The plan for Big Sandy was simple. Fastpack as far as possible on some real mountain trails with real mountain scenery, while leaving enough time for a sunset beer on the balcony of my luxury cabin. In a perfect world I hoped to achieve the Cirque de Towers. But we all know we don't live in that.
The drive from Pinedale takes about an hour and a half, or so. With half the time spent on a winding, rocky, rutted and washboard road. But I did get the opportunity to join in on a Wind River cattle drive!!!
It was a busy day at Big Sandy. The closest parking was a little over a mile from the trailhead.
The forested trail to Big Sandy Lake is relatively non-technical (by Wind River Range standards). Primarily, roots and rocks. There is little elevation gain, so this is a good section to make some time.
Big Sandy Lake was a windy, but picturesque lake surrounded by mountain scenery. I took a nice break here to soak up some views and sunshine.
After the lake, you are in the mountains and this is where the trail gets challenging. With switchbacks, granite slab scrambling and elevation gain.
The trail then plateaus at about tree line and heads towards North Lake. The nice thing about getting to tree line is that there are a lot less face planting tree roots. Which makes life easier. This is another section to make some good time.
Of course, easy doesn’t last long in the Wind River Range. Soon enough I found my self in a maze of rocks. Maintaining the trail here can be difficult as it often turns to granite with no obvious well-worn path. But I had a plan. That worked until it didn’t. And that was to follow the hikers in front of me. At one point they stopped and I caught up with them. They were debating the trail amongst themselves and asked for my input. Yeah…that was a bit embarrassing.
Finally, we doubled back and got on the right trail which took us to a shelf with a stunning view of North Lake.
Apparently, the Cirques were a couple miles down to North Lake then back up and around again. But it was already after noon and I still had to head back. So, I bid my new friends’ good luck and scrambled up a steep granite slab to take in the view and chill for a while.
Coming back down the slab turned into a sketchy affair, as the trail is right on the edge of a cliff. Any misstep or slip here and I would be using my medevac insurance. Thank goodness, my Vibram Megagrip Topo Athletics clung to the rock like glue.
Eventually, I made it back to the Jeep and cleared the dirt roads just before the afternoon rains moved in. I came up a few miles short of the Cirque’s but the rest of the plan worked out just fine. Lots of bonus materials for a Pikes Peak training run.
