CROSSWINDS: Traversing America's Best Wild Mountain Range

After more than a year of planning, a friend and I spend a week on a backpacking traverse of Wyoming's Wind River Range on foot. We experience Incredible scenery, temperamental weather, debilitating injuries, and more. It was the trip of a lifetime!
DATE FILMED: August 2020
► Adventure Know-How: adventureknowh...
► The SUV RVing Website: suvrving.com/
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GPS COORDINATES, etc.
** Starting trailhead: 42.7002, -108.9319
** Night 1 camp: 42.7215, -109.0018
** Night 2 camp: 42.7647, -109.1466
** Night 3 camp: 42.7962, -109.2705
** Night 4 camp: 42.8388, -109.3077
** Night 5 camp: 42.8679, -109.3565
** Ending trailhead: 42.8557, -109.6196
** Night 6 camp: 42.8494, -109.6337
OTHER LINKS
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** The company I use for my web hosting: www.a2hosting.com?aid=5dd04ea50f139 (Affiliate link)
** Instagram: / suvrving
** My other KZbin channel: / tenkaraaddict
#wyoming #windrivers #windrivertraverse

[@sandis5554]

Tristan and Alex, this was one of the most amazing videos I have seen. Being 67 yrs old my health would not allow me to make that trip! THANK you for doing it and taking us with you! Sending hugs and love!

[@michaelmoynihan679]

Y

[@DrewWithington]

I hope you can go out some places in the great outdoors.

[@justherb666]

Love the variety of your hikes. From roadside attractions to 53 mile mountain treks.

[@carolbanks8313]

WOW and WOW again. Thanks guys for taking us along.

[@BrendaHaltom-cs6ck]

This hike was fantastic! I prefer the second part! More beautiful! I hope Alex’s knees and blisters get medical care! Loved your channel so much!❤️😀🇺🇸🌏🚙

[@martydixon647]

Spec-tac-u-lar!!! Thanks for takin' us along! 😁🌲❤️

[@SUVRVing]

Please "thumb up" this video if you enjoyed it! And if you'd like to see bonus videos about the gear I took on this trip or a map of the exact route we followed, head on over to my Adventure Know-How site and sign up for instant access: adventureknowhow.com -Tristan

[@linh8997]

I wanted to give it 3 thumbs up. Still watching.....Don't know how I missed this one.

[@StereoSpace]

34:03 That is a sill, and area where magma was injected into a fault or joint in the granite, probably early in the mountain building event when these blocks of basement rock were being broken up and pushed to the surface. Later, lateral compression folded it. If you look to the left side of the cone-shaped rock, you can make out what appear to be arcuate folds as well.

[@coniferousforests8030]

This is epic. I can safely say this video is to end all your videos. The best so far, as yet unbeatable. Pls do more backpacking. You do it unlike other hikers do. Same trails, same areas but totally new flavour to it. Look fwd to seeing more of this!!!!! Really nice!!!!

[@jules1sd]

I love how chill Alex is, even while in pain. Favorite parts were the views and how easy you made those summits look. Enjoyed watching. Thanks for sharing.

[@reggiebald2830]

Your efforts are very much appreciated! More so the camping, do while you are able. Hopefully you'll have many years left for hiking (Alex caring for his knee); camping outdoors especially on the ground, not so much. Thanks again for taking us places many of us would not have enjoyed such extreme beauty otherwise ~

[@dixxebell]

Im happy to see you slow down and take your time, it's such a beautiful range you must savor it when possible. Best wishes to Alex probably a ligament, hope its not serious.

[@ThatOneDudeNick]

Oh wow, i wasn't expecting 55 minutes when I clicked this. Excellent. I'm setting off in just over a week for my first backpacking trip of more than one night (3 nights in Northern Nevada).

[@1020LAStep]

Love how you backpackers eat. Real food.

[@vinxmas]

Always knew i had to experience the Wind! Now i know where i want to hike! Thanks for all your videos! ☮️

[@joycecaudell6047]

I actually cried some at the first day’s vista. So many awesome memories from 20+ years ago! What a treat! Can’t thank you both enough!

