JoshuaDyal
Member
- Joined
- Mar 16, 2015
- Messages
- 186
I have an odd question. Where are the names of some of the lakes in the Uintas documented? I've looked at the USGS quads, and the Trails Illustrated map, and Google Earth and there are a lot of lakes that appear to be unnamed. But here and there, I'll see lakes, like BR-17 in the MIddle Basin. Who named it that, and what map shows that name?
Anyway, I'm also trawling for ideas. I'm going backpacking with my brother in very late June and early July. We'll meet at the Mirror Lake Highway on a Monday morning. We'll probably take it easy; his wife and kids (which are young) will probably be there for a few hours. We'll go 'round Ruth Lake, and maybe after the kids are gone, summit Bald Mountain, etc. Basically take an easy day to acclimate to the altitude before starting our REAL trip on Tuesday.
Bright and early on Tuesday, we'll drive out to East Fork Black's Fork, take the Bald Mountain trail up and over and go to the Red Castle area to spend the night. It should be a kind of strenuous day, but hopefully not too long, and hopefully we'll be sufficiently acclimated that we don't get altitude sickness too badly.
On Wednesday, we'll hop over the pass (what's the name of it; the one just north of Porcupine Pass that leads from Upper Red Castle Lake to the Oweep Basin?) and hike west. I think for our goal, we'll make for Crater Lake that evening. We're not in a rush, and we don't want to feel rushed, or like we're pushing it, so if the weather and everything else cooperates, that should be a decent day; good miles, but nothing too strenuous.
On Thursday, we'll go over Red Knob Pass and just explore that whole basin, climb up Dead Horse Pass to look over it into Rock Creek and get the beautiful vantage point, etc. But spend the night at Dead Horse Lake.
By now, we're basically getting into 4th of July weekend, though, so this is where my plans get a little fuzzy. Friday, we'll probably also not attempt to push it, and rather enjoy the area a bit. I'm thinking of MAYBE heading out West Fork Black's Fork Trail, but then going off trail at Buck Pasture over the ridge north of Tokewanna peak and seeing Bob's lake before gradually heading back out to East Fork Blacks Fork TH. This gets me off the trails and away from any crowds by Saturday, which is actually the 4th. But I dunno; maybe I'm imagining a zoo of crowds which isn't like to materialize anyway?
My brother has to be back at the car and back on the road by Saturday afternoon/evening, but I have until Monday at around mid-day or so. I'm thinking about doing, basically later Saturday through mid-day Monday, a shorter out and back to either Alsop, Priord, Amethyst or Middle Basins, or maybe Lake Ibantek. But, again, I'm also imagining in my head a zoo of hikers and campers over the 4th of July weekend, so I'm also considering ditching the mountains and the backpacking part of the trip altogether, and heading to Goblin Valley State park and the Little Wild Horse - Bell slot canyons loop, and then hitting Fantasy Canyon on my way back to Vernal where my sister-in-law lives with her family. Might have crowds still, but I likely won't care as much doing that, since I'm not out backpacking far away from them anymore.
Anyway, other than my lakes name question, I guess I'm also asking anyone who's familiar with conditions there, what the crowd situation is likely to be like? I know it depends on a number of things (like the weather, too) but I'm just trying to get a very rough gauge. While in the Uintas itself, minimizing crowd exposure is an important goal of mine.
Anyway, I'm also trawling for ideas. I'm going backpacking with my brother in very late June and early July. We'll meet at the Mirror Lake Highway on a Monday morning. We'll probably take it easy; his wife and kids (which are young) will probably be there for a few hours. We'll go 'round Ruth Lake, and maybe after the kids are gone, summit Bald Mountain, etc. Basically take an easy day to acclimate to the altitude before starting our REAL trip on Tuesday.
Bright and early on Tuesday, we'll drive out to East Fork Black's Fork, take the Bald Mountain trail up and over and go to the Red Castle area to spend the night. It should be a kind of strenuous day, but hopefully not too long, and hopefully we'll be sufficiently acclimated that we don't get altitude sickness too badly.
On Wednesday, we'll hop over the pass (what's the name of it; the one just north of Porcupine Pass that leads from Upper Red Castle Lake to the Oweep Basin?) and hike west. I think for our goal, we'll make for Crater Lake that evening. We're not in a rush, and we don't want to feel rushed, or like we're pushing it, so if the weather and everything else cooperates, that should be a decent day; good miles, but nothing too strenuous.
On Thursday, we'll go over Red Knob Pass and just explore that whole basin, climb up Dead Horse Pass to look over it into Rock Creek and get the beautiful vantage point, etc. But spend the night at Dead Horse Lake.
By now, we're basically getting into 4th of July weekend, though, so this is where my plans get a little fuzzy. Friday, we'll probably also not attempt to push it, and rather enjoy the area a bit. I'm thinking of MAYBE heading out West Fork Black's Fork Trail, but then going off trail at Buck Pasture over the ridge north of Tokewanna peak and seeing Bob's lake before gradually heading back out to East Fork Blacks Fork TH. This gets me off the trails and away from any crowds by Saturday, which is actually the 4th. But I dunno; maybe I'm imagining a zoo of crowds which isn't like to materialize anyway?
My brother has to be back at the car and back on the road by Saturday afternoon/evening, but I have until Monday at around mid-day or so. I'm thinking about doing, basically later Saturday through mid-day Monday, a shorter out and back to either Alsop, Priord, Amethyst or Middle Basins, or maybe Lake Ibantek. But, again, I'm also imagining in my head a zoo of hikers and campers over the 4th of July weekend, so I'm also considering ditching the mountains and the backpacking part of the trip altogether, and heading to Goblin Valley State park and the Little Wild Horse - Bell slot canyons loop, and then hitting Fantasy Canyon on my way back to Vernal where my sister-in-law lives with her family. Might have crowds still, but I likely won't care as much doing that, since I'm not out backpacking far away from them anymore.
Anyway, other than my lakes name question, I guess I'm also asking anyone who's familiar with conditions there, what the crowd situation is likely to be like? I know it depends on a number of things (like the weather, too) but I'm just trying to get a very rough gauge. While in the Uintas itself, minimizing crowd exposure is an important goal of mine.