as day 5 was not so nice, particularly that evening - seen from the comfort of downtown Pinedale. A one day storm, but I'm glad we weren't camped up above treeline when it blew through. There were so many people on the trail to Island Lake that any bears were probably elsewhere. Crowded is the only word to describe the Northern Winds this year.
View Trip Map for loop details and campsite locations
LOOKING AT WHAT WOULD EVENTUALLY BE THE WAY TO GET STARTED ON THE ROUTE
AFTER THE STEEP BEGINNING SOME MODERATE AND ENJOYABLE SLABS LEAD TO EASIER GROUND AND THE SUMMIT
ANOTHER VIEW OF SULPHUR AND THE SADLY MELTED OUT GLACIER ON THE NORTH SIDE OF BOW & ARROWHEAD
BOW FROM THE TOP OF ARROWHEAD
RAMPART, SPLIT, KOVEN, GANNETT NORTH SHOULDER AND GANNETT FROM THE TOP OF ARROWHEAD
AMERICAN LEGION FROM THE TOP OF ARROWHEAD
BACK ON THE RIDGE AFTER AN UNEVENTFUL DESCENT
ALMOST BACK TO CAMP
LATE AFTERNOON VIEW OF UPPER JEAN LAKE
ANOTHER LATE AFTERNOON VIEW OF UPPER JEAN LAKE
EVENING VIEW OF HENDERSON AND PK 12814 FROM CAMP
HEADING OUT ON DAY 4
BACK ON THE HIGHLINE TRAIL HEADED FOR FREEMONT CROSSING
LOOKING INTO INDIAN BASIN AND THE NORTH RIDGE OF ELLINGWOOD PEAK
SENACA LAKE SUNSET, WIND RIVER RANGE
FREEMONT AND JACKSON FROM SENACA LAKE
ANOTHER SENACA LAKE SUNSET, WIND RIVER RANGE
ELKHART PARK TRAFFIC JAM
MORNING VIEW OF FREEMONT LAKE FROM ELKHART PARK ROAD
MORNING VIEW OF NEW SNOW ON THE HIGH PEAKS AFTER THE SHORT STORM ON THE NIGHT AFTER THE 2ND DAY WALK OUT
LATE AFTERNOON VIEW OF COWBOY CAMPSITE JUST OFF THE ELKHART PARK ROAD