[@beach3girl459]

Wind River is one of the most ruggedly gorgeous areas anywhere in the world. Thanks for sharing your adventure.

[@AVENTURASTOTALES]

I agree ☝️

[@teslah2997]

I was told by a friend, who has hiked all over the world, that the Wind River range was his favorite place....hopefully, I will get there in the next year or two. I should have gone during the 16 yrs I lived in Montana. So glad you went and took us all along with you, Tristan....thanks!

[@johnmcdonald1306]

I wish I was young enough again and could vacation out west but thanks to Tristan's experiences I get to do it. I have told people about your video's and you might be getting alot more views

[@garyleibitzke4166]

6 - 8 miles a day. That's the pace I used to do when I backpacked. Gave time to relax and take in the scenery.

[@timfarness5136]

Wow this my favorite of yours so far, reminds me of my younger years. Hiking to places unknown. Mine was the Eagle Cap Wilderness in eastern Oregon 1981. I know I couldn't do it now. Thanks for stimulating the memories !this was your best yet for me! thank you Tristan!

[@neutrinohunter1667]

Tristan - you have confirmed for me why I have a backpack trip here on my bucket list. Would have done it in 2020, but Covid border closure keeps me north of 49 for now. Absolutely spectacular! I need to do it before I age out. Love the pace of your videos and the approach you take to your adventures. I hope the business of producing content never impacts on the pleasure you take in the exploration and adventure.

[@cramias1]

I'm amazed you've never been to the Winds before! I took my second trip out there this year, this time to the Cirque of the Towers area, and I agree, it really is one of the best wilderness mountain ranges in the country, surpassing many national parks even

[@marianfrances4959]

Wow!! Thanks for sharing. Not without it's rocky challenges but what a beautiful trail! 😉🇨🇦👍

[@brownpaperbag5343]

What I like about the longer videos is I can watch over a few days. I find it extends the enjoyment when I get a dose for a few days. It be more editing time but by adding content from an existing trip reduces time away from home. Always a trade off. Btw the video is visually stunning, cheers.

[@that1guycliff]

So great. I saw this pop up a week or so ago and decided to wait until I could watch it in one sitting. Beautiful hike.

[@dwaynemontanye5274]

Great, great video. The sceneries were breathtaking. Love your videos. This for me was the best. Thank you.👍

[@annieyahu676]

Great trip ❤. Is always so great to have someone to experience these hikes with 😊. Thanks for Sharing them with so many of us that aren't able to presently enjoy them in person right now. Love and blessings.

[@filmcriticinla]

Loved it, brought back memories of my one 8 day trip with some hard core hikers in the cascades.

[@bcrazyyeti]

A wonderful hike, fantastic views. Nicely done.

[@harveyarmbrust4094]

Beautiful stuff!!! Enjoy this time in your life. I used to do a lot of hiking until my youngest son quit Scouting. Now with my daughter’s busy color guard schedule and my elderly mother living with us (thank my wife has incredible patience) I’m trapped at home.

[@charlesharris2749]

Thanks, Tristan, for taking me along on this grand adventure. Spectacular views, good company.... no blisters or joint pain, no breathing difficulty at that elevation, got to eat all the junk food I don't normally get to eat! Fun times, let's do it again.

[@stevewalcott9546]

What an epic journey! You’ll remember this trip the rest of your life!

[@cindi7955]

This was awesome in it's simplicity and beauty and the not rushing made it so relaxing. I put it on to help me go back to sleep and didn't want to stop watching so 4 a.m. now and well worth the loss of sleep to tag along on this adventure with you both. Enjoyed it so much and hope Alex's knees have recouped over the last year and few months. God bless!

[@SUVRVing]

He got surgery a few months ago and had been recovering and doing well!

