Alpine Backpacking in the Snowy Mountains

Arrive Denver (DEN) anytime. We will be spending the first night at a hotel with an airport shuttle. We will not be formally gathering as a group this evening so it’s yours to spend as you choose. Altitude can affect everyone differently so we are building in acclimatization time to help us all feel more comfortable during our high altitude backpack! (*For the backpacking section, exact mileages and campsites for each night are contingent upon weather conditions, campsite availability, and group interests.)

The guides will meet you at the hotel at 8 a.m. for brief introductions and group orientation. The mountains are calling! We will head north three hours to a geological legend, Vedauwoo, Wyoming for a picnic and short hike. Pronounced "vee-da-voo,” this spectacular area is full of fascinating pink hued granite, dating back 1.43 billion years. After a filling picnic lunch we’ll continue on to our lodging in Laramie where we have the evening to review the essentials of backpacking, divvy up group gear, and weigh/fit our packs. Laramie (or “Laradise” as the locals call it!) is a charming western college town, full of cowboy relics with an outdoorsy vibe. Participants will have the opportunity to purchase or add to lunch and snack supplies for the backpacking section today. At 7,200 feet above sea level, it will give us a second night to get used to altitude before starting our backpack tomorrow. Tonight we’ll hit the town for our first group dinner together. (B, L, D)

After an early breakfast, we take a beautiful one hour drive west over the Snowy Mountain Scenic Byway. We'll drive through sagebrush prairie at the lower elevations to lodgepole pine and spruce-fir forests at higher elevations. The Snowy Range, at 9,000 feet to 12,000 feet above sea level, is aptly named for the heavy annual snowfall and striking white granite peaks. We begin our backpacking trip at the crystalline waters of Libby Lake (elevation 10,750), setting up camp a few miles in at a dispersed site near Lost Lake. Along the way, we’ll review backpacking basics such as Leave No Trace ethics, health and safety topics including altitude illness prevention, sanitation, water purification, foot care, cooking in the backcountry and more. (B, D) Distance: 2-3 miles. *Though the daily distances are shorter, we maintain that this is a Level 4 trip due to altitude, possible weather extremes (it’s not called the Snowy Range for nothing!) and carrying the weight of a full backpack.

After marveling at the sunrise and warming up with some tea or coffee and a filling breakfast, we’ll pack our things and backpack along the northeast side of Brown’s Peak. We'll hike past trees twisted by the harsh alpine environment, known as "Krummholz" or "bent trees" and a beautiful array of wildflowers - true highlights of the alpine scenery! A variety of birds frequent these meadows, such as the Brown headed Rosy Finch, Clark's Nutcracker, chickadee, and Northern Flicker. We will become familiar as well with the squeaks, whistles and scurrying of the small alpine marmots and pikas. We may see elk, deer, and short-tailed weasels along the trail pine. Dinner is simple and hearty, backpacking style. You will be surprised how tasty and diverse backpacking dinners can be! (B, D) Distance: 6-8 miles.

Today we may explore Sand Lake, where there is a ghost town feel (there was a rustic cabin resort there that operated from the 1930’s until the 1980’s) and then we’ll backpack toward Cutthroat Lake (named for Cutthroat Trout who have a splash of red near their throats.) We’ll get views of Medicine Bow Peak which at a majestic 12,013 feet is the highest point in the range and provides a great landmark during most of our journey. Glaciers gouged Medicine Bow National Forest thousands of years ago, creating lake after pristine lake. Today many snowfields remain all summer, gripping the mountain slopes and hanging over many of the lakes, white snow contrasting with blue water. The trail is rocky and loose in some places and soft mossy tundra in others. There are many small lakes nestled against high escarpments that are home to rainbow, cutthroat, and brook trout. When the sun goes down, the stargazing is fantastic at this elevation! (B, D) Distance: Variable depending on your choice of the day, 3 - 10 miles

Today our mileage is shorter but the terrain is tougher. We will backpack across a boulder field (slowly and safely) to settle at the base of Medicine Bow Peak, next to Klondike Lake. This is the perfect position for an early morning summit tomorrow of the highest point in the Snowy Range and the 14th highest mountain in the state of Wyoming. (B, D) Distance: 4 miles.

After an early breakfast, those that want to join the summit party, will pack just some layers, water and snacks in their packs for the steep but rewarding one mile, 1,500 vertical feet hike up to the top of Medicine Bow Peak. (For those wanting to explore at lower elevations instead of the summit push, there is an out and back 4 mile hike to Lookout Lake.) Triumphant (and maybe a little sore) we’ll head back down to pack-up our campsite and hike out to our ending point. Together we’ll toast our week’s accomplishments and inside jokes an hour down the road at AGC’s favorite ranch, the Vee Bar, for a night spent in cozy cabins next to the Little Laramie river. Did I mention there is a hot tub and laundry machines? It’s the perfect place to celebrate our adventure! (B, D) Distance: 2-5 miles