Discovering what’s possible

The Wind River has become for us the place of possibility. Running northwest to southeast for 100 miles, over 40 of its peaks reach 13,000+ feet into the heavens. Most of it is designated as “wilderness” and therefore federally protected from development and human impact. This makes the Wind River Range one of the largest road-free areas in the USA. It’s truly a wild place, and you feel that as you walk through it’s remote landscape. It’s the place of possibility. Climbers wonder if they can summit its highest peaks and steepest granite walls. Hikers wonder if they have the endurance to venture deep into its back country to destinations that will require many miles on foot. Backpackers wonder if they can endure the extreme & temperamental weather the Wind River produces. Even in its history, it seems that it has always been a place of possibility for human beings. Indigenous peoples lived in this incredible landscape 9,000 years ago. The Shoshone people lived at 10,000 feet elevation for pinenut harvesting each year. For them, this landscape may have meant the possibility of survival. Much later in the early 1800’s when Europeans visited here, they surveyed the landscape as a way to mark the continental divide and find a way to cross through it. Their expedition became an important part of the Oregon Trail. For these early explorers this range may have meant the possibility of travel. 

For our family, the Wind River Range has also been a place of possibility. We didn’t know coming into this trip if it was possible to actually backpack with a four, six, eight, and ten-year-old. We also didn’t know if it was possible for us to really access the Wind River because of what it requires to travel deep into its alpine basins. Being here has taught us that what’s possible is contingent on passion. Possibility is passion with legs. Our family has a passion for pursuing beauty in creation. It’s not enough for us to see it in a painting or on a TV screen. We want to experience it by becoming a part of the landscape - whether by climbing up onto its “shoulders” or hiking and backpacking into its “heart”, we move our bodies in choreographed unison as a way to connect to beautiful places and one another. It’s the possibility of connectivity and it’s the passion for beauty which moves our family’s 12 legs.

Our third backpacking trip took us to Island Lake and the Titcomb Basin. It required 33 miles of effort and 4,400 feet of elevation gain. For five days we enjoyed this part of the Wind River Range. It was truly our best backpacking trip to date.  Those five days included three hiking days and two “off days.” The kids all hiked really well and enjoyed the experience. The kids also learned what’s possible! 

Base camping at Island Lake















Hiking to Titcomb Basin



























For most of our trip we had INCREDIBLE weather, but on one off day we spent the day in our tent under thunderstorms, wind, rain, and hail. We played a lot of games (Uno, Sushi Go, Apples to Apples) ate candy, told stories, read books, and took naps. 

After the skies cleared our hike out was under sun and clouds — perfect!

These are good days. 

Down Time in the Wind River

Cultivating the spirit of adventure is not just about exploring “what’s out there” but also about “enjoying what we already have”. Our adventures aren’t just endless hiking and effort. There is a lot of “down time”. In fact, it’s what happens when we aren’t hiking that we remember the most. One of the reasons we love hiking and camping so much is because of the way it weaves our family members together. It cultivates laughter, shared experiences, conversation, mutual support, admiring beauty, trying new things, gratitude, fun, and worship.

Here’s what “down time” looks like when we are on an adventure:

These are good days 

Our Alpine Adventure

We have learned that whether in life or leisure, if something is truly an adventure, there are lessons to be learned. Openness to learning new things is an essential quality for trying new things. There were things we knew going into this trip that helped us plan - things like, our kids can day-hike 13 miles with 2,500 feet of elevation gain (yes, even our 4-year old Joel). But we didn’t know what it would mean for them to carry packs and hike day after day for four days in a row. We knew that they felt very comfortable in mountain environments, but we didn’t know whether they would feel as comfortable in those environments after many consecutive days. We knew how much food they would typically eat on a day-hike, but would they complain about that food after multiple days? These were just some of the unanswered questions we carried into the Wind River. Here are the things we learned from our first backpacking trip into the Green River which helped us adjust for our second backpacking trip in the southern end of the Wind River. 

1. 6-8 miles per day is more comfortable mileage when our kids are carrying packs. 
2. We don’t need as much food as we originally planned. Also, ditch the power bars and give them snickers bars (it’s basically the same thing, right?)
3. Setting up & tearing down camp every day is a special category of hell when you have 2 kids under 6.

We adjusted our second 4-day trip which would consist of 27 miles and nearly 5,000ft of elevation gain. We visited Cirque  of the Towers and the spectacular high alpine lakes like Big Sandy Lake, Clear Lake, Deep Lake, and Temple Lake. This time we backpacked in and set-up basecamp at Big Sandy Lake and from there did day-hikes each day. This was a much more relaxed itinerary which afforded lots of time to jump in lakes, hang-out, and play games like Uno and Apples to Apples. We all LOVED IT. 

This is one of the most amazing trips we have ever done! The Cirque of the Towers was stunning, but it really was the high Alpine Lakes which captured our hearts. The combination of massive granite cirques rising out of beautiful crystal blue lakes was something truly to behold. We found ourselves in a place of deep worship and thankfulness for a God who created a beautiful world specifically to point our attention to His character. 

On route to Big Sandy Lake

On route to Cirque of the Towers

















On route to Center Lake, Deep Lake, Temple Lake

















While at 10,800ft, a thunderstorm rolled in and we had to descend QUICKLY off the high mountain pass! We literally ran down the mountain! 









These are good days