[@tmber01]

I rarely watch a video twice, especially if it is longer than about 15 minutes. But I wanted to see this one again because it has been on my mind on and off since I watched it the first time the week you posted it. It's been on my mind so much that I've told friends that I am going to try and duplicate it next year after I retire. Epic doesn't do it descriptive justice.

[@jaysmallen3067]

I'm home baking Christmas cookies n cakes and this came on. Awesome random video find! I'd love to see more like this, that has backpacking and fishing. Sign me up for episodes like this!! It may be kind of a more niche video topic, but I love it. Thanks to you and Alex for taking us along 🤙🏻

[@bettebuchheit5776]

Love this area; thank you for sharing it with us. My husband and I drove north out of Pinedale, WY on highway 740 (I think) to a gorgeous overlook of the Wind Mountain Range. Simply one of the most beautiful vistas I’ve ever seen. There was primitive camping at the top but we were pressing on to Utah and didn’t stay.....I’ve always regretted that! Thanks again for another beautiful video.....this one was special.

[@Far-Beyond-Ordinary]

Excellent backpacking adventure!

[@lawsonone6015]

Thank you so much for this video. It was so good to see you in a tent camping experience negotiating packing, tent and placement style, food, and gear. The scenes were incredible. The footage was so well captured. I love the idea of 5 or so miles a day. Thank you for making an experience like this look so approachable. I would really like to try something like this.

[@hankbern9847]

Hey Tristan and Alex...amazing video and commentary and the scenery was outstanding....really enjoyed it and Tristan....one of your best....keep up the good work.. Thx to Alex for enduring the blisters and knee problems...from Hank and Pam from South Texas

[@timothysexton1532]

Epic. I'm out of words. That place was stunning.

[@florencerozner2344]

Wow this trip was amazing. Picture perfect. Fishing fun . Thank you for sharing your adventure .

[@loucarvelas9726]

Tristan - those high stringed-out lakes descending from a cirque are termed “paternoster” (paternoster), Latin. They are formed by subsequently occurring recessional moraines in many cases, from lower to the upper most elevation, and usually terminating in the highest lake in the cirque.

[@karlschreiber9286]

Perhaps formed of the last ice age?

[@tanjaontour2932]

Awesome! Thanks for taking me along.

[@nomad_wannabe1912]

I absolutely loved this. The Teton range is my very favorite place to visit but now I want to visit here. So gorgeous! Thank you for these amazing videos.

[@charlieswearingen500]

Tristen/Alex, After 20+ miles over rough mountainous terrain, even if it was mostly downhill most people don't feel much beyond fatigue LOL. Twenty miles in one day with rusty hips and knees is quite an accomplishment...👍👍

[@jonwarner1977]

Love the Wind Rivers. Good old Arapaho country. Yeah, I know about knee and ankle pain from hiking. In my case often is over extended tendons. A couple days rest and good to go again. Great video. Thanks!

[@rangerdoc1029]

Being deep in the forest with no other people is so therapeutic.

[@jorgiesjog9904]

I love the winds. I think it is one of the most beautiful spots in the USA.

[@freedomdove]

What a great hike! Way more than I can do, for sure. I'm glad you had a hiking buddy to go along with you. I'm off to Idaho next week to pick up my rig from Grady's. I can't thank you enough for introducing his shop to us. I'll catch up with your adventures when I get back.

[@carolbanks8313]

I'm awestruck by this video Tristan and Alex. Sitting here in my livingroom with tears in my eyes remembering the beauty of it all. Thank you for letting me come along.

[@PurposeBetweenSeasons]

I must say, it’s kinda great to see someone who enjoys the outdoors and is as active as you are - still keeping it real with a large pizza (and your pop tarts you’ve shared on other videos.)

[@fiesty161]

I enjoy being in the forest more than anything. It is beautiful where your hiking!

[@larrymcbryan5630]

Thank you for taking us on such a great adventure! Nancy

[@christinerolle3876]

Awesome job!! So jealous...i would like to be one of you guys.whoo..hoo..!!love it

[@johnmullally8711]

My favorite range too. Glacier carved liked the sierras, but with greener, richer meadows because it gets more rain in summer.

