Gannett Peak

[Brice]

Went up Gannett peak yesterday (Wyoming state high point).  If you haven't been to the Wind River Range in Wyoming before, I highly recommend it. Here are some photos.

Square Top emerging from the mist in the morning



First good look at Gannett (center)



I specifically chose the route I took because I didn't have to cross any glaciers, which is unsafe to do without being roped up to someone.   Here's an ice cave on the side of Minor glacier which I was able to walk around and avoid.  I think all the rock on top would be considered supraglacial moraine.  There's so much debris you'd never know you were even on top of a glacier, but this view from the side shows that the ice underneath is substantial.  The entrance is around 5 feet high, and I couldn't see how deep it went.  It was dark and deep.



Crevasses further up the glacier



From high on the Gannett ridge looking back from where I came.  I camped at Skinny lake in the foreground.



Nearly at the top, I got a good view of Gannett Glacier.  It's the largest glacier in the lower 48.



A small section of the amazing 360 deg. view from the summit.  Dinwoody glacier on the slope of Dinwoody Peak.



A fun but exhausting climb.  It took me 10 hours to reach camp at Skinny Lake, about 18 miles from the trailhead.  The next day, 5 hours to summit and return to camp.  Then I decided to hike all the way back to the trailhead that afternoon.  After nearly 16 hours of hiking that day I crawled into my car at 10:30 PM and died.

[Beardilocks]

Gorgeous man! Amazing photos.

Is that your longest hike in to a summit yet? What was you elevation change on this one?

I'm hoping to maybe get to Wind River this fall. Or... something. Plans are still being drawn up.

[DAW89446]

Members Mr. & Mrs. ski3pins spent time in the Wind River Range recently as well.

http://ski3pin.blogspot.com/2023/07/wand...three.html

[Brice]

Gorgeous man!  Amazing photos. 

Is that your longest hike in to a summit yet?  What was you elevation change on this one?

I'm hoping to maybe get to Wind River this fall.  Or... something.  Plans are still being drawn up.

It's the furthest from a trailhead that I've gone specifically to bag a summit.  The elevation gain isn't that much.  Maybe a bit more than 6000 feet.  The first 12 miles is a nearly flat trail, then the work begins.

Ford a river, bushwhack through a blown down forest, then it's 6 miles of non-stop boulder hopping.  Oh, also there are huge spider webs and spiders between every single boulder.  Luckily they drop to the ground the instant you take a web to the face.  I know this from testing it multiple times.

[netllama]

Wow, that's spectacular. What were the temperatures like up there?

[Brice]

Wow, that's spectacular.  What were the temperatures like up there?

The weather was great.  I had been watching for a couple weeks, waiting for a two-day window of clear weather. I had above freezing temperatures and little wind the whole time.

I use mountain-forecast.com and find it to be reliable.

[MojaveGeek]

  The elevation gain isn't that much.  Maybe a bit more than 6000 feet.  The first 12 miles is a nearly flat trail, then the work begins.

Ahem. I'ts been a few years since I could do 6K in a day. 4K is pushing it for me these days.

Damn that's beautiful and the Winds are still a big hole in my to do list. Very envious. Thanks for the pix and the inspiration. Damn good job bagging Gannett!

[TacoLand]

Gorgeous photos and peak, thanks for sharing. Color me intrigued...