Uintas Conditions 2018

Great thanks all, probably giving it another few weeks as I will be trying to run the majority of whatever im heading out to do. Will be doing the hi-line trail in august this year for the first time
 
Great thanks all, probably giving it another few weeks as I will be trying to run the majority of whatever im heading out to do. Will be doing the hi-line trail in august this year for the first time

Right there with you in being anxious to get up there! I think a couple weeks and it's all it will take. Look at this day last year, big difference!

upload_2018-5-22_13-17-5.png
 
Being that Gunsight Pass is at almost 12,000 ft and it is north facing I'd feel pretty confident its still deep in snow. Even as far up Henrys Fork as Dollar lake is at 10,000 ft I'd bet there is still a lot of snow considering there is 3-4 feet on Hayden Pass which is at 10,000 ft. One additional factor is that generally the further east you go in the Uintas the less snow but at those elevations I'm sure its still snowshoe and ice ax territory.

As far as trails from the Crystal Lake trail head... Id bet they are still in snow yet. The road from MLH to Trial lake still had some snow on it as of last weekend. Probably passable to Trial but up higher I would say its a no-go unless you want to hoof it on snowshoes.

Since I'm a teacher, I'll need to be back back home before the second week of August. If I start a Highline trip around July 25, will the mosquitoes have abated at all by then?
 
Since I'm a teacher, I'll need to be back back home before the second week of August. If I start a Highline trip around July 25, will the mosquitoes have abated at all by then?

Since I've only been up there in late August I'll defer to others on late July. However I did to an overnighter in Naturalist basin in mid July and the mosquitoes were around in places. Of course most of those places were around water which is where we all like to make camp :/
 
Since I'm a teacher, I'll need to be back back home before the second week of August. If I start a Highline trip around July 25, will the mosquitoes have abated at all by then?

Every year seems to kind of have its own timeline, August is usually a good bet for them to have calmed down and by the end they are usually gone. Though I distinctly remember going mid August 2011 and it being the absolute worst they have ever been. That year the high country was covered in snow into July. I think their life cycle greatly depends on the snow melt. Given the low snow year I would guess they will be thinning out earlier then normal years and end of July shouldn't be too bad.
 
It's all about the water year and the melt. It takes a huge water year for them to be really bad in August in my experience. This year they won't be very bad at all and by mid-late July they'll be a non-issue. I'd still pack some deet but nothing major.
 
@Eric Z checkout the Friends of Kings Peak facebook page. They typically post photos of their trip up to Kings Peak/Henrys Fork basin area each year in June when they go clean stuff up/cut away trees and stuff. That'll give you the best idea of what it's like up there.
 
snotel.jpg I don't know where it is in the basin, but if I'm reading this right, the Henry's Fork Snotel is reporting 0" inches of snow since Saturday.
Please correct me if I'm reading it wrong.
 
This is really great information. Will be hitting the UHT around July 22. Very much looking forward to seeing this unknown gem of LD trails
 
anyone been up east fork of the bear yet? looking to go up in 2 weeks wondering about snow
 
anyone been up east fork of the bear yet? looking to go up in 2 weeks wondering about snow

I was up there over Memorial Day weekend. Trailhead area looks great.

_MG_6164.jpg

Didn't go up the canyon but there was still a good amount of snow. Here's Mount Beulah.

_MG_0387.jpg

Hiked a bit around Crystal Lake.

_MG_6173.jpg

Still a lot of snow present above 10k feet, most of it very soft. Postholing was a problem. Another two weeks will make a lot of difference.

_MG_6181.jpg

_MG_6212.jpg
 
Last edited:
thanks! ya hopefully it will warm up soon up there! sweet pictures
 
Did you get a look at Trail? Curious if it is still iced over?

I did not, but there is no snow present at the trailhead elevation. Snow is probable in the Allsop and Priord areas currently but with warm and clear weather, they should be clear within a couple of weeks.
 
I did not, but there is no snow present at the trailhead elevation. Snow is probable in the Allsop and Priord areas currently but with warm and clear weather, they should be clear within a couple of weeks.
:facepalm: lol I totally meant "Trial" as in Trial Lake, I wish I could blame it on auto-correct or something....
 
:facepalm: lol I totally meant "Trial" as in Trial Lake, I wish I could blame it on auto-correct or something....

I should have picked up on what you meant, seeing as how you capitalized T and didn't use "the" in front of trail.

Trial is just slightly lower that Crystal and Washington, it looked about the same: patchy snow drifts and very soggy ground.
 
Hey guys/gals

, I’m new to the forum and an out of towner planning to make a trip to Utah next week. I’m a highpointer , so my question is ; how feasible and / or what would it take to make a summit next week on Kings peak via the henry fork trail? I understand that this winter was more mild but I’m sure there is still plenty up snow up high. I’m experienced with making winter ascents but am curious for some of y’alls nuanced opinions for this particular time/place.

