Elevation Extremes
From Europe Peak, a mid-route high point, looking north over the broad Continental Divide towards the range’s northern peaks. There is no shortage of alpine travel on the Wind River High Route.
The heart of the Wind River High Route is bookended by the range’s southernmost and northernmost named 13,000-foot summits, Wind River Peak and Downs Mountain. In between, the route hovers between 10,000 and 12,000 feet. It drops just once to 9,700 feet, which is more than offset by a 12,259-foot mid-route summit, Europe Peak.
The vertical change between the route’s nine passes and three summits, and the accompanying low points, adds up. There is more than 30,000 vertical feet of climbing, an average of about 620 vertical feet of change per mile.
My camp in Golden Lakes. Pack a sturdy shelter — it’s very unlikely that you’ll find such a well protected camp every night.
Hi Andrew,
I am planning to do the High Route in mid-August. The above photo made me think about my tent set up. I have a set up I am comfortable with in stormy weather, BUT I know the Winds are rocky and I’m wondering about my tent stake & guy line set up. Right now, my guy line loops are small and non-adjustable and a stake needs to be driven into dirt. What is the likelihood that I’m camping on solid rock and need to guy line out my tent with rocks in larger adjustable loops? I’ll need to work on my tent if that’s a possibility.
Thanks!
-Elliot
You should not have a problem finding campsites where you can get stakes into the ground. But I definitely would install longer guidelines, because they just make life easier.
Andrew,
Would you say the Six Moon Designs Deschutes Zero G (the 0.74dcf variant) would be a reliable, protective shelter for the WRHR? I’ve got mine outfitted with longer, strong guylines, and not skimping on reliable tent stakes.
Regards,
Tim W
Yes