WIND RIVER HIGH ROUTE | 80 Miles Off-Trail Through Wyoming's Wind River Range

Want to take a guided trip with me? I work as a backpacking guide in Yosemite and this August I am offering a 4-day guided high route in the park. If you're interested, check out the link below to learn more!
www.wildfloweradventure.com/s...
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The Wind River Range is one of the most beautiful places in Wyoming. This summer four friends and I hiked the Wind River High Route (Dixon version), a challenging 80 miles through the heart of the Winds featuring off-trail travel, glacier travel, and scrambling, all while staying at high elevation.
For more information on our trip, check out my trip report on Reddit:
/ honvh3n
Gear list (with links) for this trip, including camera gear:
www.lighterpack.com/r/2ccjc5
Note that if you would like to help my channel at no extra cost to you, the Amazon links are affiliate links which means that if you purchase anything after clicking through, I will get a small commission. Thank you!

[@linjicakonikon7666]

Very nice video. Bittersweet melancholia. I was in my late teens early twenties when I backpacked with a few friends on two week explorations in the Northern Section of the Winds. 1973,74 and 75. Three Forks Meadows, Hobbs Lake, Hidden Lake, Slide Falls, Upper Jean, Seneca, Grasshopper Glacier, Gannet Peak, Island Lake Bonney Pass, Titcomb Valley...on and on. I was reading Lord of the Rings while on the trips. Perfect.

[@DanStenziano]

Sounds wonderful

[@lonewolfe5129]

Great watching your video. My 'discovery' of the Winds happened 40+ years ago. So much has changed, but so much is still the same. We did a similar route, but south to north, in August of 2011. When we reached the upper Alpine lake we found the lake half frozen along the west side so we were able to walk across the lake, missing all of the scrambling and rock hopping! Also, Knife Point glacier was much larger. Alpine pass to Indian pass was almost all on ice and snow. Thanks again for sharing your adventure with us.

[@scoutandlouie4652]

I strive for this level of sarcasm with friends. lol

[@alpinekiwi]

Stunning. I am so envious of your wilderness over there. Europe has been populated for so long that there are villages around every corner.

[@JakkeLehtonen-Jagster]

Well, I’m living in Europe and that wasn’t totally true ;)

[@Sjaapdespaak]

@@JakkeLehtonen-Jagster You're right, its ever second corner.

[@codykurschner8399]

And those Europeans have brought that colonizer mindset with them to America hundreds of years ago

[@benzun9600]

lucky no villages in wyoming on these mountains

[@SamwiseOutdoors]

Cowboy camping up in those incredible mountains would be just so satisfying!

[@violetfloros3325]

Appreciated your details of where abouts you camped and overall breakdown at the end of final thoughts. Thank you!

[@PINEPUPPY]

Great movie Dan. Some incredible scenery. To me, at 71, talus hopping looked like a sure ticket to disaster! A wild, rugged, and beautiful hike. Thanks for sharing.

[@DanStenziano]

It could be a ticket to disaster for me too :)

[@stevep7785]

Grat video. Thanks!

[@briansaucy4871]

What a trip....cheers

[@relaxingvideosnorthwest3646]

Beautiful place! Thank you.

[@ethanmathes62]

Rad, thanks for sharing Dan.

[@KarlGottshalk]

Looks like a great trip!

[@katherinestenziano3208]

Very fun to watch, great job!😊

[@rocketdog117]

That was awesome Dan, thank you.

[@jenb.6440]

Wow! Thank you for sharing!! Amazing adventure

[@midlifeadventures391]

Always enjoy your videos Dan and the way you describe the route/trail. Thanks.

[@robhoffimagery]

Gorgeous video. Making me miss the summer months in the alpine.

[@bobbycobbler1598]

Last sentence of the video pretty much sums up the sentiment I feel at the end of every trip, even if it's just a weekend.

[@IdRatherBeHiking]

Beautiful landscape you have down there.

