| Ink Wells - Gooseneck Glacier Route |
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| Ink Wells - Gooseneck Glacier   | 
| Page Type: Route Location: Wyoming, United States, North America Lat/Lon: 43.18440°N / 109.653°W Route Type: Hike - Snow/Glacier Climb Time Required: A few days Difficulty: Class 4
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| Page By: grandwazoo Created/Edited: Nov 6, 2003 / Jun 29, 2004 Object ID: 159310 Hits: 6141 Loading... Page Score: 73.86% - 5 Votes Loading... Vote: Log in to vote |
Approach
The Ink Wells Trail is the shortest approach of all the trailheads, and its usage is governed buy the Wind River Indian Reservation. An Indian Guide and permit is required to transport all parties to the trailhead. By using the Ink Wells Trailhead the approach to the Dinwoody Creek is reduced by about 14 miles. Anyone wishing to use this trail should contact The Wind River Tribal Game and Fish Department at 1-307-332-7207. The fee in 2002 was $500 for a drop off and pick up. A wonderful lady (Mone) takes you from her home along Highway 26 near Crowheart; adjacent to a country store, to the trailhead in a pick up over a dusty rough road.
Route Description
17.7 miles one way
7,200 of elevation gain
M.P.’s are in reference to the trailhead @ 0.0
The trailhead (elevation 9565) is located at the end of a dusty road near some springs and feeding areas for cattle. Follow the trail southwest for 0.8 miles (elevation 9730) to a trail intersection. Look for the carin’s to your right or northwest. Follow the trail northwest and west to Scenic pass (M.P. 3.7, elevation 11,450) just passed Dinwoody Peak. There is a very large carin marking this spot. From here start down hill west and then southwest to a trail intersection (M.P. 4.8, elevation 10,890) taking the trail to the right will take you to the Ink wells Lakes which will meet back up with this trail. Stay left and continue southwest until you intersect with the aforementioned trail to Ink Wells Lakes (M.P. 6.5, elevation 10,440). Continue Southwest to Echo Lakes (M.P. 7.5, elevation 10,380); great spot to fish. Continue southwest, while nearing the Big Meadows area a few switchbacks come into play. Descend down to Big Meadows and cross the well built wooden bridge (M.P. 8.9, elevation 9,600.) After crossing the bridge you will intersect with Glacier Trail, which you will follow to the high Tarns. From Big Meadows to High Tarns consists of a nice gentle undulating hike for the first 4 miles with a few stream crossings and than a relatively steep hike to High Tarns. After gaining the Glacier trail head southwest while crossing a stream at M.P. 10.5. This stream is crossed easily on a few logs to the west or up stream. Regain the trail and continue southwest to Wilson Meadows (M.P. 11.7, elevation 9,824). Continue southwest while crossing two more streams and the largest and last one being Gannett Creek (M.P. 13.5, elevation 10,015). All streams had some kind of wooden log crossing, but a little shaky. Due to large run offs the trail can become a little hard to follow for the next few hundred yards. After regaining the common trail follow this through a few switchbacks while heading southwest to High Tarns (M.P. 15.2, elevation 10,800). From Here to the summit is about another 2.5 miles with approximately 3,000 of elevation. Pick you way through the moraine (see photo with image id’s). From here to the peak can be done various ways depending on the level of snow still present and the only MAJOR obstacle would be the bergshrund on Gooseneck Glacier.
Essential Gear
The basic snow and Glacier travel gear.
Miscellaneous Info
If you have information about this route that doesn't pertain to any of the other sections, please add it here.
Images
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Wind River Range
