NOLS Alumni Trip Wind River Mountain Traverse August 6-14, 2017

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1 NOLS Alumni Trip Wind River Mountain Traverse August 6-14, 2017 Features of This Trip Approx. 60 miles, backpacking across Wyoming s Wind River Mountains 9 days, 8 nights in the field On and off trail hiking at or above tree line at 8,000-12,000 feet Opportunities for exceptional photography Options for world-class fly-fishing and non-technical peak ascents Black and grizzly bear habitat Pre- and post-trip lodging provided by NOLS s Noble Hotel, included in tuition Average pack weight: pounds Group size: up to 12 participants and 2 NOLS Instructors Cost: $1,295 Minimum Age: 18 Trip Description: It s the quintessential NOLS course - backpacking in the Wind River Mountains. Fifty years ago, the Wind River Wilderness Course launched the school; today, it s still our most popular offering, staged in the same wilderness that founder Paul Petzoldt chose back in This trip is a chance to traverse across the Winds and explore the wilderness that has been such a huge part of NOLS since the beginning. This challenging trip provides NOLS grads an opportunity to re-connect with NOLS in the high country of Wyoming s stunning Wind River Mountains. Due to the strenuous nature of the traverse, this trip is available to expedition grads ONLY. The approximately 60-mile route offers a challenging level of hiking. In addition to the travel, there will be options to do possible non-technical peak ascents, go fly-fishing in the range s many lakes, practice wildlife and scenic photography, and learn about the area ecology. Instructors will cover basic wilderness skills including navigation and Leave No Trace techniques, bear camping, and backcountry cooking. If you are interested in long, challenging days through the beautiful and rugged terrain of the Winds, than this is trip for you! The route offers a very challenging level of hiking - the average day is about 8 miles, along with some big changes in elevation. This trip is traversing a wellknown and well-traveled route that NOLS uses often, but that doesn t diminish the difficulty or remoteness of the trip awt-trip-description.pdf 1

2 The Wind River Range is a rugged, glacier-carved mountain range, renowned for its sheer granite walls, and famous for its fly-fishing and rock climbing. We will travel through a wilderness surrounded by towering peaks, glistening alpine lakes, and perennial snow. To traverse across the Winds, we will travel both on and off trail, through pine forests and alpine meadows, and above tree-line as we cross the Continental Divide, possibly multiple times. The trip spends 9 days and 8 nights in the field. It will be very similar to a standard NOLS expedition in that we will carry all our own equipment: tents, cooking equipment, food, and all our personal clothing and supplies. The basic structure most days will entail rising early, cooking breakfast, packing up camp, traveling in small groups to our next camp, setting up camp, cooking dinner, and going to bed. Hopefully, we will also have time for fishing, hanging out around campfires, and enjoying the splendor of the night sky. The Environment: The Wind River Mountains offer a variety of terrain wooded trails, mountain lakes, flowery meadows, and expansive granite slabs. Our route will take us into the high alpine of the Winds, where we will travel through steep talus and boulder fields, managing both exposure and rockfall. Weather this time of year can be variable; we could experience both hot sunny days or several days of wet, overcast weather. Cold and snowy conditions can occur any month of the year. Moose, elk, mule deer, and coyotes live in the area and are often seen by quiet watchers at dawn and dusk. Black bears frequent the range, and grizzly bears, though less common, are also around. NOLS, in collaboration with bear biologists, has developed specific practices to minimize the risk of a bear encounter, including carrying pepper spray, hanging food and/or protecting all smellables in an electrified fence, and maintaining a meticulously clean campsite. Mosquitoes can be tenacious, especially early and late in the day, but their presence declines noticeably in early-august. Curriculum: This trip focuses on many traditional NOLS activities, including map reading, hiking, cooking, and group travel. The instructors will present information necessary for the group to travel comfortably and will also present optional topics as desired by participants including backcountry baking, fly-fishing, plant identification and natural history, NOLS s leadership topics, and relevant local human history. Formal classes are few and mostly optional. Anticipate a required base level of group management, expedition behavior, and cohesion this is a mountain expedition. Alumni trips, though more relaxed than a typical NOLS course, are not full-on vacations or guided trips. They are self-reliant trips through remote areas where evacuation to modern medical facilities can take several days. Throughout the trip, you will travel outdoors and care 2017-awt-trip-description.pdf 2

