Remembering the Winds

We didn't have a blog when the second annual Cook family backpacking trip occurred, but I wanted to put some pictures up to share anyway. This year most of the Cook family bailed. Matt and I had a great trip never-the-less.

Here are a couple of Vids:






Here are some of the pictures:

Matt at the Elkhart Park trailhead.


Photographers Point on the way in. Seems like it took us a couple of hours to reach. Approximately 4.5 miles. Notice all of the smoke from the New Fork Lakes fire.


Photographers Point on the way out.


Shortly after Photographers Point we reached Eklund Lake and gained a little elevation.


Me above Eklund.


The scenery as we descended into the Pole Creek valley was spectacular.




After walking for hours, we knew that we were getting close.


Matt crossing Pole Creek. At this point we had been on the trail for almost 10 miles. We were spent. Luckily I forced him to purchase a pair of "Man Clogs" in Pinedale. He ended up wearing those more than his boots on this trip.


That evening we fished around camp and caught a few little Brookies.


The next morning we hiked to Chain Lakes. We followed the highline trail from Pole Creek over to Chain Lakes.


Nice Cutthroat trout from Chain Lakes.



Matt got in on the action.


Did I mention the fishing?





Dinner.


The next day we fished the Pole Creek between Pole Creek Lake and 1000 Island Lake.


We caught tons of these:


Two at a time even.


The scenery did not disappoint.


Looking down on 1000 Island Lake.


That night Matt caught the big fish of the trip. First cast into Pole Creek Lake.



We cooked that baby up.


We hit the trail for home the next morning.


There is a nice little pizzaria on the way out of Pinedale. It may have been because we had only eaten granola bars and dehydrated meals for the past few days, but the Wind River Pizzaria tasted great.


It was a great trip. I can't wait for next year. There is nowhere better than Wyoming's Wind River Mountains.

Eric