[@tquist61]

A fantastic adventure! Great video... I really enjoy your hiking/mountain climbing videos best. Very inspring!

[@erikawoods8975]

You had me at 8 day backpacking trip ... love it!!! Thank you for sharing Tristan 😊

[@mjcfsutton]

Best parts were the glorious views. It was also very well balanced, i.e., tracking miles, tenting, commentary, etc.

[@joyouslily2982]

Gorgeous waterfall

[@jeffreywhitaker5154]

Beautiful!!! Reminds me of Yosemite!

[@barbarapadgett5538]

Great hike as usual. Thanks for taking us along.

[@kimsargeant8126]

Incredibly beautiful trip. I hope the knee problems heal quickly.

[@johnmcdonald1306]

Just started video and have not watched the video yet but can't wait. Thanks

[@yuccavalleynan2074]

Wow just seeing this in ‘22 & loved every bit! EPIC!!! Thanks Tristen for ALL you give us via filming!

[@tomwestbrook]

Thanks! Very fun watch. Did the Lander side a couple summers ago with my hiking buddy from Mass. we took a left at that meadow with the view of The Cirque and looped around back to the trailhead…2 or 3 days. Sympathy to Alex with the knee issues, I have similar problems on hard downhills.

[@softroadingthewest]

Thoroughly enjoyed this beginning to end. Such incredible scenes day after day. Getting all of it into a single video must have been a feat. Too much awesome stuff to pick a favorite part, though I LOL'd at the "price of vanity" with the picturesque campsite on the rock. :-) Nice work as always.

[@virginiaallen4723]

Where I grew up in Utah, the scouts loved going there.

[@3generations393]

Thanks for sharing your adventure-Alex will enjoy getting home and taking care of his knee and blisters. Hope all worked out well for him. 🙏✌️🌎💞

[@lorenzon5303]

Thanks for bringing us along on another epic adventure! Keep up your excellent work. Hope Alex's knees get healed up soon.

[@ErnieGaeta]

Hey Tristan, awesome footage thanks for sharing your adventures. I started following you a year ago and inspired me to go out there with the right knowledge and attitude. Wish you the best in the upcoming trips.

[@coldfiredog]

Beautiful mountains, I want to take a trip like that soon, And the fishing was cool too,

[@TheCabrooster11]

Marvellous video, awe inspiring footage of somewhere I’ve only ever seen from a distance. Really stepped up on the epic style of hike

[@stsphenphillips2952]

I admire your down to earth honesty the whole trip. Dealing with physical stuff without putting up a macho front. Making your reality believable. Always wanted to go to the Cirque of the Towers, studied topos couldn't see a way out and you guys did it.

[@hikerstl]

I love the Winds. My favorite mountain backpacking experience are in the several weeks exploring this backpacking wonderland. You didn't say in your video, but I am assuming you started at Dickerson Park and ended at Boulder Lake.. You are lucky that you didn't get more rain because it always seems to rain, snow, hail sometime in a week in the range. My advise, put the Titcomb Basin region on your next adventure. You won't be disappointed.

[@Jimbo-pm1dp]

Great trip....tuff to beat "The Winds"....thanks for sharing those awesome rugged views....Catherine Gregory just put up a backpacking video last week in the same place you guys were hiking....stay safe out there !!!

[@davidcolinstillman5585]

BREATHTAKING BEAUTY COLORS VIEWS SCENERY VIDEO ! GORGEOUS WEATHER AND BEAUTIFUL BLUE CLEAR LAKES ! BE SAFE ! HAVE FUN ! HOPE YOU BOTH HAVE A GREAT REST OF THE YEAR ! GOD BLESS YOU BOTH ALWAYS ON YOUR JOURNEYS ! THANK YOU ! ENJOYED !

