Shadow Lake, Uinta Mountains- September 2020

Backpacking season is on the tail end. Nights are getting longer and temps are getting cooler. We had a clear but expected cold weekend on tap so I packed some extra warm stuff and put it together for another weekend in the Uintas. The drive in was nice and not too many people out. I made my way into the trailhead which was about half full for a Friday. It was afternoon, and I put on the boots and made my way in. The wind was howling as I made my way past Washington Lake. Once I hit the trees at the Haystack Lake junction it was much calmer. The fall colors were popping in the meadows and even the light and shadows in the trees were looking much longer. I made my way past Tail Lake and then up to Shadow Lake which would be my home for the night.

I set up my camp then put my fly rod together to go fishing. The wind was relentless, and it made casting really hard. Despite this I got hit several times, just nothing there when I set the hook. It was almost white cap at times on the lake and that was not helping things. Being the not gonna quit kind of guy I am, I fished until dusk. The sunset in there was really nice and had a fall look to it. Lots of purple and blues making the colors at the lake delightful to view!

Darkness fell and with it the temps. I brought some midweight thermals for this trip and a much heavier weight beanie than I pack during the summer months. Surprisingly it was not bad. I set my camera out for a time lapse and turned on the Luci Lamps and settled in with some soft music on my phone. The night sky was amazing with some high clouds rolling over the range all night. Eventually the temps got me and I turned in for some much needed sleep.

I awoke to cloudy skies and really strong cold winds. I got up and made coffee and breakfast. I then set out a time lapse and went fishing. The wind was even stronger this day and the wind was really cold. My hands were going numb. I tried and tried to land something, I even got one on and was stripping it in when it wiggled off. So officially I got skunked for the first time this season fishing. Oh well, it happens. Upon returning to camp the temps were just really cold and I decided to pack it up and head out. The hike out was cold, really cold, and I made a quick pace to get back to the Jeep. This may have been one of my last trips in the Uintas for the year. It has been a good one for sure! Hints that winter is on its way are everywhere. The Mirror Lake Highway is full of Fall colors now. Enjoy the pics and videos! More adventures to come!

Moab, Utah September 2020

Finally got the family out of the house for a weekend and we wanted one more desert trip before winter shows up. We had a pretty traffic free drive down there. We tried the national park but it was closed by the time we went there. So we decided to hike Fisher Towers. Beautiful area! We then did a drive over the La Sal loop! Fall colors were popping and the peaks are amazing there! A fun short trip to the desert with the family that was a really great time! Enjoy the pics! More Adventures to come!

Cuberant Basin, Uinta Mountains- September 2020

PLEASE READ: I am going to preface this blog post with some background information about my visits to this place over the last 11 years. I have had some strange encounters, expereinces, and have seen some things in here over the last decade that I cannot explain. I am not a paranormal guy nor am I a bigfooter. I am a backpacker and photographer who is trying to understand just what I have seen in this basin over the last ten years I have backpacked into this place. So what I am about to share, I ask you to please keep an open mind. I am not writting this to argue with anyone nor am I trying to change any minds. I am simply sharing my trip and some historical context here.

After an amazing Labor Day weekend over in the Lakes Country Area, It was time for me to make my annual trip into Cuberant Basin. As many of you who know me, this place has a strange history for me, and with this basin's history of Bigfoot sightings, missing persons cases, plus my own experiences, this place has haunted me for the last decade in the back of my mind. But this year there is something different, I have a bonafide Bigfoot Researcher coming in to invesetigate this basin! I am pretty much a tour guide this time out. My friend Todd headed in earlier in the day and got the camp we wanted. I was not able to depart till noon so I did not get to the trailhead till afternoon. I put on the pack and boots and headed on in. The crowds of just a few weeks ago have thinned out and I had the trail all to myself.

