How to Hike CDT — Wind River Range

Off-trail alternates and how to budget time

The page describes how alternates trade maintained trail for boulder fields, cairned ground and use-trails, and how map distance says little about the time they take. That is a real planning issue. The classic form of Naismith's rule allows one hour per three miles plus one hour per 2,000 feet of ascent,⁵ and it was built for walking on ordinary ground. Crowd-sourced fitness-tracker data show how travel rates change with slope,⁶ but neither source models talus or route-finding, so treat rule-of-thumb hours as a floor and add a generous margin on boulder or trackless ground.

The National Park Service suggests planning for uphill sections to take at least double the downhill time, and setting a turnaround time and sticking to it.⁷ The same guidance says to leave a trip plan with a trusted person who is not on the trip, and not to rely on a cell phone for emergencies, which matters in a range where there is no service and rescue may be days away.⁷

Bears, food storage and camp setup

Where grizzly bears live, the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee notes that certification means a product met minimum standards for the effort a grizzly must spend to reach the contents, and does not make a container bear-proof.⁸ Food storage rules vary by area, so check the current Bridger-Teton and Shoshone National Forest requirements before you go rather than assume. As general guidance, the National Park Service says bears treat any scented item, including toiletries, sunscreen, trash and fuel, as food.⁹ It also says to keep containers closed and locked on level ground at least 100 feet from camp.¹⁰

The National Park Service says bear spray is proven highly successful at stopping aggressive bear behavior, and advises buying only EPA-approved spray.³ The Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee says most bear sprays reach 20 to 30 feet.¹¹ The National Park Service says to use it when a charging bear is within 60 feet, and warns that wind, snow, rain and cold reduce spray distance.³ Keep it on a hip belt or shoulder strap where you can reach it without taking off the pack. Also note that the federal rules on flying with bear spray are set by the TSA.¹² Camp at least 200 feet from lakes and streams and dig catholes 6 to 8 inches deep, at least 200 feet from water, camp and trails.¹³ For dispersed camping, the Forest Service's Intermountain Region, which covers Wyoming national forests, says to camp at least 200 feet from water.¹⁴ Rules vary by forest, so confirm locally.

Altitude, water and pack size for a long carry

The CDC Yellow Book says anyone unacclimatized who sleeps at 8,000 ft or higher is at risk of altitude illness, and that fitness does not protect against it.¹ Headache is the main symptom, and it improves with descent.¹ Thru-hikers reach the Winds after weeks of walking, while a section hiker who flies in and starts high has had no such adjustment, so a gentle first day is wise.

Basin lakes look clean, but the CDC says water from a clear mountain stream can still contain germs and is generally not safe to drink untreated.² It also says most portable filters remove parasites but not viruses or bacteria, so choose the treatment to match your filter's rating.² Chemical or ultraviolet treatment after filtering is one option, and boiling for a minute, or three minutes above 6,500 feet, is the CDC's most reliable method.²

For pack size, the Washington Trails Association suggests 50 to 70 liters for trips of three to seven nights.⁴ A week of food and any required food container is the main reason to lean toward the larger end. One liter of water has a mass of about 1 kg,¹⁵ so where lakes are frequent, carrying just enough for the gap between them saves real weight.

Land managers and current rules

The Wind River Range is largely managed by the Bridger-Teton and Shoshone National Forests, so check their current pages for permits, fire restrictions and closures before you go.