Wind river range conditions?

Not sure if some of these people commenting have actually walked on summer snow in the alpine but snowshoes are not usually needed or useful. Crampons/ice axe maybe, the surface is usually quite firm.

Just came back from Haystack Mountain on 7/27. I get bit worse than anyone I know, and found the mosquitoes manageable. I went without a head net all weekend. The bugs only seem to swarm you (and by swarm I mean 5-10, not dozens) when you are sweating standing still or when you walk around camp and trample new ground up, stirring them up. The stream crossings were more infested than near Clear Lake.

Higher elevations were ugly last weekend. Even with headnet hat and deet they were nearly unbearable. Even used the headnet at times while belaying. I wouldnt go in without a both things for at least the next few weeks.

Jeremy Polk wrote: Not sure if some of these people commenting have actually walked on summer snow in the alpine but snowshoes are not usually needed or useful. Crampons/ice axe maybe, the surface is usually quite firm.

Haha not sure what I was thinking, you're definitely right. Guess I was just trying to emphasize that there would be a bunch of the white stuff! :)

Just hiked out of Titcomb yesterday. We climbed wishbone and the north ridge of Ellingwood (also known as Harrower). The mosquitoes were unlike anything I have ever seen. No crampons needed and we didn’t use our axes. 

We are hiking from Boulder Lake TH to Green River Lakes TH on the Skurka high route August 17-23.  We will be on the High Route Proper from Golden Lakes to Downs Mountain.  We will be going past Gannet

Would anyone want photos or a report on anything in particular along that route?  I'll try to check this a couple days before we leave to see responses and should be able to drop a report a couple days after the trip.

Route Overview: andrewskurka.com/adventures…

Josh Brown wrote: Would anyone want photos or a report on anything in particular along that route?  I'll try to check this a couple days before we leave to see responses and should be able to drop a report a couple days after the trip.

Route Overview: andrewskurka.com/adventures…

Gannett pics would be great! 

looking north in Titcomb basin towards Gannet. It is just visible right of center. Taken on Tuesday July 30

Sam et all - anyone know if Kourbelas Couloir is in/would still be in in a few weeks? I'm debating if it would be craycray to haul my lightweight rando setup back there for some fun on the way down. 

bearded sam wrote:looking north in Titcomb basin towards Gannet. It is just visible right of center. Taken on Tuesday July 30

We won't be in Titcomb basin.  The black route is one approach trail to the high route that goes through Titcomb, but we are coming on the trail further south.  

We are hiking the Red Route through this section and will come close to Gannet going over the pass to the East.

Sounds like as many photos of Gannet conditions from all angles is what people are interested in....

Josh Brown wrote: We are hiking from Boulder Lake TH to Green River Lakes TH on the Skurka high route August 17-23.  

So a crazy thing just happened... We are all from Indiana except for one guy who lives in Denver.  Somehow, in 6 months of planning, the guy in Denver had the wrong dates and thought we were leaving tomorrow....  So we just changed all of our plans and the only way to make it work is to fly out to save drive time... So we bought tickets and its still happening!

All that to say, we are going to be on the Trail August 13th - 19th now.

Mosquitoes still terrible?

When I walked out to my car at Elkhart Park TH on Wednesday the mosquitoes were still very active.

Mosquito report from the Cirque? Probably heading in on Thursday.

Will, I got out of the Cirque about 3 days ago. I have never experienced worse mosquitoes before. We had 98% deet and they didn’t seem to care about it. I wore a headnet, long sleeves, and pants the entire time I was in camp, and still have over 40 bites. They were even biting most of the way up Pingora, until about the last pitch. On the positive side, the wildflowers are gorgeous right now :)

God, that sounds miserable. Sounds like worth waiting until the end of August. I suppose one could camp at high altitude like the big ledges below Wolf's Head to escape the mosquitoes.

Thanks Valerie, super helpful! Sounds terrible!

Heading up to Titcomb Basin and Fremont Peak on Saturday. Just wondering if traction is necessary to summit. Wasn’t planning on it. 

Climbed Fremont 7/31 - no traction needed & snow fields are avoidable.

Climbed and camped in the cirque area 8/8-8/11, the mosquitoes really aren't that bad. Didn't need use the ben's 100 or the bug net...

Anyone have any info about the helicopter that was flying around on Saturday?