I made my way down to Reids Meadow. Fall is sure here all the grasses are yellow and the ground cover is turning red. I then pushed on up to the Kamas Lake Cuberant Lake Junction. They put in a new sign this year that is metal and really nice. From the junction I made my way towards the pass. Its a short but steep climb, and it is always fun. At the river crossing it looks like the trail crews put in a new log bridge which makes that section a lot faster to move through. Up a few section and then the final steep push up to the pass. I stopped to film and shoot some images, then I pushed into the woods. I then came to the other side of the pass and got my first view in the basin this year. A short climb down and then I made my way to camp. There were a lot of dead falls from our previous weeks wind event to navigate which altered the trail a slight bit to get in there. After making it around and over all the deadfalls I was able to move on to the final section to get to camp.

I arrived at our camp and Todd was out fishing on the shore. I dropped the pack and we had our greetings. Todd is a Level 2 Tracker and a official BRFO investigator. He put some light sewing string in a perimeter around our camp about 7' up so if anything came through camp that was bigger than a human we would know which way it went. It would also tell us which way it came from. I was really happy someone who is into all this stuff was here to check this place out. After getting camp set for the weekend I joined Todd down at the lake for some fishing. After a few casts I had one on. Small but fast action brookies! I fished for a while and landed a few more as the alpenglow set into the basin. It was really good to be in the mountains again and we had this place to ourselves. Dusk was setting in so we moved back up to camp to have dinner and settle in for the night. We had just finished dinner when both of us heard what sounded like someone talking coming from the outlet. We knew no one was in there and it got Todds attention for sure. Kind of creeped me out to be honest. As it got pitch I set out my camera for a star trail and Todd did some howls and some whoop calls. About 30 minutes after his whoop call we had a return call come from the ridge above our lake. It was so quiet at our lake you could hear a pin drop. So the whoop sound we heard really stood out. Todd then did some wood knocks but we did not get a response. We spent the rest of the evening going over the next days plan and catching up on things. Eventually I gathered up my camera and headed for my sleeping bag for some much needed rest.

Morning came and we both slept in a bit because the temps overnight were some of the coldest I have had since early June out there. Eventually I could not lay in my bag anymore so it was time to get up and make coffee and breakfast. Todd went fishing and I enjoyed my coffee. After breakfast we put it together for a loop hike of the basin so Todd could see all the places I have had strange things go down in previous years. Our first stop was the Spooky Pond! We made the off trail hike up there, and had to climb over and through deadfalls and boulders to make our way over to it. In 2009, my first time in here with three other friends, we visited this pond. It was dead quiet when we got there, and while we were checking for fish one of our friends noticed a intact, uneaten deer leg like it had been literally ripped off a deer. We all thought this was a little strange. As we moved on since we saw no fish sign, we rounded this pond and there was huge bush sized hairball at the shoreline. All three of us got a weird feeling and we moved on. Todd looked around as I was really shocked to see how low the water is. The lilly pads were still there but no deer legs or hairballs this time. We then moved on to the next pond. It is a short but steep climb off trail to get there. As we came out of the trees to the pond I noticed a large assortment of tracks in the mud that was semi dry because the water level was so low. We have had very little in the realm of rain out there this year and everwhere the water is lower than normal. As we begin to look at these tracks we are seeing what look like toes in them. As we look further its not just a couple of tracks, this is a trackway that circles half of this pond and exits the way we came in.

Todd started to really look at every track and I started photographing them. Each one seemed to have some new detail that really made them stand out from any other tracks I have seen in the Uintas. First, the depth of the tracks indicated something very heavy made them. There was a wetter section right next to one of the tracks and I really planted my foot to try to see if I could sink as deep as these tracks and I did not even come close. We noticed they straddled and the gait between tracks was in the 40 inch range. The tracks were 11-13 inches in length and there were at least half a football field in length for this trackway. I have to be honest, I have only heard and seen things in here that were just not normal for a wilderness experience, but to actually see tracks like this that do not match any other tracks I have seen in the Uintas had me stunned. Todd was like a kid on Christmas encircling the entire lake examining every inch of the area. A wow moment for sure, and keeping up the yearly tradition of strange things being seen, heard, or found in this place.