[@jordanPRS89]

Excellent yet again, the Winds are one of my dream backpacking locations. Thanks for sharing, I really enjoyed it!

[@matthewamedio1786]

Good work Danny Stenzi!

[@wellseasonedhiker]

Tx Dan. Nice video. Seems like a super chill week long trip. Gotta put that on my list for 2023.

[@OneTentInCalifornia]

Wow Wyoming and this route looks amazing! Great video and the sleeping under the stars suggestion is a good one

[@SoloSchmitty]

Great video. I plan to do this route next summer. Thx for sharing!

[@bjorn_outside]

Thanks for sharing this Dan. I really enjoyed your video. I've done a low route through the Winds, looks like now I'll need to do the high route. Cheers!

[@richardmarquardt6246]

Wow, spectacular hike. The Winds are incredible but one giant rock garden. Thanks for sharing - very well done video.

[@Hikingindepth]

Really nice video you made it look like a fun trip. The voiceover audio was really nice a clean too. Good job!

[@ChrisS5416]

Beautiful film! Thank you for sharing this adventure. So inspiring.

[@DanStenziano]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@OutOnTrail]

Epic trip and a nice summary of the route... Really enjoyable to watch 👍

[@DanStenziano]

Thank you!

[@ChrisS5416]

Thanks!

[@DanStenziano]

Thank you so much! Have not seen this until now while scrolling through missed comments.

[@KevinSmith-wr1sy]

Dude your videos are beyond good. Keep it up!

[@DanStenziano]

Thank you!

[@Shade_Piper]

Excellent video Dan! I did a Gannett Peak summit trip in the summer of ‘15! The winds are absolutely gorgeous!

[@m__r1100]

What a beautiful place! Thanks for sharing and inspiring. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@DanStenziano]

Thanks for watching!

[@teutonalex]

Thanks for the insight. My special lady friend and I are doing this route this Aug/Sept.

[@AlexKincade]

Epic vid. Terrain reminded me of the Uinta Highline in Utah a bit. I'd love to get out there and do this route. Thanks for another well captured adventure.

[@christinerolle3876]

So envious ... i love this winds cirque .well done... u guys are so awesome.i wish i was in your group.

[@tonibaudoin1188]

UV and I enjoyed watching your video.You always do an excellent job capturing your trips- the filming, music and your narration. I especially liked when you stopped to recommend sleeping under the stars- cowboy camping. I learned a new term.Keep up the great work!

[@brianchelcun8679]

After doing some well maintained trails lately, this talus-hopping brought back memories! Didn't even hate it! What a spectacular place

[@benzun9600]

great hike, yes that year we had smoke and we missed some great views in the winds. ALso great to go back.That hike is no joke hard hiking for many

[@SummitSeeker546]

That’s great, “let’s add a little more spice into the mix!” Yup a class 3 ascent over a high pass with thunderstorm clouds ahead classifies as a little more spice! Yew!

[@django02]

Great video. The Wind River Range is on my list of places I need to go backpacking. Your video gives me more reason to go. Thanks for posting it.

[@DanStenziano]

Glad to hear that! thanks for watching

[@richardthorne2804]

One of the best videos I have seen on the high route. Arguably the best mountain range in the lower 48. Unfortunately I am a little too old probably too try this trail I do plan on hiking to Island Lake and then doing day hikes from there.

[@OutdoorsMH]

Great video of what looks to have been a great trip! In Ron we trust 😂👍🏻

[@DanStenziano]

😆 thanks!

[@thelakeman5207]

Always wanted to do this trail.

[@kylep6194]

Very beautiful video, Dan. I've looked at the Skurka route before but I haven't hiked it. I've been visiting The Winds since around 2010. It's my Happy Place. I like to go fishing while I'm there. I respect those that hike the High Route.

[@DanStenziano]

You must know the Winds pretty well after 11 years. I'd be happy there no matter what I'm doing. Thanks for watching!

