Last year's (2011) Backpacking Season was a disaster for me, as explained in the video below. A whole month was lost waiting for snow to melt, roads and bridges to be opened. During that period I lost my conditioning, delicate due to age. So when I could finally backpack I was in weakened shape and had quite a bit of difficulty. This year I will wait until August and work right up to a couple of days before launching.
Four of the trips I planned for 2011 are the ones I will be attempting this year and shown in the video. I'll paste them in below from last year and adjust a bit the order, dates and distances. There will be flexibility after the starting date in that I will take as much time as necessary to accomplish each objective before going on to the next.
YouTube Video #9--Part 1: 2012 Schedule and Prepare Physically or Have One Tough Time
Trip #1 Aug. 1-6 Middle Fk Blacks Fk--Tie Hackers explorations--Bob's, G-72, and G-74 Lakes...This was the drainage where I was first impressed with numerous sets of ruins from the tie hackers, actually more than in any other area. Yet none of the reports about tie hackers mention this area. I will take 2-3 days in lower country (9,000 to 10,000 ft.)--the lodge pole zone zig-zaging back and forth to make sure I have located, mapped and photographed all the ruins, and examine them carefully to determined their time period--early from 1867 to 1880, or 1912 to 1935. This will give me time to acclimatize to the altitude, and get stronger, and then head for the high country, first to Bob's Lake, then climb to the other side of the ridge coming off Tokewanna Peak to explore and test the waters of 3 small lakes not visited before.--2 that possibly have fish .................................................................................. =5-6 days........30 miles
Click here to see the Topographical route map and Elevation Profile
Trip #2 Aug. 8-13 Highline Trailhead --main target Reconnaissance and Continent Lakes and Deadhorse Pass--can't say "it's done" until I re-visit this majestic and beautiful alpine area one more time, get a better picture of Continent Lake, and also visit, photograph and test the waters of a few other lakes...............=6-7 days.......50 miles
Click here to see the Topographical route map and Elevation Profile
Trip #3 Aug. 15-20 Crow Canyon--Dry Gulch Basin--the smallest drainage in the Uintas and last for me to explore. This basin has difficult access and does not receive much recreational use. Crow, DG-6, DG-9, DG-14, DG-16, and DG-17 Lakes. Several of these lakes are quite remote and right at timberline................. =..5-6 days...........20-25 miles
Click here to see the Topographical route map and Elevation Profile
Trip #4 Aug 22 -28 East Fk Blacks Fk Trailhead --to Crater Lake via East Fork and Red Knob Passes and to Crater lake. If all goes well I'll return via Oweep Basin, Porcupine Lake, Porcupine Pass and no-name lakes in the upper Garfield Basin, then backtrack to-Squaw Pass (11,600 ft.) --and the alpine no-name lakes of Little East Fork of Blacks Fork, and down to the trailhead................................................................. =6-9 days.......50 miles.
Click here to see the Topographical route map and Elevation Profile
Good luck Cordell,
ReplyDeleteI thru-hiked the high line trail in the summer of 2009 and agree that Deadhorse pass and the entire Uintah range is truly magnificent country. Hope to get back there someday.
MAJ Bill Thomas
Augusta, Ga.
I don't know about little east fork but the pass at the back of East Fork is pretty loose and not really there. I tried to hike up and out of East Fork several years back with my dog and had to turn back because he could not cross the snow covered rock field. The trail into East fork was nearly non-existent as well. Hiking in, it appeared the majority of the trail went into little east fork.
ReplyDeleteBryce