After quite a while in this place we moved on to the next lake so Todd could see more of this basin. We fished at the next lake and Todd landed a very nice Cutthroat Trout! We moved down the Cuberant trail to Lake #1 and gave fishing a go, but alas, nothing was biting. We moved down to #2 lake and I put in at my favorite spot and they start hitting my fly right off first cast. I landed a couple of Cutthroats then I got a pretty nice one that was at least 12 inches. Todd had moved down to our camp and I made my way down there to see how things were. My tent was in the shade and I decided to take a cat nap and let evening settle in. After a good hour snoozer I got up and made dinner. I then headed out for some more evening fishing at our lake. Once again fast action pan fryer brookies were really a lot of fun! We settled in for our final night. Todd had to leave early in the morning so he went to bed and I stayed up to shoot another star trail. While the camera was running I heard a wood knock and a whistle. It for sure caught my attention with how quiet it was in there. Nothing exciting happened after that. I finished up my long exposures and then turned in.

Morning came and it was a bit warmer than the previous day. Todd packed it up and headed out. I got up and put my pack together then hung out and had a snack before heading out. I put the pack on at 8:30 am and hit the trail to head home. The hike out was cool, perfect temps in my opinion. I made good time up the first side of the pass. Once I hit the other side, I could see that the fire smoke had setteled in the range. No more blue skies. I descended the pass and made my way out on a very empty trail to the Jeep. Another great weekend with a bonus find of some very interesting tracks in a place that has had more mystery for me than any other wild area I have been on the North American continent. Fall has set in the range, and the nights grow long and the temps are cooler. I am hoping for one more before winter is here but we shall have to see what the weather gives me. Enjoy the pics and time lapse! Fall colors are starting to pop on the Mirror Lake Highway so the big color show is just around the corner. Soon this party will turn from dirt dances to snow dances. Hoping for one more before winter sets in. Thanks for stopping by! More adventures to come!

Labor Day Backpacking In The Uintas- September 2020

Summer in the high terrain has ended and September brings fall backpacking! Crowds start to thin out, bugs are gone, and you don't have to go too far to find a place all to yourself. Labor Day weekend is usually the last busy weekend in the Uintas. With that in mind, I did some research and found a spot off trail to go check out. The drive in to the range was traffic free and I was able to get a parking spot upon arriving at the trailhead. I put things together and headed on in. There were quite a few backpackers heading in to the main trail, and I was kind of keeping my distance. Once I passed the Cliff Lake Junction, I did not see them anymore. I made my way up to the pass in 36 minutes from Jeep to the Mt Watson sign. I then dropped over the other side to empty trails once more. I honestly could not believe how quiet it was for a holiday weekend. Down to the Long Lake Junction and then down to Long Lake. I saw one backpacker setting up a camp here. It was quiet and empty. After some photos of Long Lake I moved on. You drop some elevation from this point and come to the Junction to go up to Island Lake. It was nice and shady in this section and quite nice to be hiking in the shade. Up the switchbacks and I arrived at Island Lake.

I made my way up the trail and had to use my GPS to find a route off trail to my destination. It was steep, a lot of deadfalls to navigate, but I found a route through it all and made the climb. The terrain finally leveled off and I was at my destination I was shooting for. Nestled in a alpine cirque this place would be my home for the weekend. I found a very nice camp tucked away and set up shop for the weekend. Once I got things settled in camp I put together my fly rod, and brought my new 15 oz tripod that I bought a couple of weeks ago. I set up my camera and then started casting. I had a hit on my first cast but nothing was on. Next cast I landed a very nice 14" Brookie. I got the strike, set, and strip on camera, something I have never been able to do in two years of trying! After a great start for fishing for the weekend, dusk settled in and it was time to make some dinner. Delux Mac and Cheese with Buffalo Chicken in it! So delicious! I put on the night layers and settled in camp for the evening.

Darkness fell and I lit up the Luci Lamps and set out the camera for a Milky Way shot and time lapse. I was racing to do this because I had just a little over an our before the Moon came up. I was able to get a very nice image and time lapse. I then settled in for a beverage and some very low volume tunes and just stared up at the sky. The moon finally came up and lit up the entire cirque like daylight. I put my chair out in the meadow and just enjoyed the stars and having a place like this all to myself. Looking up at all those stars really solidifies that we are just a cosmic spec in the scheme of things. When you are solo in the wilderness at night it really has a therapeutic effect on your. All the distractions are gone. You are just in the moment. It's such a great feeling. While sitting out on the shore while my star trail was running, I witnessed several meteors, one was really big and did not stop glowing all the way to the horizon line. Finally after a great night capping off a great day I turned in for some much needed rest.