3 for yourself. The expedition format emphasizes hands-on learning and application of skills in a variety of situations. All participants will complete and submit application materials, including a medical history form/exam completed by a medical professional. These forms highlight the intersection of your trip s anticipated physical rigor and your current health and fitness status. Your forthright and timely completion and submission of the forms sets you and your trip up for success in the outdoors. Fishing: Fishing is often outstanding in the Wind Rivers. Your instructors will advise you on the practicality of purchasing a license. If you re keen to fish, please bring to Lander the last four digits of either your: Social Security number (for US citizens) Tax Identification Number (for US legal aliens) Passport number (for foreign visitors) Your instructors will have details on fishing opportunities, and can help you decide between purchasing an annual or multi-daily license. The cost of a license is not included in your course tuition; you will settle this extra fee, if applicable, as the end of the trip. Trip Logistics: The trip starts and ends in Lander, Wyoming (population approx. 7,000) home of the NOLS Rocky Mountain Branch and International Headquaters. Lander is nestled in the foothills of the Winds, in central Wyoming. Please arrive in Lander NO LATER than the afternoon of August 5. There is an orientation meeting at 6:00 p.m. on August 5 in the Noble Hotel lobby to meet the team and to discuss the details of the trip. The next morning starts with a hardy breakfast at the Noble Hotel followed by last minute prepping and packing at NOLS Rocky Mountain. We will depart for the mountains after lunch on August 6. Please review your gear before you arrive and make sure that it meets the requirements of the equipment list. If you have any questions regarding gear, please contact NOLS Alumni at The hiking portion of the trip ends on the morning of August 14 with a shorter hike to the roadhead followed by a shuttle back to Lander. We will use the rest of the day to de-issue gear, shower, and formally end the trip. If the team is interested, we can rendezvous for a dinner in Lander that evening (not included in trip cost) awt-trip-description.pdf 3

4 Accommodations: Bunk-style lodging is available (included in the trip tuition) in NOLS Noble Hotel at Third and Main Street in Lander on August 5 and August 14. There are other lodging options in Lander including free camping at the City Park, camping for a fee in Sinks Canyon State Park, and other hotels and bed and breakfast inns. For additional lodging information, contact the Lander Chamber of Commerce at or visit their website at We recommend the following two hotels: Pronghorn Lodge Inn at Lander 150 E. Main Street 260 Grand View Drive (307) (307) Storage of Personal Belongings Personal luggage, other belongings, and vehicles may be stored at the NOLS facility for the duration of your course. Although we assume no responsibility, due care will be taken to prevent theft and/or damage to your stored items. Valuables may be locked our safe. Vehicles will be parked in an unfenced parking lot with little or no security. Map of the Winds (including proposed drop off and pick up trailheads): 2017-awt-trip-description.pdf 4

5 Map of Proposed Route: Travel by Plane: Riverton (RIW), Jackson Hole (JAC), Casper (CPR), Wyoming, Rock Spring (RKS), Wyoming, and Salt Lake City (SLC), Utah, are all viable airports. Riverton, WY is the closest airport to Lander (30-miles) requiring passenger to utilize a rental car or regional shuttle Wind River Transit Authority (WRTA), Check your maps for driving times and distances. Due to unreliable flights into Riverton, we recommend flying to Casper (CPR), Jackson Hole (JAC), or Salt Lake City (SLC). Contact WRTA for shuttles from these locations. Some past participants have found renting a car from one of these moredistant airports to be the most effective method to reach Lander. Travel by Car: Lander is a 4.5-hour drive from Salt Lake City, UT, a 2.5 hours from Casper or Jackson Hole, WY, and a 6 hour drive from Denver, CO. Shuttle: Wind River Transit Authority (W.R.T.A.) provides shuttle service in southwestern Wyoming and surrounding areas. Please make a reservation well in advance by calling , or check their website for more details: wrtabuslines.com. For after hours travel problems, call If you are delayed: If you have any problems on arrival day, please leave a message at , the front desk at the NOLS Noble Hotel. Also contact the NOLS Alumni office at alumni@nols.edu and (800) awt-trip-description.pdf 5