[@vinnymullin3484]

That prototype Palante V4 at 0:30 looks sick.

[@DanRansom]

Good stuff Dan!

[@DanStenziano]

Thanks!

[@kelsimontgomery809]

I keep re-watching your great video. My brother and I would love to make this trip our next adventure before my knees give out. Thanks for letting me continue to daydream.

[@DanStenziano]

I hope you can make it happen!

[@trombahonker]

Looking forward to watching it. Hoping to do WRHR this summer or next. Probably SHR sections 1-3 and 5 this summer…

[@DanStenziano]

Can’t go wrong with either!

[@omglolwots]

The Winds are beautiful and you captured them so well. Actually, I stayed in that EXACT spot in the Cirque last year. Walking down to the lake to enjoy the sunset (and sunrise) was a solid 10/10.

[@DanStenziano]

It’s a pretty decent campsite 🙂

[@_javelin]

Thanks for sharing Dan, sure do miss the winds. See you eventually got your new Atompack, they’re the daddy.

[@DanStenziano]

Sure do miss you Jav! Atompacks are the daddy indeed.

[@vinnymullin3484]

Day #5 will surprise you!

[@DroneFoxIreland]

Great and interesting video. Hi from Ireland ☘

[@DanStenziano]

Hello 👋 glad you liked it!

[@DroneFoxIreland]

yes, it's wonderful and inspiring too. Amazing landscape. Sort of sad too, some of the names mentioned are part of a past that's sadly lost now.

[@jasonfay4179]

Awesome video Dan!

[@DanStenziano]

Thanks Jason!

[@jasonfay4179]

@@DanStenziano what brand is that blue hoodie you wore?

[@DanStenziano]

@@jasonfay4179 it’s the outdoor research Echo hoodie. Really nice!

[@andyveres3982]

Yes boyyyyyy

[@DanStenziano]

YES!

[@graxaimcongelado]

👏👏👏

[@WasatchWill]

Great video! I hiked the same route with a friend last July, but in the opposite direction. Funny how we both made use of what I called the "Skurka shortcut" up there between Bonneville Lakes and Raid Pass. It was interesting seeing the late season changes you all encountered vs what we got (greener, more flowers, etc). You probably had a lot less mosquitoes to deal with though. I like your voice over commentary. I considered doing the same thing to shorten mine up more and condense everything into a single video, but ended up not doing so. I broke mine up into a video for each of our 7 days on the route rather than condensing it all into one as you were able to do. Feel free to check out any of my videos if you want to see how the route was earlier in the season and from an opposite direction perspective.

[@DanStenziano]

Nice! Yeah I love how the Winds look in July, but as you're well aware the mosquitoes are just awful.

[@DrJacopo]

Lot of beautiful precipitous rock. Noted there didn’t seem to be much forest though. Elevation relatively low for the Rockies, so kind of surprising. Any idea why?

[@DanStenziano]

Not sure why the Winds are lower than Colorado. They still have some 13ers, though. Even stranger is up in Canada or Glacier where the Rockies look massive, they are actually pretty low relative to the southern Rockies.

[@suthunah2134]

Hey Dan, I first want to say that your videos are great! Your explanations of gear use and little hacks are 👍🏻👍🏻 Do you have any advice on getting to and from the trailheads for this route?

[@DanStenziano]

Thank you! There is a shuttle company in Pinedale that will go to both trailheads. They’re called GOTCO - Great Outdoors Transport Co

[@MattShafter]

Hayyyyyyyyyyyy!

[@DanStenziano]

🙋🏻‍♂️

[@adventurelifewithbob2960]

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.

