Anybody ride at Big Sandy Res, WY

[windzup]

Anybody been North of Rock Springs Wyoming to ride at Big Sandy Reservoir before?
I hear the Jackson Hole crew is getting consistent rides there, with nice open launches, clean wind, and reliable wind talkers.
Sounds like its 2.5 - 3 hours north of here.

If wind looks bunk in Utah it may be a worthy road trip. Here's a link I found on google.

http://www.recreation.gov/detail.cfm?ID=1229

http://www.usbr.gov/dataweb/dams/wy01387.htm

Windzup,
Brian Schenck

[jason morton]

Brian-
I have rode at big sandy before. I use to live in Bondurant, Wy., which is between Pinedale and Jackson. I did a fair amount of windsurfing there years ago, but have only kited there a couple of times. I found the wind to be very gusty, much like sulphur creek. I do imagine that it does get it's days. I would be interested to hear about the Jackson crew's sessions there. Jackson is not a very windy place compared to the rest of Wyoming. The wind begins at the top of Hoback canyon and blows for the rest of the state. Big Sandy is very windy, but very susceptible to t-heads. Every afternoon in the summer you get thunderstorms. I am curious if these guys are riding in these conditions. My family has property and several cabins in Bondurant and it's about an hour drive to Big Sandy from there. I would be interested in exploring the area. Pinedale also has some lakes which I believe Mike R. has kited. Frigid water at the base of the Windriver range. Spectacular setting. Viva Naughton in Kemmerer (my home town) and Fontanelle Res. to the north are other possibilities I want to explore. Seminoe/Pathfinder are apparently very windy. I really want to kite on Yellowstone lake on the way to Buffalo Bill Res. They use to have windsurfing events on Buffalo bill Res. I hear this is an awesome place. I have never been there. Also, I know of a snowkiting spot close to Jackson that is absolutey insane with incredible terrain that has not been explored, even by the Jackson crew( to my knowledge). Wyoming is a frontier of kiting waiting to be discovered. It would be really cool to do a road trip and explore the state, or parts of it. Let me know about the Jackson crew's sessions on Big Sandy. Call me if you have any other questions. 801-949-9313

p.s.- Are the 15 instincts in yet?

[DimitriMilovich]

Brian,

Have driven up, down and sideways through that area many many times, camping here and there and overall, there's a lot to see and some great sailing to be had. We used to go to Big Sandy a bunch, usually camping there for a weekend 2-3 times a year. About 3.5 hrs, if I remember right. It's a favorite place. I think it's a great place to sail and hang out. The campsite is on a point, so you can sail in a couple of directions, depending on the wind. We'd almost always get wind if there was anything happening in the jet stream or any little front within a hundred miles. Also neat because very few other people go there, so you usually have it to yourself, even on Memorial weekend or Labor Day. A group used to come down from Jackson on a regular basis some years ago, claiming it had the best wind around. It can be a little gusty, like Sulphur, but I usually found it a bit steadier. There's a band of wild horses (I swear) that hang out in the area, and a lot of swallows, too. Permanent outhouse like Sulphur, but no water, although the primitive campsites have picnic tables and fire rings, with, I think, grills for cooking. As I remember, July 4th it would become a meeting place for the Rocky Mtn Gem Society or some such, and many of the campsites would be full (although there were still places to camp on the West shore, but then it was a hoot walking around looking at rocks and gems they'd bring. Pretty fun. We'd almost always go on Labor Day, then hit the Bridger Mtn. Man Rendevous on the way back, which is one of the coolest events in the Great Basin. I'm sure Jason's been to those too, or the one in Pinedale, which I've never done, and can vouch for non-wind fun. If they have wind talkers now, that'd be a bonus, although it'd be tough to just zoom up there on short notice because it's a drive. Your second link has the phone number for the dam keeper, who I used to call, just to be sure it had a good amount of water in it. One drought year in Wyoming we went up there and it was half empty! Couldn't sail, and we were bummed. Might be good to check to be sure they've good good capacity.

Been to Viva Naughton many times, until we finally figured out it doesn't blow there. Kinda nice drive through Jason's home town, but the lake is sorta hemmed in and doesn't get the clear air that you'd like.

Fontanelle is another story. Have had a bunch of good days there. Camped both at the South end and the more Northerly spot, across the little bay from the State campground. The south end wasn't so good, and was real barren. However, we did some hiking there and actually came upon an eagle's nest from above and looked down onto two baby eagles. But that was hiking, not sailing. Also, theres a wildlife refuge in Sweetwater nearby that's really pretty.

Fontanelle's northerly bay has been good for wind. It comes down out of the drainage to the west. Have sailed 4.5 there during a day when it just built and built. Downside is that if you break down, you'd get blown into the cliffs on the east shore, which would be a pain to come back from. However, you can just sail sideshore in the bay. Kinda pretty and lots of bird life. As I remember, July 4th is a horsefly hatch, so don't go that time, go earlier or later!

Pinedale is such a pretty place. Only sailed once there and Jason's right, it's a cold lake, but clear and it may get drainage winds that might be predictable somehow, but I was never there long enough. Upside is the museaum there and of course the epic gateway into the Wind Rivers from the paved road that winds up from Pinedale. That place is so beautiful it's worth the drive for that alone. We went there one time from Big Sandy when we didn't have any wind and that was fun.

Overall, though, Big Sandy is one of my favorite places to camp and sail. Have fun, and I hope ya get some!

P.S. I just figured out you're a tea bagger, and given that, I'd definately go to Big Sandy, because it's got nice sandy/clay-shale beaches all around. Fontanelle is offshore and wouldn't be a good call for kiting as I mentioned. If I remember right Viva Naughton has bushes and grass shorelines and isn't too wide, so that might be OK. Big Sandy would be first choice.