6 Suggested Readings: Clelland, Mike. Ultralight Backpackin Tips. Falcon Guides. Paperback: 133 pages. Ehrlich, Gretel. The Solace of Open Spaces. Penguin Books. Paperback: 131 pages. Kershaw, Linda, Andy MacKinnon & Jim Pojar. Plants of the Rocky Mountains. Lone Pine Publishing. Paperback: 384 pages. Kelsey, Joe. Falcon Guides. Climbing and Hiking in the Wind River Mountains. Paperback: 448 pages. Kricher, John C. & Gordon Morrison. Peterson Field Guides: Ecology of Western Forests. Houghton Mifflin Company. Paperback: 554 pages. Mathews, Daniel. Rocky Mountain Natural History: Grand Teton to Jasper. Raven Editions. Paperback: 656 pages. Itinerary 2016: August 5, Friday Arrive in Lander on the afternoon on this day. Course orientation is at 6 p.m. in the Noble Hotel (288 Main Street, enter on 3 rd Street). The instructors will brief you on the expedition. We recommend you eat an early dinner before the meeting. Lodging at the NOLS s Noble Hotel (3rd and Lincoln Street). Dinner not included. August 6 Breakfast at Noble Hotel. Bring luggage to Rocky Mountain Branch (5th and Lincoln Street). Issue gear, ration food, pack up and load the bus. Depart for the mountains after lunch at Noble Hotel. Field rations for dinner! Meals included. August 7-13 Travel across the Winds! Camping! August 14 Pick up at the trailhead this morning. Eat a road breakfast, and return to Lander. Deissue gear, eat lunch, optional no-host, celebratory dinner in Lander. Lodging at Noble Hotel. Dinner not included August 15 Depart NO EARLIER than this morning. Breakfast on your own. Contact Information: The NOLS Alumni Office is located at the NOLS Headquarters in Lander, Wyoming. We can be reached at (800) is also an option: alumni@nols.edu. If you have any problems on arrival day, please leave a message for us at (307) awt-trip-description.pdf 6

7 Registration and Payment: To reserve a space on this trip, please submit a non-refundable deposit of $200 per person to the NOLS Alumni Department. Mastercard or Visa works via phone ( ), or mail a check to: NOLS Alumni Department, 284 Lincoln St. Lander, WY The remainder of the tuition and all application forms are due by June 23, The price of the trip includes all meals starting with breakfast on August 6, through lunch on August 14, all group equipment, instruction, and shuttles to and from the trailhead. Accommodations other than at the Noble Hotel the night before the trip (August 5) and the last night of the trip (August 14), meals not indicated, any personal equipment that is rented or purchased, and any costs incurred due to evacuations are the responsibility of trip participants. Equipment: See the separate equipment guidelines for this trip and call us ( ) with questions. Much of the suggested equipment is available for rent or sale in the NOLS Rocky Mountain issue room, as well as local gear stores in Lander. If you have any questions about sizes or gear availability, please call. Communication Devices: We encourage alumni trip participants to unplug while in the wilderness. Please plan to use your smart phone as a camera only, not as a personal computer or phone (service is basically non-existent in the Winds). Additionally, you will not be permitted to bring your own personal emergency communication devices (SPOTS, PLBs, etc). Your Instructor team will carry communication devices necessary to make emergency calls to NOLS awt-trip-description.pdf 7