Murdock Mountain - Uintas - August 24, 2024

[scatman]

Since I'm a one armed bandit for the next few weeks, I needed a relative easy hike that would keep my injury risk at a minimum. While car camping in the Uintas this weekend, Sheila and I decided to give Murdock Mountain a go. This is an easy hike with the only possibility of trouble being that you have to walk on a lot of rocks on the way to the summit. This is the first time I've done Murdock and I must say the views from going up and at the top are terrific.


When we arrived at Sulphur Campground, it was pouring rain and the wind was blowing hard. We waited it out in the Subaru
before setting up our tent. The wind ended up blowing very hard the entire time we were up there. I've never had that happen
before, plus we got quite a bit of rain too.


Bluebells near Hayden Fork




Aster



Showy Goldeneye

It was 47 degrees at the Bald Mountain Trailhead and the wind was fierce.


We parked at the Bald Mountain Trailhead and headed across the road. Bald Mountain above


Some nice stepped rock to begin with


Haystack Mountain


Making our way through some trees


Views beginning to open up to the west


Approaching the rocky sections


This was interesting - a circular stone wall. We deviated from our route when we saw this to the east of us. Is there a name for
such a structure? Who took the time to build it?


I've made it to the next little grassy patch


More rocks ahead though


Mount Timpanogos in the distance


Wind was blowing so hard, Sheila couldn't keep the brim of her hat down


Getting close to the top and the rocky sections have given way to more flat stones with vegetation between them


Another circular wall near the summit, not as big as the first one we checked out


I was wondering if we could get some relief from the wind behind these small conifers


A cairn wit Hayden and A-1 Peaks. Don't kick it over @Bob .


Just a beautiful view down towards Mirror Lake and east towards Hayden Peak


Same shot taken with a different camera


Mirror Lake


Kletting Peak


We had to walk down from the summit in order to get the nice views of the basin. This shot is looking back up towards the summit


Looking for the best vantage point



The workhorses on this hike
- Canon PowerShot SX150 IS
- Canon PowerShot SX540 HS
- Canon PowerShot G5X


Zooming in on Hayden Peak


I used a tripod for this zoomed in shot of the summit of Hayden, but the wind was blowing so hard that it still turned out a bit
shaky.


Hand held shaky zoom on this - folks at the summit of Bald Mountain


Just off the summit shot


These two ladies were looking for some snow to ski on. Their dog got after me, and one of the ladies said it was because I was
wearing a hat, and her dog doesn't like people who wear hats. Go figure.


Groundsel


Common yarrow


Mountain bog gentian


Back at the Sube


Onn our way back to camp, this shows Murdock Mountain pretty well. We just began climbing right through the Duchesne County
road sign


A crane fly hitching a ride. It was just in time for dinner.


On an aspen near our campsite
Can you see the moth?


The End.

 

[wsp_scott]

Their dog got after me, and one of the ladies said it was because I was
wearing a hat, and her dog doesn't like people who wear hats.

I don't like people who don't train their dog, go figure

That looks like a very rocky hike, but nice views.

I'd kill for those temps, it is going to be low 90s here tomorrow

 

[Bob]

Oh, I really like dogs in the wilderness ......................... NOT

 

[regehr]

nice! I've often looked over at Murdock from the MLH (without knowing it had a name) and thought it would be worth a quick hike!

 

[Udink]

This was interesting - a circular stone wall. We deviated from our route when we saw this to the east of us. Is there a name for
such a structure? Who took the time to build it?

That thing is impressive! The historical imagery in Google Earth shows it was built between September 2020 and October 2022.

 

[Bob]

Covid hideout

 

[ImNotDedYet]

Aren't both of the people with the dog who hates people that wear hats, also wearing hats?

Looked like a lot of ankle breakers in there!

Great views from the top though!

 

[scatman]

That thing is impressive! The historical imagery in Google Earth shows it was built between September 2020 and October 2022.

A look inside.


There was a smaller one on top, but not as well constructed.

 

[Udink]

I had already planned on being in the Uintas last weekend but after seeing this trip report I changed my plans a bit. I hiked Bald Mountain Saturday morning and could see the circular stone structure from the trail.




Then in the afternoon I hiked Murdock Mountain and saw the structure up close.






And I was surprised I didn't see @scatman's name in the summit register!