Uintas Conditions 2017

[Nanda]

Thinking of heading up there for weekend and take my canoe. Are there any lakes ready for put in? Assuming Trial lake is still mostly all ice?

 

[andyjaggy]

Trial Lake was 80% ice last weekend but I wouldn't be surprised if it was melted out this coming weekend.

 

[LarryNC]

Hi Everyone, I'm from North Carolina and new here. My son (18) and I WERE planning to do a base camp next week (June 16-23) at Rock Creek Basin at the advice of my sister, who lives in Salt Lake. But looking here, it seems it is too early as we are not prepared for snow, ice and deep streams.

Any suggestions on nearby places to go? We're open to anything: mountains, desert. Would like to stay within 3 hours or so of SLC as we don't have much time (arrive noon Monday, fly home to NC Friday at 4pm). Would like solitude, beauty; would love some water to flop around in. Fishing would be nice.

Your thoughts will be very much appreciated as I'm scrambling to make new plans. Thanks, -- Larry

 

[Nick]

Hi Everyone, I'm from North Carolina and new here. My son (18) and I WERE planning to do a base camp next week (June 16-23) at Rock Creek Basin at the advice of my sister, who lives in Salt Lake. But looking here, it seems it is too early as we are not prepared for snow, ice and deep streams.

Any suggestions on nearby places to go? We're open to anything: mountains, desert. Would like to stay within 3 hours or so of SLC as we don't have much time (arrive noon Monday, fly home to NC Friday at 4pm). Would like solitude, beauty; would love some water to flop around in. Fishing would be nice.

Your thoughts will be very much appreciated as I'm scrambling to make new plans. Thanks, -- Larry

Capitol Reef National Park. Or if you want to stay in the Uintas, you'll have better luck with snow on the east end.

 

[LarryNC]

Thanks Nick. Can you suggest a trailhead on the east end of the Uintas? I'm guessing it would be a long drive from SLC.

 

[Nick]

I did Potter Lake in 2011 when the west end was still completely frozen over. Nothing down that way has the same caliber of dramatic scenery, but it's still pretty nice.

https://backcountrypost.com/threads/potter-lake-eastern-uintas.199/

I've also hiked from Leidy Peak to Chepeta. Nice terrain but not mind blowing. Good solitude.

 

[LarryNC]

THanks Nick. I'm hesitant to head over there, not knowing for sure how the conditions are.

Your post on Potter Lake is really nice.

Someone mentioned Deseret earlier in this thread so I'm looking into that.

The sulphur creek hike in Capitol Reef looks nice -- have you done it?

 

[LarryNC]

Questions about Deseret: Anyone know how to check the snow conditions there? Are there streams/lakes in that wilderness?

Thanks, -- Larry

 

[Jackson]

Questions about Deseret: Anyone know how to check the snow conditions there? Are there streams/lakes in that wilderness?

Thanks, -- Larry

A few streams and two very small lakes. Overall, not a whole lot of water. I believe neither lake has fish, but I did some quick research, and you may find some at some point in the streams that flow out of them.

I used to have the cell number of the ranger up there, but I've since lost it. Your best bet is to look at EOSDIS Worldview or load the most recent file from http://www.nohrsc.noaa.gov/earth/ into Google Earth. The SNOTEL station there currently reads 0, but I'd imagine there's snow up high and in shady places.

 

[LarryNC]

Thanks so much Jackson -- very much appreciated.

After just reading the post from Cuberant on Red Castle, I think we may head up there and see how far we get. Hopefully make it to some lake where we can hang out and fish. The uintas look so beautiful -- and I have the map -- we may as well give it a shot.

 

[elkaholic]

I have been planning on taking the scouts to wall lake this weekend, but now I am having serious doubts about the snow situation. This winter just wont let go up there. Has anyone been up that way recently and have any ideas what the trail is looking like and if the lake is thawed. (cant catch fish through frozen rotten ice)

 

[Artemus]

Camped at 9,200' in the Hayden Fork valley on the MLH this weekend. No snow to be found. We hiked in to Ruth Lake at over 10K' and the trail was 90% snow-free. You could easily walk the open rock and terrain around most of the snow which only existed in the trees. The high country is open for business. Everything is saturated and running water coming from snow remnants. Easy to find dry spots to pitch a tent though. I am probably backpacking around 10K' next weekend. Picture of our camp area at 9,200' below.

 

[uintafly]

There was a lot less snow than dirt at Trial Lake this weekend. I didn't do a ton of hiking but it looked like you could probably get into 3 divide lakes if you could handle a few snow drifts along the way.

 

[Nanda]

@Artemus How was Hayden lake? Frozen or thawed out a bit?

 

[Artemus]

@Artemus How was Hayden lake? Frozen or thawed out a bit?

Hayden right next to Ruth? Pretty much snow free, like Ruth pictured here:

 

[Parma]

On the Friends of Kings Peak Facebook page, they posted some photos from a Ranger training last weekend just below Gunsight Pass: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1553188888034763&id=169001923120140

 

[Perry]

On the Friends of Kings Peak Facebook page, they posted some photos from a Ranger training last weekend just below Gunsight Pass: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1553188888034763&id=169001923120140

Dang! Looks like Gunsight is good to go. Wonder how Anderson is.

 

[Nanda]

Thanks @Artemus . Shooting for Jewel lake or surroundings for this weekend.

 

[Artemus]

Dang! Looks like Gunsight is good to go. Wonder how Anderson is.

Look at the second post on the FB page about people getting stymied by the SOUTH side of Gunsight. Interesting the north north side looks clear from a distance but...

 

[Perry]

Look at the second post on the FB page about people getting stymied by the SOUTH side of Gunsight. Interesting the north north side looks clear from a distance but...

Yeah I'm probably just getting eager ;p


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