Green River - Porcupine Pass Loop, Wind River Range

[@alantally5604]

I did that loop a few years before you did. Me and my dog Sonny camped the second night right at the top. We got our water from that little pond just over the top. Happy Wind River backpacking!

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks for watching Alan! It's a beautiful loop.

[@chadroberts44]

Glad you made this video so I can see the terrain. We are going to go in that direction in a couple of days. I only have 3 days so I won't be able to do that full loop but still looking forward to getting as far as I can.

[@BryanDeLay]

Glad the video helped with the trip planning. Have a great trip in the Winds.

[@chadroberts44]

@@BryanDeLay We finished it and it was great. I will try to put a video of it and post it. Thanks for all your wonderful videos

[@DrJohn493]

Already gave you a thumbs up and now watching it again as a re-run getting ready for next summer. I may get stuck on the Green River doing some fly fishing though.

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks for watching again John! It's a great loop.

[@DrJohn493]

@@BryanDeLay I had a few more questions about the Winds I sent you by e-mail when you get some spare time

[@BryanDeLay]

Replied to your email this evening.

[@davidlandreth1140]

You have crafted an incredible series of videos - dynamite camera work and good narration to boot. What I really want to know is what kind of lucky charm you carry to have such great luck with the weather :D I don't think that I've ever managed 3 days in a row there without getting hammered with storms but that is part of the attraction of wild country. Thanks for your work on these trek reports!

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks David! Sorry to be so long in replying, but I've been backpacking in Wyoming for the last 6 weeks. Last year, 2016, was a dry year in Wyoming. I haven't always been so fortunate in the Winds. I've been pounded with rain, snow and sleet often. I videoed two of my trips this year, one in the Winds and one in Yellowstone. I'll get the videos edited and uploaded as soon as possible. Glad you are enjoying my videos.

[@alantally5604]

I've done that trail, along time ago. Great job for an older fella, I was a lot younger then. I went the opposite way. I slept at the top of Porcupine Pass the 2 nd night. Love the Winds don't ya? Me too. Now I go in thru mostly Cold springs outa Crowheart. Less People! But now you know. Gotta have the Indians haul you up there over the reservation. See you on the trail.

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks Alan! Yes I love the Winds, in fact for the last five years I've spent the month of August backpacking in the Winds. In 2014 I did a trip out of Dickinson Park and had to buy a $55 permit to drive across the reservation. Don't think I'll do that again.

[@CDAFishboy]

Hiking alone you need to make sacrifices with the weight, but my wife and I encountered really strong wind and rain at night and were glad to have a strong tent staked down solid. Nice video, thanks for uploading. You may be convincing me to head back to the Winds up the Green River to Summit Lake and then maybe over to Titcombe Basin.

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks CDAFishboy for watching and commenting. Actually I prefer a tarp over a tent and have been using a tarp since 1998, with over 1,000 nights under a tarp. This tarp is a five sided Mountain Laurel Designs Trail Star and with all five corners staked down is very wind resistant. I have over 500 nights on this tarp and have used it in pouring rain and 40-50 mph winds. Green River Trail is beautiful and so is Titcombe Basin, but Titcombe Basin is very crowded. In 2015 I did an trip from Elkhart Park to Titcombe Basin and saw the most backpackers I've ever seen on a trip. Again thanks for watching and glad you enjoyed the video.

[@CDAFishboy]

Thanks for the explanation, as the pic didn't show the tarp staked down for a storm

[@geologist1005]

I did exact trip...wonderful

[@wyopobo5339]

great video Bryan. love the scenery. 32mi loop is just right! i do enjoy your commentary.

[@BryanDeLay]

Thank you very much Martin! The scenery on this loop was incredible and the mileage was enough to get some good exercise and spend some quality at camp.

[@johnfarrell6282]

Bryan: just came across your video. I am taking the exact same backpacking trip in July 2019. I’ve been to Green River Lakes twice but this time will be doing the same route you took. Looks beautiful

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks John for watching the video. If you are going next July, I'd suggest you take a head net. The mosquitoes can be bad in July. It's a great loop.

[@johnfarrell6282]

Bryan DeLay I did a 30 mile loop in the Bighorns July 2017 and the skeeters were horrible. The 8 day trip was turned into a 4 day trip because of this. Definitely will bring a headnet in the Winds. Did you run into not any bear sign?

[@BryanDeLay]

The Bighorns are really nice and I've done four backpacking trips in Cloud Peak Wilderness. I've not seen too many signs of bears in the Winds, although I did spook a small brown bear on Double Top Mountain Trail in August 2016.

