Wind River Range

 

"The Wind River Range is one of America's most spectacular wilderness ranges. This vast 110-mile uplifted spine offers limitless climbing and hiking in a remote setting"  EXUM

 

HAMTC offers custom private climbing and backpacking trips into the Winds, launching from Pindedale, Big Sandy, Cold Springs or Dubois.  Some of the more poplular areas are:

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Cirque of the Towers

“The Cirque”, as it is known to those fortunate enough to have climbed there, is a collection of peaks, spires, and walls with some of the most memorable names of any climbing area in the world:  Warbonnet, Warrior, Watchtower, Shark's Nose, Overhanging Tower, Wolf’s Head, Pingora. The routes are worthy of the names and many deserve to be described as legendary. Several of the routes were made famous after being included in Fifty Classic Climbs of North America. A dozen others are equally famous.

Deep Lake

The collection of peaks surrounding Deep Lake and Clear Lake are renowned for clean rock and superb climbing. The approach to Deep Lake is short and the elevation gain is minimal - attributes a rock climber considers virtues. The area between the lakes is blessed with many fine campsites amidst stunning alpine scenery.

Gannett Peak

At 13,804 feet, Gannett Peak is the highest mountain in Wyoming, being 34 feet higher than the Grand Teton. It is also one of the most isolated and difficult peaks to reach. The approach crosses alpine tundra before dropping into the forested Dinwoody Canyon, and then climbs to the base of Dinwoody Glacier. We recommend at least six days for an expedition to Gannett Peak if launching from Pinedale...five from Dubois and should you desire to make a run of it, we have a local guide who will carry you and your party across the Wind River Indian Reservation (for a fee) which would shave another day from the trip.  It is recommended to plan for seven or eight days however, to allow for rest, bad weather days, fishing, ascents of satellite peaks or more difficult routes on the mountain.

Titcomb Basin

Titcomb Basin is a high alpine valley with no trees but many tarns and lakes, some of which contain large trout. The approach from Elkhart Park, above Pinedale, is long and arduous. Joe Kelsey, in his guidebook Climbing and Hiking in the Wind River Mountains, says Titcomb Basin, “offers the greatest variety in the range–walk-ups, easy and difficult rock climbs, ice climbs, and mixed mountaineering routes”. It is recommended that you plan for a solid week in Titcomb Basin to fully appreciate its awesomeness and grandeur.

Terms & Conditions

Please review the information below. It will help you prepare for your Training, Guided Trip or Expedition:

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Confirmation

Upon making a reservation you will receive an e-mail confirmation. Please verify that the activities and dates listed match your plans. If you have made reservations for others, it is very important that you provide each member of your party with a copy of the email message and all attachments. If you prefer, you can contact us with addresses and we will send packets to each member of your party.

 

Acknowledgement of Risk and Registration Form

All participants must thoroughly read and sign our Acknowledgement of Risk form. If you are bringing a minor child that is not your own, you must arrange for this form to be read and signed by a parent or legal guardian of the minor child before you arrive. Please call us if you have questions regarding this requirement. A separate Acknowledgement of Risk form is required for each participant. A completed Registration Form is also required for all participants, however all immediate family members may be included on one form.

 

Check In

It is very important that you call the office 2-3 days prior to your arrival to reconfirm all dates, locations and times. We will ask you where you will be staying while in the area and for a local phone number if available. We will also tell you about current conditions in the Wind River wilderness and answer any last minute questions you may have.

 

Preparation

We will teach you all of the technical skills you need to climb, however you must be in good physical condition to get the most out of your experience. Climbing in the Wind River Range (or any high peak) is a physically demanding endeavor and we recommend a training program consisting of any aerobic activity such as brisk uphill walking, climbing up and down stairs, hiking and biking. If you have access to weight training equipment, leg presses, extensions and curls are a great way to strengthen your quadriceps and hamstrings. It is important for you to know that Gannett Peak climbers must qualify for the climb in the Level II school. The two reasons that someone might not qualify are: 1) the inability to learn and perform the skills required and 2) a lack of aerobic conditioning. It is rare for someone to be disqualified due to technical ability, however several times each season climbers are disqualified because they are not in good enough physical condition to attempt the climb. We don’t want you to be disappointed so please be prepared. It would also be beneficial for you to practice the two main knots we use: the bowline and the figure 8.

 

Early Season

In late May and early June, conditions in the Wind River Range may necessitate that you take a one-day snow school prior to climbing to the top of a peak. It may also be necessary to maintain a smaller climber to guide ratio on climbs because of mixed snow, ice and rock on the routes. Please keep this in mind when you make your plans and be sure to contact us in advance if you have any questions.

 

Our Locations

Our main office is located at 177 Burris Lenore Road, Crowheart, WY.  Depending upon the size of your  party and the departure launch point, our classes/schools are held either at the White Pines Ski Resort in Pinedale or the Headwaters in Dubois. When you call to reconfirm we will tell you where your school is scheduled and provide directions and meeting times.

 

Transportation

You will need to arrange for your own transportation to and from the departure location. Public transportation in the area is limited, time-consuming, and expensive. Due to the distances you will need to travel and the unpredictable finish times, we recommend renting a car for the duration of your stay.  There are rental car companies at both the Riverton and Jackson Hole airports.  

