Porter help in the Wind Rivers summer of 2014
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My wife and I are planning on a week of camping and climbing in the Cirque of the Towers next summer. We did a similar thing a couple of years ago and had horse packers carry our gear into the area below Lonesome Lake. This required a lot of wasted time with the logistics of cars etc (we hiked via Big Sandy), and we rode the horses out the Lander side at the end of the trip, which wasn't really a feature, more of a bug. It also left us camping about an hour below the Cirque, requiring earlier starts and longer overall days, except for Mitchell Peak. |
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goatpacking.com/
not sure what the details are just remembered something about it being done around those parts |
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I've heard good reviews of the goat packer for backpacking, don't know about climbing. |
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From what I've seen, you're not allowed to leave the goats/llamas alone. OK maybe if you have a large enough group that someone can llamasit. |
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Google it
I have seen many horse packers going into the Cirque area fromm Big Sandy. |
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The website goatpacking.com lists an itinerary from 2010, so that isn't looking to good. I will do some googling for other outfitters. |
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"young hungry climber" |
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John, don't go over jackass
It is a waste. Go on the climbers trail from near Arrowhead lake, and up towards Warbonnet. It is listed in the newer Cirque/Deeplake book. |
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I dont know if this is possible, but have you condsidered flying in? Not sure if there are helicopter pilots available in the area, but if so its a great way to go. Standard practice if your climbing in the Alaska range or other Alaska areas. I've been wanting to check this out my self. |
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If I'm in |
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Dave Lynch wrote:I dont know if this is possible, but have you condsidered flying in? Not sure if there are helicopter pilots available in the area, but if so its a great way to go. Standard practice if your climbing in the Alaska range or other Alaska areas. I've been wanting to check this out my self.Pretty sure it's federally designated wilderness in that area and you wouldn't be able to fly a vehicle in legally. |
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Yes, it is wilderness. No motorized anything. Unless you can sneak that mechanical lama in. |
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A helicopter fly in approach would be incredibly obnoxious and I would expect and deserve a whole bunch of crap from everyone else in the Cirque. That being said, it would also be a very beautiful flight. |
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I would suggest just hiring some dirtbags from Lander to do it for you. It's probably cheaper and you can help the poor climbers who need the money. |
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Sent you a PM about the Winds. Did you receive it? |
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Yeah, I don't know what the rules are in Wyoming. Just moved down here from Alaska in January. Every fly in trip I took in Alaska was into federally designated areas also - that doesn't mean its illegal. Just thought I'd throw that idea out there. As I said, I'm not sure what the rules are. As far as being obnoxious, that must be the local ethics. Areas we flew into in Alaska - that was the norm. It was fly in or spend a month backcountry hiking, biking or skiing, just to get to your climbing destination. Most people don't have that kind of time to commit - plus its difficult to carry enough gear on your back to sustain yourself for a couple months trip. Myself, I'd put up with the harrassment from other climbers if it meant a couple weeks in the Cirque area climbing and camping. I'm getting a little old - those long hikes in are getting harder. |
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Yeah, I would also go with trying to get young climbers to do it. I'd totally be interested if I'm in road-trip mode next summer (which I'm planning to be). Plus, I've always really wanted to see the Winds. |
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If you are following the rules, you HAVE to hire guides, etc from an outfitter that has a valid USFS permit. |
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Good luck John G. Hey I hope you post up a trip report after your trip. I'm hoping to get into that area and try Wolfs Head in the next couple years. |
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Thanks for the suggestions and offers. I think I have a good idea of our options. |
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Cor wrote:Also, I bet you could hire some young Exum guys. The senior guides do the guiding for clients, and the young newer guys do the hauling for them Just a thought!I'm not at all sure Exum or Jackson Hole Mt Guides would have regular guides looking for portering, but it wdn't hurt to ask: they certainly hire non-guide porters in high season for Tetons and Winds alike. Asking at the Climbers' Ranch might also bring a good result. In 2012 we found a young porter who did a fine job for us into Titcomb Basin; not knowing what to pay we went lower than the horse-packing would have cost and got helped in to a good site on No. Titcomb Lake, far better than getting stuck at the limit the horses go. |