Drop trip to East Fork Valley

Anyone had luck with getting gear dropped in the East Fork? Folks in Pinedale said Big Sandy Lodge is the only outfitter that does it, but they don't answer their phone (been calling daily this week).

If I'm able to line something up, anyone interested in sharing the drop to get some gear back that way? I'm expecting we'll have it dropped at Pyramid Aug 23 and shuttle from there.

Big Sandy will get back to you. They don’t have phone service at the ranch. Leave a message. It’s still early season at Big Sandy so they are busy setting up. They also don’t go all the way to the East Fork. They drop at Skull lake which is a bit of a hike to the East Fork.

Thanks for the info Norm! Their voicemail is full so can't leave a message but did send an email. Good to know phone only works when they're in town. Do you know why they wouldn't go up to pyramid lake to drop? Any wild guesses on cost (one horses worth of gear)?

It’s been a few years so I don’t remember price. They drop at a big boulder near where you can easily. Get to the EF. They only go a certain distance from the ranch. I think it’s something like 12 miles. You can try some of the other outfitters around Pinedale too. I used one once called Black Diamond but there are others. Look up hunting outfitters. Big Sandy is so convenient though even if they don’t get you all the way in, it’s an easy hump over the the EF from their drop point.

That makes sense to keep it in a day's trip for them. Really appreciate the info. Thank you for taking the time to comment!

When I was back in the East Fork there were horse packers who dropped all the way to Pyramid Lake. I didn't hire them they were just riding out as we walked in, but that's what I saw fwiw.

I just looked up my receipt from Big Sandy in 2020: $391.40 one-way for one horse (plus wrangler on a second) for a gear drop at Maes Lake. Didn't inquire about Pyramid as we were going up and over Hailey Pass.

Andy,

It's been a few years, but last time I was in the EF I had gear dropped by Mark Pearson. His outfit is Two Bar Spear Ranch out of Pine Dale. We had a large group out there and ended up using 4 horses for a 1 way drop. Total cost was $1375. Mark was able to drop all of our gear right in front of Ambush. 

Here's the contact info I have:

Mark Pearson

okelley@wyoming.com

307-231-2398

Andy W,

I think you will have good luck finding a packer given the above responce's.  If your determined to find a packer who will go all the way to Ambush Peak area, don't bother with the guys at Big Sandy since as stated above by Norm, they will not go any further than Maes Lake.  I would love to join you guys but my wife would probably protest, since I'm old, and a really slow hiker now, with health issues. Here is a photo taken at the base of Ambush peak, about 10 years ago, when I repeated one of my routes with Jim Donini:

Thank you everyone for the info! Big Sandy Lodge got back to us so looks like we're set to get back to the EF in style!