Snowy Range (WY) easy backpacking recommendations?

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rdp32
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Snowy Range (WY) easy backpacking recommendations?

Post by rdp32 »

I was planning on taking my family backpacking this upcoming Wed-Fri (mid-week!) in CO but the weather forecast looks pretty bad, so I checked a bunch of locations on weather.gov and it looks like Southern WY has a somewhat better forecast. So I am considering heading to the Snowy Range around Medicine Bow Peak, but I have never been there and don't know much about the area. Does anyone have any suggestions for a 2-night / 3-day route? Here are some criteria:

1. A loop would be great. A one-way trip enabled by a mountain bike shuttle would also be great (for some reason I really like doing that kind of thing!). In-and-outs are worse.
2. My original plan (in CO) was to have everyone hike to the lake/campsite the first day, then I would wake up early the 2nd morning to bag a summit (and be back to camp by late morning), and then just explore for the 2nd day, then hike back out the 3rd day. I would still be up for that kind of itinerary. Or we could hike every day and move camp each day.
3. Must be able to get to trailhead in my Subaru Outback.
4. I'd like to limit it to around 5-ish miles and 1k feet or so of elevation gain/loss per day. A little more gain or loss is fine if it's not on back-to-back days, or if we don't have the gain and the loss in the same day. A summit could be nice but is not necessary.

Thanks in advance for any recommendations! Or if anyone has any suggestions for other areas I should look at that might have good weather this Wed-Fri (anything within 4-ish hours from Denver fitting these criteria), please let me know as well!
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jchapell
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Re: Snowy Range (WY) easy backpacking recommendations?

Post by jchapell »

This may be shorter than you are looking for, but the Brown's Peak Loop in the snowy range is one I have bookmarked for us to do w our kids - we have similar mile/elevation caps w our 4 and 6 year old backpacking, and it is one that looks nice. Personally, I've been holding off going there with our family until later in the summer bc of mosquitos.
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/wyom ... nowy-range
https://www.visitlaramie.org/things-to- ... mountains/
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jibler
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Re: Snowy Range (WY) easy backpacking recommendations?

Post by jibler »

avoiding weather -- as in weather weather?


or smoke weather?

because if the latter I'd bet on going south.

heck - I may go south even for weather weather too. there is so much smoke that I don't know if any storm could clear it out significantly
Keep looking up - Jack Horkheimer
rdp32
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Re: Snowy Range (WY) easy backpacking recommendations?

Post by rdp32 »

jchapell wrote: Sat Jul 17, 2021 11:13 pm This may be shorter than you are looking for, but the Brown's Peak Loop in the snowy range is one I have bookmarked for us to do w our kids - we have similar mile/elevation caps w our 4 and 6 year old backpacking, and it is one that looks nice. Personally, I've been holding off going there with our family until later in the summer bc of mosquitos.
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/wyom ... nowy-range
https://www.visitlaramie.org/things-to- ... mountains/
Thanks for the recommendation! I was just looking at that same area. I think there's a 50/50 chance we head there this week
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Re: Snowy Range (WY) easy backpacking recommendations?

Post by rdp32 »

jibler wrote: Sun Jul 18, 2021 8:42 am avoiding weather -- as in weather weather?


or smoke weather?

because if the latter I'd bet on going south.

heck - I may go south even for weather weather too. there is so much smoke that I don't know if any storm could clear it out significantly
Yeah, good point about the smoke. Anyone have any idea how bad it is in southern Wyoming right now?
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Re: Snowy Range (WY) easy backpacking recommendations?

Post by jibler »

this will get you in the smoke game:

https://fire.airnow.gov/



WY is getting more than CO last week or more

southern CO is your way to be - if patterns hold.

I would think Sangre di christos somewhere - or spanish peaks.


or - if I were you --- that big peak outside Taos and maybe also see bandelier monument if you can.

I've been to taos for my sister's wedding - but didn't get that ruin look.
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Re: Snowy Range (WY) easy backpacking recommendations?

Post by Scott P »

jchapell wrote: Sat Jul 17, 2021 11:13 pm This may be shorter than you are looking for, but the Brown's Peak Loop in the snowy range is one I have bookmarked for us to do w our kids - we have similar mile/elevation caps w our 4 and 6 year old backpacking, and it is one that looks nice. Personally, I've been holding off going there with our family until later in the summer bc of mosquitos.
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/wyom ... nowy-range
https://www.visitlaramie.org/things-to- ... mountains/
Yes, I think this is probably the best bet for a backpacking trip in the Snowies.

You can extend it to a lot longer by going to more lakes and climbing more peaks. That's what we did. Or you can make it a figure 8 double loop with Medicine Bow Peak.

Hopefully it's not to smoky as it's a beautiful area.
I'm old, slow and fat. Unfortunately, those are my good qualities.
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