Temple Peak

Temple Peak
Southern Wind River Range
Bridger NF, Bridger Wilderness Area
June 30th and July 1st, 2007

I decided to take a look at Temple peak this weekend. Ofcourse, I brought my skis along. I left Lander around 8am Saturday morning and headed up to the Big Sandy (Dutch Joe Guard Station) trailhead. I began hauling my 75 pound torture device (pack) up the trail around 11am. I reached Temple Lake around 4pm. It was a beautiful hike.


Day One:

Warbonnet and Mitchell Peaks with Jack Ass Pass between them, from across Big Sandy lake. Seems like this is where most of the traffic on this trail goes. Up and over Jack Ass Pass into the Cirque of Towers. To get to Temple Peak, basically, instead over going straight at Big Sandy lake, you take a right.

East Temple Peak from Clear Lake.

Haystack Mountain looms over Clear Lake.

East Temple Peak rises above Deep Lake.

Temple Peak

A look at some crags and couloirs on the way into Temple Lake. Looked like I was in luck- enough snow to snag some turns. Not as much as I would have liked though.

The local camp host.

When I reached Temple Lake and found a great camp site, almost as soon as my pack hit the ground I was greeted by a rather curious and overly friendly Marmot. Pretty interesing. I figured if he was going to hang out, I might as well set up a photo shoot. I had him do some poses. Here's the best one...

Temple Lake Camp Host

Temple Lake camp

Looking down the Temple Lake drainage, from up on Temple Pass. If you look close, you can see Pingora Peak and the Cirque of Towers.

After setting up camp, it became apparent that climbing the North face of Temple peak was not something I was prepared for- though it looked to have some good skiing. I decided to hike up and over Temple Pass to examine the East aspect.

Some guy on Temple Pass.

Pretty interesting terrain on the other side of the pass. I wish I could've seen this mountain with more snow on it. It looks like it'd be full of niftly lines.

A look up the two east facing couloirs on Temple Peak. Not enough snow to bother skiing and too technical for me too climb with just hiking boots and an ice axe. Actually, just like on the north face- the couloirs look good, but it's what you have climb after the couloirs that gets pretty interesting. It sure looks like ropes would be a must.

Bed time. After a 10 mile hike with a 75 pound pack, and 1000 foot evening jaunt up a pass- I was pretty tired. I slept well.

Day Two:

The view from my condo the next morning.

Had to chip ice to get at the water, to fill my water bottles before making my way to the snow.

Hhmmm. Can you guess what I was up to this fine morning in July?

Still guessing?

Turns in July! Hard to beat- worth the work.

Perched on the entrance of the main couloir on the north face of Temple Peak (where the snow ran out), looking down my second run of the morning.

The line.

My take on the snow conditions.

Looking down on Temple Lake. Awesome country!

My skis perched above my third run. Temple Pass in the background (they say it's impassable to livestock). It's steep, I'll give it that- I know a few Llamas that could hack it though.

Oh man, this one looked good.

It was too. Really good. The best one of the day.

Shad at the Temple. Who says I don't go to church?

Looking down Temple Lake, on my way back to camp.

Another view across the lake as I made my way back.

Temple Peak; stormed.
(click on the photo for a closer look at the lines)

One last look back at Temple Peak.

Looking out across a smaller pond on my way out.

A great view of Pingora Peak and The Cirque of Towers from just below Deep Lake.

Finally, around 7pm I reached my chariot. Whew! What a hike. Beautiful country- heavy pack though. Not sure how many 75 pound, ten mile days I have left in me. Ha!

A look a the West side of Temple Peak on my drive out. I think I'll have to visit Temple Peak again some day, only from this side next time.

Back at home Tally gets ready for the 4th of July.

Ol' grinny pants strikes a pose.