 

What to Bring

HAMTC will provide all technical equipment (harness, helmet and ropes). You must provide all personal equipment, appropriate footwear, clothing and food. Please review the enclosed equipment list carefully. It is imperative that you bring ALL items listed as essential for back-country activities. Weather on the high peaks may be extremely variable with thunderstorms, wind, rain and possibly snow. You must have clothing that can be layered and that keeps you warm and dry. Your safety, enjoyment and success depend on your having the correct clothing

and equipment.

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Upon Arrival at Departure Site

You will meet at the designated location at the time specified.  It is very important that you arrive on time so please allow enough time for travel from wherever you are staying. Speed limits in the area (especially the park, if traveling from Jackson) are low to protect the wildlife and visitors, and rangers ticket offenders regularly. We want your entire experience here to be positive so please do not speed. Once you arrive and meet your guide/instructor you will be required to complete some paperwork and sign an Acknowledgement of Risk form. It is important that you read and consider it carefully before signing. As previously stated, a parent must sign the form for anyone under 18, so if you are bringing a minor that is not your child, you must arrange for the form to be signed prior to your arrival (please call the office for additional information).

 

Billing

The balance due for your instruction and/or climbs will be collected upon arrival at your departure destination.  Please keep in mind that if you have reserved a Gannett Peak climb, the total cost of your classes and the climb will be charged and is non-refundable. We accept PayPal, Master Card, Visa, American Express, Discover, and cash or Money Orders. We arrange groups on climbs based on conditions in the mountains and other factors. When you come with your own party, we will do everything possible to group you as you wish. We will, however,  make all final decisions regarding the actual climbing groups and sometimes we may need to split up your party or combine groups. 

 

Deposits Required

We accept both online and telephonic bookings for training and guide services.  We require $50 per person to reserve a class seat for training (when not part of the Gannett Peak package); $100 per person for each one day activity; $500 per person for custom or Gannett Peak trips or other multi-day climbs.

 

Cancellations

Gannett Peak Expeditions: These climbs fill very early in the year. It is difficult, and often impossible to fill spaces as the dates approach. Because of this, our cancellation policy is strict. Once your reservation has been processed, there is a $50 cancellation fee per reservation when we receive 60 or more days notice. All deposits are non-refundable when we receive less than 60 days notice of a cancellation. Cancellations with more than 30 days and less than 60 days notice will be charged a $200 cancellation fee per person and the remaining deposit can be applied to future HAMTC activities within the current or next season. This amount is forfeited as well if not used by 12/31 of the following year. If you cancel your scheduled climb within 30 days, the entire deposit will be forfeited. We strongly recommend that you obtain trip insurance as there will be no exceptions to this policy regardless of the reason for cancellation. We recommend TravelGuard as a provider of trip insurance. 

Other multi-day activities:  Cancellations made with 8 or more days notice will be charged a $100 cancellation fee. The full deposit will be forfeited for cancellations within 7 days of the scheduled activity. 

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One-day private activities: Cancellations with more than 48 hours notice will be charged a $50 cancellation fee per reservation. Your entire deposit is forfeited for cancellations within 24-48 hours (maximum $300). For cancellations within 24 hours or if you do not show up for a reserved event, you will be charged the full cost of the activity (the one person rate per guide scheduled). 

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One-day group activities: Cancellations with more than 48 hours will be charged $25 per reservation. Your entire deposit will be forfeited for cancellations within 24-48 hours. For cancellations within 24 hours, or if you do not show up for your scheduled activity, you will be charged the full cost of the scheduled activity.

 

Changes

You may change your Gannett Peak or other multi-day climb dates, but only if space is available during your change dates AND you are outside of the 60-day cancellation period noted above. The appropriate cancellation charges will apply when you are within 60 days of your scheduled climb, or if we do not have space on other dates within the same season to accommodate your change in plans. If we are unable to schedule your trip within the same season, the appropriate cancellation fee will apply. Again, we strongly recommend trip insurance. Changes for all other activities can be made as long as space is available and a minimum of 24 hours notice is provided.

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Medical Conditions

When you arrive at our office or have coordinated to meet at the departure location, you will be asked to complete a registration form that includes a medical questionnaire. The information on this form is only for use in the event of an accident or injury, so please do not withhold any information. HAMTC employees are not qualified to evaluate medical conditions. If you have any condition, illness or injury, or if you are taking any medication which might be of concern we strongly recommend that you obtain medical advice from a qualified physician prior to participation.

 

Flights

You can fly into Jackson Hole (about 2 hours from our office) or Riverton (about 1 hour from our office).  Other arrival or departure locations such as Idaho Falls (3 hours),  Salt Lake City (about 6 hours) or Denver (7 hours) are easy to get into, but are a greater driving distance. Since the return time from climbing will depend on many factors we ask that you not schedule your departure flight until the day after your climb. We cannot guarantee that you will be able to make a flight on the evening that you complete climbing, and are not responsible for any missed flights.

 

How to Reach Us

Please use the contact form for general information and questions.  Bookings can be made online or you can call us at (307) 486-2336 if you have any specific questions or concerns. The best time to reach us during the summer season is between 10:30am and 4:00pm Mountain Time, seven days a week. During these hours, we are not sending out or welcoming back training and climbs. If you reach our voicemail, we will return your call as soon as possible. In the off season, the best time to reach us is between 10:00am and 2:00pm Mountain Time, Monday through Friday. Again, if you do not reach us, please leave us a message so that we can call you back.

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