[@bobalanadventures2024]

I enjoyed your video! Our family has been going to the Wind Rivers and the Green River Lakes since the 1940's. I made a video describing my family's history with this beautiful area of the world.

[@BryanDeLay]

Thank you Bob! With your family's history in the area it's nice to know you enjoyed the video.

[@bmwohl]

Bryan, I love your Wind River hiking videos. I did two hikes in the Winds last summer, one from Big Sandy Opening and one from Bears Ears trailhead. I'm going to imitate this one in mid-July 2017 if the snow is clear enough. I think your videos are PERFECT in trail descriptions and showing scenery. How do you launch your bear bag rope? Are you worried about having your sleeping area so close to established fire places? I did a poor job of bear hangs in 2016 and I'm thinking of going to Ursack S29 bear protection in 2017.

[@BryanDeLay]

Thank you so much Barry! The Winds are my favorite place to backpack in the West. In fact the last three years I've spent the entire month of August backpacking in the Winds. Actually I rarely camp close to the fire pit because I worry about sparks damaging my tarp. Maybe the video made the tarp look closer than it really was or I may not have had a fire. Here is a video showing my bear bag technique: kzbin.info/www/bejne/imqvZYKIgJtlpa8. Again thank you for watching my videos and hope you enjoy your hike this summer.

[@kidologist]

We are doing I 'think' the same trip, Green Lakes Highline - BUT I can't find Clark Creek trail OR lake on the map. We are taking the New Fork Trail over to Porcupine Trail to return and make a loop back to Green Lakes. Would love more info on the Clark Creek Trail and Lake since I can't find them, seems you found a different way from Highline to Porcupine that I can't find?

[@BryanDeLay]

The map I'm using is Beartooth Publishing Wind River Range, North. The Clark Creek Trail intersects the CDT at Trail Creek Park and intersects the Porcupine Trail just north of New Fork Park. Hope this helps.

[@kidologist]

@@BryanDeLay Thanks for the reply! I just got my Beartooth map yesterday and there it was! Clark Creek, I'm so curious why AllTrails uses a different name, I will reach out to them just so they know. Thanks for this video we start this Friday and your video was a wonderful introduction. Not sure when we will cut over to Porcupine, as there are 3 different options and we have 7 days, but we are looking forward to getting started! Happy Trails!

[@boulder89984]

Just found your channel. Super job on the video. What was your total weight with food and gear at the start?

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks boulder89984! I've changed backpacks and some packing systems since that trip so I can't say exactly. Now I'm using a Zpacks Arc Haul and it weighs about 1 lb lighter than the Osprey Exos 58 I carried on this trip. So I would estimate my total pack weight at about 35 pounds (base weight = 16 lbs, consumables = 17 lbs, video equipment = 2 lbs). Today my base weight for a 7 day trip for in those weather conditions would be about 34 lbs. You may enjoy my backpacking equipment video series where I describe my equipment with a spread sheet list at the end of each video.

[@Martyupnorth]

How busy are these trails? I'm from Canada. I can hike for days without encountering other hikers. Is this area similar.

[@topshotrhit]

Not anymore. Off trail is not too busy.

[@BryanDeLay]

See my reply to your comment to my Scab Creek Loop video. This Green River loop was fantastic, but the first five or so miles was crowded. After that the people count dropped off.

[@CDAFishboy]

Seems you were not covering much mileage those first two days. Did you turn for the loop before getting to Summit Lake.

[@jonathanwoster657]

Nice videos Bryan. What do you do for rain while hiking- specifically do you use rain paints?

[@BryanDeLay]

Thank you Jonathan! I use rain pants in winter if the day temps are going to be in the low 40's or colder, but in warmer weather I use an Enlightened Equipment Rain Wrap.

[@ozarksandbeyond4416]

The river with the turquoise waters, was that the green river??

[@BryanDeLay]

Yes that is correct.

[@shawnbergman6558]

Are all those streams fishable?

[@BryanDeLay]

I wasn't fishing, but I saw people fishing.

[@shawnbergman6558]

How crowded was it? I'm looking to hike 10-15 miles back with my son for isolation, star gazing with our telescope and fishing.

[@BryanDeLay]

@@shawnbergman6558 It wasn't very crowded in 2016, but that could have changed. Certainly not crowded compared to Titcomb Basin or Cirque of Towers.

[@shawnbergman6558]

@@BryanDeLay thanks so much for the info. The winds are vast so I am sure we can find some isolation.

[@JamesRobertSmith]

Did you do this backpack alone?

[@BryanDeLay]

Yes this was a solo trip. Thanks for watching my video.