SUMMIT LAKE

 SEPTEMBER 2020

SQUARE TOP

SUMMIT LAKE

SUMMIT LAKE

NO NAME LAKES

TRAPPER LAKE

On this trip we decided to hike one-way from the Green River Lakes to Elkhart Park. We were fortunate enough to have family members camping at Green River Lakes who were willing to shuttle us from our cars at Elkhart Park. On the first day, we hiked from Green River Lakes to just before Beaver Park on the side of Square Top Mountain. This is a very flat, easy stretch with beautiful views of the Green River Lakes, the Green River and Square Top along the way. 

The next day we made the long climb to Summit Lake. I remember the narrow valley leading to Summit Lake being really beautiful, but also there being some wildfire smoke that day taking away from some of the beauty. There weren't any great camping spots on the side of Summit Lake we were on, so we continued west a bit to the No Name Lakes where we found a place in the trees with some amazing views. The exertion from the hike that day, and being at over 10,500' in elevation wiped us out. I remember setting up the tent taking all the energy I had. Though after recovering we went back down to Summit Lake in the evening to relax. 

On the next day we hiked down the trail past Borum Lake to Gottfried Lake, where we made a detour over to Heart Lake, which was well worth it, as it was located in a very beautiful and pleasant basin. We then returned back to the main tail which passed by many other lakes. We passed by Neil Lake and then made a slight detour to Trail Lake where we had lunch. We then continued on to Trapper Lake, which had a really nice backdrop, then Little Trapper Lake, Prospector Lake and Glimpse Lake where we camped. 

The night at Glimpse Lake was pretty creepy. Just after we got our tents set up a big storm came through which dropped the temperature dramatically and also dropped some snow on the ground. However, the worst part was the wind. There were incredibly strong wind gusts that night that never let up. We kept hearing trees crashing to the ground over and over while we tried to sleep. We never were able to get to sleep because we were so afraid one of the trees would eventually fall on us. Finally at around midnight, we got up an asked the others if they wanted to just pack out that night. The first tent was in agreement, and the second one came around after a massive tree about 5' from their tent came crashing down (luckily in the direction away from their tent). 

We packed up quick, put our headlamps on, and relied on my brother's All Trails GPS app to guide us back to the trailhead. So many trees had fallen across the trail that we kept losing it. It was a brutal last hike that dropped steeply down to Long Lake, before climbing straight back up to Elk Hart Park. Trees kept falling as we made the hike out. When we did make it to the trailhead, the road out was impassible due to the number of trees that had fell across it. We ended up chilling in our cars for a few hours until the Forest Service was able to clear the road. It looked like about 30 trees had fallen over the road from Elk Hart Park to Pinedale. I was able to drive back to Idaho in peace, but my brother and cousins said the I-80 freeway back to Utah was closed due to the number of semis that had blown over on it.  

So it ended up being a pretty memorable trip. While the beginning stretch from Green River Lakes to Beaver Park was pretty crowded, we hardly saw anyone after that. Be aware that if you go hiking in the Wind Rivers over Labor Day weekend the trailheads will be packed, and rangers will be swarming. So check for fire restrictions before you go and make sure you're camped far enough away from lakes and rivers. While Labor Day weekend used to be the perfect time to backpack the Winds, I think I'll start going a bit earlier or later in the year to try to beat the crowds and wildfire smoke as much as possible.