[@kelkellys674]

Watched to the end, it was the Dixon route

[@SummitSeeker546]

Curious what maps you recommend for the Winds? We did a 16 day SEKI traverse in September last year incorporating some of Skurka’s KCHBR. Epic trip! When the video gets pulled together I’ll send you the link. From all the snow last year the avalanche damage, ie, downed trees, created quite an obstacle course. Looking to do a Wind River trip this coming September. We’ve learned we like 50-60% off trail with some high pass challenges. It’s nice to get back to mindless trails interspersed with the off trail. We are in the planning process now. Any highlights you can recommend that we must see/experience?

[@SummitSeeker546]

Here’s the link to the trailer to our SEKI Traverse trip… kzbin.info/www/bejne/oZ2Yp6F9abdsh7ssi=cFrVH-1ZwHMvbkYj

[@Ryan-qs1jr]

Incredible hike! Thanks for sharing! Did you do any coloring/LUTs in post?

[@DanStenziano]

No LUTs. This is just Cine 4 with some very basic corrections done and a bit of saturation added.

[@lasvegan7021]

Your videos are amazing Dan! #TrailPorn

[@hope2someday691]

Great views and scenery! I didn't see any wildlife in this video. Was this route devoid of life. And I'm not griping there wasn't any in it just curious. I've not yet done any hiking Wyoming but this site does draw me now. Thanx for sharing!

[@DanStenziano]

Didn't see much wildlife on this trip except for some pika. I attribute that partially to traveling in a bigger group. That said, I've been to the Winds on 3 separate occasions and haven't seen much wildlife so maybe the animals there are wary of humans.

[@linjicakonikon7666]

Back in the early 70s I saw a lot of wildlife. Porcupine, Moose, Bighorn Sheep, Black Bear. I guess Grizzlies have moved into the Northern end of the Winds.

[@ChadLubinski]

Love this video!! Quick question: how'd you get the animation to do the line when you showed the map at the start? And how would you compare this to the Super Sierra HR? thanks man!

[@DanStenziano]

Thanks! I think I just drew the line on caltopo and then made a composite image of that and some random map that I thought looked decent, and then in final cut used the draw mask effect and keyframed a reveal of the line. Similar to a text reveal. Vs the super SHR this was easier; much shorter, less scrambling, more cruiser off trail. Still great though. Skurkas route would be a different story.

[@ChadLubinski]

@@DanStenziano thanks brother! And omg I know. We attempted Skurka’s this summer and failed miserably. Hardest hiking I’ve ever done and kinda sketchy. Looking for something more chill to ease into it. Here’s the video for reference: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mGacd3uwgsqHqrs Coming down off Wind River Peak was another level

[@DanStenziano]

@@ChadLubinski yeah that looks pretty bad haha. I’ve heard lots of complaints about the west gully. In my opinion the Dixon route is a great one to gain confidence for longer/harder high routes

[@ChadLubinski]

@@DanStenziano awesome, I’ll check it out!!

[@eaferstl]

Hey Dan, looks awesome! Im looking to do a high route and want to know how many miles I can expect. For reference what did u do per day on pct/cdt? Thanks!

[@DanStenziano]

Thanks! Well, on an average day on those trails I would do about 30/day. That might involve 4-5k of vertical gain, which you could hit in 15 miles on a high route. Also, on a thru-hike the mindset is a lot more about miles than on a high route where there's a lot of other stuff to think about (navigation, decision making). I think a good high route beginner rule of thumb would be 50% of your on-trail mileage.

[@eaferstl]

@@DanStenziano cool thanks for the info… and based on this video my first might have to be the wind river route :)

[@kelkellys674]

Did you do Andrew Skurka route?

[@DanStenziano]

Nope! We did the Alan Dixon version. Would like to come back and do the Skurka route at some point.

[@tpsh38]

Great video but I'm not gonna lie, I feel slightly cheated with just 24min of a beautiful 80 mile adventure.

[@Hikingindepth]

Same!

[@haleyolsen]

What month did you go?

[@DanStenziano]

August 28- sep 3

[@gailboyce7101]

Please no more asa