[@mikeflynn2926]

I noticed the shot of your hanging food bag. Here's a tip you might find of use. I've had squirrels jump several feet from trees to the tops of hanging food bags, then chewing through. To thwart their evil plans, cut a Chlorox jug in half and string the line for your bag through the spout, so the pesky rodents can't grab hold of the bag. Also, save the lid and it makes a good water scoop.

[@thomasdreke1698]

That was a beautiful hike! Thank you for the video.

[@1717jbs]

Enjoyable and some great scenery.

[@josephmartin1540]

Fantastic! Keep on!

[@danielvonbose557]

I like that pointy peak when you were in the high country.

[@steveflaim2656]

Great video! Loved the beautiful scenery.

[@SUVRVing]

Thanks Steve!

[@dennischitwood4491]

A great video. Had to watch it again.

[@carmenwheatley7316]

Wonderful views, also that you encountered so few people. We can see where it gets it’s name from 💨

[@summits100]

Love that region and have done a few climbs in there, but the bummer for me was the grizzly bears. You have to be hyper-aware when preparing food!

[@RicG.]

Cool adventure Tristan - thanks for sharing.

[@teresabiggar9766]

Backpacked the west side a bit earlier than y’all. Epic indeed! Props to taking on the Texas Pass!

[@stucooper8159]

Amazing scenery thanks for sharing

[@MatthewC137]

It was in 2004 that I decided the Winds are my favorite range. They just "feel" different than the rest.

[@susanheadley1232]

Thank you for sharing your adventure.

[@livinglike_lisa7954]

Great video. I’ve seen several videos of this region and it is indeed epic and beautiful. I hope to make it there in person some day. Thanks for sharing your adventure.

[@oldboater]

I’ve watched many of your videos (trying to see them all) and this trip was spectacular. What an amazing trip.

[@CandycaneBeyond]

I would always love to hear the roar of a river rather than the noise of a highway in the background 💚🌲🏞️

[@SUVRVing]

Me too!

[@sandiereinbold8102]

Thank you for that wonderful adventure. I can no longer hike, but I sure enjoyed walking along with you two. You really made my day. God Bless you both...

[@WHEREVER-I-ROAM]

I used to live outside in a city ,and to SLEEP at night I'd pretend the freeway was a OCEAN SURF (it helped)

[@MonacoMike]

I noticed you guys seemed to camp quite a bit a ways from each other. It there a reason for that, like maybe one of you snores real loud or something :-) Great adventure and at now 77 it's something my knees wouldn't let me do so I really enjoy you making the trips for me. Thanks for sharing.

[@hugosstudiosdenver]

Amazing area !!! Thanks for sharing !

[@Deanna52ish]

Looking forward to your A.K.H. Vid. I need that food bag and gear list of yours. I love the fishiing clips and the range, canyons, peaks, lakes, streams and views were amazing. Good to meet your Tenkara teacher and that you had someone to hike with. I hope Alex will be okay. Thank you Tristan.

[@SUVRVing]

Alex is doing great. Thanks for asking. The food bag is just a stuff sack. Not even sure what the size of it is. Thanks for watching, Deanna!

[@BS2Dos]

Magic. 👍👍

[@MixMeisterChef]

This is unbelievable, time to plan a trip to Wyoming I guess

[@matthewb3640]

Did your buddy ever figure out his knee problem ? That happened to me hunting north of Gillette, Wyoming. Then it just seemed to happen going up or down. Worse going down stairs, trails didn't matter. Then it went away at lower elevations. Then 15 years later it started again ! Elk hunting in the Wyoming range. But it got worse and on the flats. Both knees, crippling ! We stopped and they just seized up ! Could hardly walk but we pushed on and they at least got mobile again !. 2 1/2 miles to the truck. Nothing ever shown up. I show horses so my knees are bent most of the day. We move to 7600 ft elevation in WY and the knee pain went away. Before I had lived in Michigan. I often wonder if it was just lack of oxygen at higher altitudes. I feel his pain tho. You haven't crossed any grizzlies in your travels ? Great video !

[@bassomatic1871]

That pool below the waterfall at 2:38 is just screaming "TROUT!"