Thanks in advance
 
Hey guys/gals

, I’m new to the forum and an out of towner planning to make a trip to Utah next week. I’m a highpointer , so my question is ; how feasible and / or what would it take to make a summit next week on Kings peak via the henry fork trail? I understand that this winter was more mild but I’m sure there is still plenty up snow up high. I’m experienced with making winter ascents but am curious for some of y’alls nuanced opinions for this particular time/place.

Thanks in advance

Expect very wet/muddy conditions in the Henry’s Fork basin. I imagine everything from Gunsight Pass on up will be partially snowbound.
 
@payton1515 it can be done. You just need to be prepared for hiking in snow and mud. There are videos on YouTube of people who have summitted Kings Peak in the winter.
 
Similar threads
Thread starter Title Forum Replies Date
Upgrayedd Uintas Conditions 2023 Trip Planning 39
2eez4life Uintas Conditions 2022 Trip Planning 18
Upgrayedd Uintas Conditions 2021 Trip Planning 9
Upgrayedd Uintas Conditions 2020 Trip Planning 69
J Uintas Conditions 2019 Trip Planning 209
Dave Uintas Conditions 2017 General Discussion 128
Jackson Uintas Conditions 2016 General Discussion 93
Vegan.Hiker Wasatch/Uintas conditions late April/early May Trip Planning 6
Upgrayedd Starting a fire in damp conditions in the Uintas General Discussion 14
Nick Uintas Conditions 2015 General Discussion 212
Udink Uintas Conditions 2014 Trip Planning 219
MtnMatt Uintas conditions?? Trip Planning 9
MtnMatt current conditions in the Uintas General Discussion 1
Nick Uintas Conditions 2013 General Discussion 115
Tarp Boy Looking for Shuttle service for Uintas Granddaddy basin trip Trip Planning 0
2eez4life Suggestions: Uintas Backpacking with some rock climbing routes Trip Planning 0
regehr (Uintas) Lake Fork Fun Backpacking 8
scatman Reid's Peak - Uintas - July 22, 2023 Hiking & Camping 6
NorthwestWanderer First time in the High Uintas | Red Castle SNEAK Loop | I give these mountains 5 out of 5 stars Backpacking 7
regehr Uintas this weekend? Trip Planning 4
2eez4life 4 days 3 nights in the Uintas Trip Planning 9
6 Uintas Trip Planning Trip Planning 5
Perry Sunrise/Sunset Uintas Marriage Proposal Location Suggestions Trip Planning 25
N Gilbert Meadows- High Uintas Trip Planning 0
WasatchWill The High Uintas 4-4-4: Four Basins, Four Passes, Four Days Backpacking 20
C High Uintas Wilderness - Last minute plans Trip Planning 4
Mountain Wanderer High Uintas Wilderness - Granddaddy Basin Backpacking 4
scatman Bourbon Lake, Uintas - July 11, 2020 Hiking & Camping 4
ridings82 Uintas Backpacking Loop Trip Reports 12
B Uintas question Hiking & Camping 3
Tarp Boy Uintas in late June? Trip Planning 10
Born to Hike Mountain Solitude: Reconnaissance Lake, High Uintas, early Sept 2019 Backpacking 9
Ehouston24 Uintas Loop (Red Castle/Kings Peak) Trip Planning 14
DrNed Plan B to High Uintas Backpacking Trip Planning 20
DrNed Recommendation for 35-45 Mile Route in the Uintas Trip Planning 7
Yvonne A weekend in the Uintas Hiking & Camping 10
WasatchWill 5 Guys on a Trail: A Tour of the Southwestern Uintas Backpacking 12
wabenho Rainbow Lake, Uintas - September 2018 Backpacking 6
DesertRatShorty Solitude in the Uintas -- Gilbert Lake Loop Backpacking 14
jdfut66 Uintas - Priord Lake to Deadhorse Lake Loop Backpacking 6
Born to Hike Clements Lake and East Basin in the High Uintas, mid-July 2018 Backpacking 6
TrektheWorld Need help with Uintas trip - camping Trip Planning 8
Perry Missing hiker in Uintas - Ray Humpherys General Discussion 104
Mike K Uintas Three Nighter Backpacking 13
LarryBoy In Which I Forget Sunscreen (Uintas 2015) Backpacking 11
Brian Handsaker Uintas Backpacking (or Montana) Trip Planning 9
Uncle_Dim October in the Uintas Trip Planning 2
Perry Late Season Uintas Day Hike Ideas. Bear River to WFBF and Back? Trip Planning 13
r3biker Backpacking trip to Clyde lake in Uintas Backpacking 8
WasatchWill An Intro to the Uintas Hiking & Camping 2

Similar threads

Back
Top