Locals of Pinedale

So, I'm interviewing for a job in Pinedale and thinking of the move if it's offered. Are there many locals who climb? Even if it's anything from bouldering, to cragging, to alpine and ice. Also, ski mountaineers would be great. From what I can tell, the only cragging is "close to town". I.e Lander and/or Jackson areas. Just curious what the potential is in those things. I've alpine climbed a bunch in the past, so am very familiar with the amazing potential there. Anyway, any info would be great.

Hey man, I lived in Pinedale last summer while working as a seasonal for the forest service. There isn't a ton of climbing immediately in the area but within 2 hours you have a mecca. I spent many weekends in Lander where you could climb sport and trad for a year and never hit the same route twice. There are a few local crags in town, I want to say one is called Lizard rocks or something. I never went there but my partner said it was mostly just easy top roping and some boulders. There is some 2 pitch trad not too far south from town called scab creek buttress that I really wanted to check out but never had the chance to. I believe there is some little known, local-only, type crags on the very southern end of the Winds, near South Pass.

The guy who runs the gear shop in town (great outdoor store) wrote the guidebook for Pinedale and Jackson ( climbingwyoming.com/guidebo…). I didn't much socialize with the locals though to be honest because we worked a weird schedule, so most of the time our crew just hung out together on our off days. There are definitely some people who climb though. There's also a climbing wall (maybe 30') at the aquatic center, not too many routes (~15) but they are usually fun ones!

And oh yeah, you'd never run out of alpine routes. There are more than you could do in probably a year right out of the Elkhart Park trailhead just up the road from town. For alpine climbing in the winds refer to: "Climbing and Hiking in the Wind River Mountains."

I'm happy to provide you with any beta that I can about the area! Feel free to ask follow up questions! I'm headed back there next week to visit friends, I'm so excited!

Thanks for the reply and details. The schedule for the job here is 48hrs on with 4 days off, so, I figure worse case senario I can just travel to "local" areas, like Lander, and hook up with folks. I'm guessing that I would have to develop partners from places like that, or Jackson, to be local partners for alpine. The Forest Service guys (and gals) are probably free on more days related to me than other people here.

Climbed lizard rock 2 days ago. nice 40/45m 2 pitch routes. very safely bolted and some trad lines as well.

Lots of bouldering in the Galaxy south of town, Stonehenge has some short bolted and trad lines, Lizard Head was mentioned as well, and there are some trad lines and nice forming ice lines on the north end of Fremont Lake, and some routes out in Scab Creek. There are a lot of ski mountaineering types around, check out the Sublette County Freeride Coalition on FB

Alpine climbing Mecca, excellent backcountry skiing all around. You must be okay with a bit of n approach but once you do, it's heaven. I work in Pinedale full time, message me if you have any other questions.

If position is offered, take it. It's a good service. I was full time for 3 years, and I still fill in part time when I can. Any questions about the service, PM me

Thanks for the responses guys. I'll definitely get in touch with ya to talk more about it. I appreciate the help.

To add detail...

Todd Skinner was from Pinedale so there are a few around...

Your best bet would be to find climbers in Lander or Jackson. Many ski mountaineers in Jackson (eg Jimmy Chin, Stephen Koch). I found the problem was many already had regular partners that they climbed with.

The climbing areas around Lander are Sinks Canyon and Wild Iris, sport climbing on limestone. Sinks is right next to Lander and can offer climbing in the winter. About a two hour drive from Pinedale.

There are a couple of crags in the canyons south of Jackson. Hoback shield is on the Hoback River about 40 miles NW of Pinedale. It's limestone with both trad and sport. A few miles past Hoback junction is Rodeo wall which has bolted sport climbs on limestone. Both of these are an hour or less from Pinedale.

Jackson is 80 miles from Pinedale, so about an hour and a half from Pinedale. North of town is Blacktail Butte, sport climbing on Limestone.

But you are right next to the Winds! The climbing gods will get you if you only climb sport! Some of the best alpine routes in the country - and that's not even counting the Tetons.

It's about an hour and a half to Big Sandy Trailhead - which gives you access to Cirque of the Towers, Haystack, and East Fork Valley. I've run into many climbers doing car to car climbs in a day in the cirque. It would also be possible to do Haystack climbs in a day. Travel light and fast.

But with four days, you could do two days of climbing with a day to hike in and a day out - either the Winds or Tetons. But, the problem will be finding a partner with the same schedule.

Good luck.

theres no climbers in Lander, only Sport Climbers :)