Morning came and I got up after 7 AM. I grabbed my rod and went out fishing. After about 30 minutes I got a 12" really fat Brooke trout. It was so fat its belly looked like that of a Bass not a Trout. Still a great strike, strip, and set! Nice way to kick off the say with a fish on! After some fun fishing, I then made coffee and just pulled up for some views while enjoying a warm beverage. The dew point just before dawn dropped the temps a bit but it was warming up quickly. After some coffee time I ate breakfast, then put it together for the day. I decided to make a loop up here to visit several lakes and to get out of camp for the day. I made my way down to the main trail then over to Island Lake. I fished off a point but got no bites. I then hit one of the bays and after a few casts Bam! I had a very strong hit and it was doubling over my rod and not in a good way. I stripped it in and my eyeballs about popped out of my head! This Tiger Trout was huge! 17" was the count and at least 2 possibly 3 lbs in weight. Biggest fish backpacking this year I have caught! I got his mug shot then put him back. I moved on because I wanted to head over to Fire Lake. The hike in there was pretty with all the ground cover changing to its fall colors. I arrived at Fire Lake to the fish just jumping. I had several hits right off the bat but nothing on. I made my way around to the west side of the lake and got another hit then again nothing was on. I went to the inlet and started fishing there. I finally hooked into a fish. It was doubling over my rod worse than the Tiger I landed at Island. I had it nearly stripped in when the line went flying out of the water. The fish had broke the hook off on my dry fly. This was a massive fish, most likely tiger and made me hungry to fish some more. But alas nothing after that. I moved up to Junior Lake. Its fall ground colors were beautiful! I fished it for about 30 minutes but I saw no fish or any signs of fish. I think it may have winter killed. After four hours hiking around fishing, shooting photos, I then made my way down to Island Lake then back up to my secret spot to settle into camp.

I took a quick nap after getting back to camp and having a snack and some water. It was nice to just lay down, tent in the shade and just let the silence put you at ease. After about an hour I got up and gave fishing a go, this time only a few hits but nothing on. Evening came and I put on the layers and made dinner. This time I was having fresh sliced baguette with Genoa Salami and a fresher sliced tomato from my garden. Put a little mustard on it and boom! It was so delicious. I have been trying out no cook meals and the last two have worked out brilliantly. Some sea salted dark chocolate caramels for desert and that made for a great meal! Dusk once again settled in and so did I! I was really excited that for a second night there were no clouds in the sky! Darkness fell and out went the camera. I chose a slightly different location for the camera this time and nabbed a nice Milky Way still and time lapse! The moon came up a bit later this night so I moved the camera so I could capture a star trail and get the moon painting all the trees and rocks with light! I used my red headlamp light so as to not let my night vision get messed with. It was a bit warmer this night. I didi not even have to zip up the down jacket. After a great time hanging out under the stars I rounded up my camera and hit the sleeping bag for a good nights sleep.

Sunday morning came and I was up at 7 AM. I did some pre packing the night before so I broke down camp and put on the boots and was on the way to the Jeep by 8 AM. The hike out was nice, and once again no people. On my way up to Island Lake I stopped and talked to a lady who had trail run to that area all the way from Bald Mountain. Then I made my way up and out and finally after a couple of hours arrived at the Jeep. A fantastic holiday weekend with solitude, great fishing, some great astrophotography, awesome hike in and out, and a camp that goes in my top three out there. It just goes to show if you want something a little research and effort and you may find yourself in a beautiful place all by yourself. Enjoy the photography and video! Fall is now here and the Uintas will get its first snow tonight as write this. Just a couple of more weeks in the high terrain and this party will change from dirt dances to snow dances. Thanks for taking the time to stop by! I hope you have enjoyed this trip report! More adventures to come!