On August 29, 2009 we embarked on a photography expedition to Horse Ridge in the Wind River Mountains of Wyoming. The ultimate goal was to photograph Gannett Peak (Wyoming's highest at 13,804 feet) at sunrise from near the summit of Mount Febbas (13,468 feet).
We entered the Wind River Mountains from Crowheart, on the east side of the range via Cold Springs at the end of the Gannett Peak Road. This entrance traverses the Shoshone-Arapahoe Indian Reservation so permits and a guide are required. For this trip we were lucky enough to have pack mules and horses to assist in carrying the load of photography and camping equipment.
On day 1, we rode from Cold Springs over Scenic Pass and down to the Inkwell Lakes, so called for their dark inky color when viewed from Horse Ridge above. We made camp at one of the lakes and Anna and I scouted for potential sunrise photographs. We found a remarkable spot looking south down the Dinwoody Basin toward Gannett Peak.
Early the next morning, we found the sun obscurred by clouds, prohibiting the photograph I was hoping to make. As we patiently waited and hoped for a break, the sun pierced through the cloud cover and illumniated Gannett and the surrounding peaks. Our planning and waiting paid off and I was able to make the image shown below.
We then packed up the horses at set out for Horse Ridge. Horse Ridge is truly a remarkable geologic feature of the Wind River Range. It is a broad and fairly smooth undulating ridge that travels 12 miles, culminating atop Mt. Febbas. The plan was to take the horses as far as they could go, at which point Anna and I would set off on foot to find the ideal vantage point to camp and photograph Gannett Peak at sunrise. The horses made it about six miles before the going got too tough for them. We stopped on top of one of the many minor summits at a cairn. Anna and I then packed up our photography and camping equipment and set off on foot.
We hiked about 3 miles before we found an ideal location atop a sheer cliff overlooking the Dinwoody Glacier Basin and Gannett Peak. I was in awe of the panoramic scene stretched out before me. I would argue that such a remote and rugged scene exists nowhere else in the lower 48. As storm clouds were brewing, we quickly set up shelter and I returned to the overlook to attempt some photography. The wind began to pick up and lightning was approaching, but I was able to create the panoramic photo of the storm over Gannett Peak.
We retreated to shelter as rain, wind and hail pounded our tent throughtout the night. The morning light was not looking promising as clouds seemed to again obscure the sky to the east. I set up the view camera admid 40 mph winds and waited. Soon, the sun rose and I was presented with the most unusual sunrises I have ever witnessed. The sun glowed red through the clouds and subltly illuminated the otherworldly landscape of Mt. Febbas. I was able to take two exposures before the sun again was obscurred by the clouds.
We waited for another hour or so before deciding that only overcast skies were in our future for the day. Anna and I broke camp and began the 10 mile hike back to our meeting place at Scenic Pass. We met up with the pack train there and rode the last few miles back to the vehicle. We were lucky to see some extraordinary country in one of the most pristine mountain ranges in the world. It is rough country to travel through with photography equipment, but the rewards certainly make it worthwhile. You can see more images of the Wind River Mountains in the Wyoming Landscape Photography Collection.
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