When you get warm temps in October it is time to do some hiking, see some fall colors, and get out side and enjoy the sun while we have it. Since last weekend was my last trip for the backpacking season, I wanted to get out and stay active as winter approaches. The hike in was beautiful and a lot less busy than I expected for such a popular trail. I arrived at the lake and headed up to the Crows Nest to see how the fishing action was and to shoot some photos. Gorgeous day indeed!
After soaking in the views and the overhead view of the colors I made my way down to where I wanted to fish. About seven minutes in I had a monster on my line! Fishing remained hot and I landed several good sized Cutthroats! Sunny skies, good hike in, and fall hogs on the line! This day was awesome!
After a good few hours fishing I put on the pack and headed up to finish my loop in the drainage. The colors were amazing! The creek was really soothing to listen to. I did not see another person till I rounded back out to the lake. Fall colors were everywhere! A feast for the eyes!
A really incredible day hiking here in the Wasatch! So much fun to be had! Fall is a beautiful time of the year here! We had winter show up this week in the mountains here in Utah. A early Ocotober storm had come in on the range. So any hiking above 8,000 feet will now be a winter adventure. These days like I had are numbered. Winter is knocking on the door. I hope to get a few more in before we are snowbound. Enjoy the pics! Check out my YouTube Vlog below for a live action version of events! Please Like and Subscribe! More adventures to come!
The forcast was shifty all week and I did not know if this trip was going to happen till I saw the charts change Wednesday night. I was gonna get the season closer I wanted! I decided on Bourbon Lake as it was a place I had yet to visit and I wanted to go somewhere new. This trail had been on my radar for a few years and I figured lets keep the theme of the season going! I made the early AM drive into the North Slope of the Uintas. The highway was empty and a clear shot to the trailhead. I arrived to meet my friend Jared who was already there catching a snoozer in the car at the trailhead. We put on the packs and headed in. My friend Jim who has been on several trips this summer would come in later. The trail is well graded and has some of the best switchbacks in the Uintas. It passes right next to Whiskey Creek then moves away from it heading up the hill. It continues these gradual, well constructed switchbacks as it climbs. After about 1.3 miles you see a pond in the meadow right below the lake. Arriving at the lake we found our spot and got set up.
We got camp set as the clouds were swirling above the peak. This peak is "Unamed" but I have decided to call it "Bourbon Peak." We didn't know if or when we were going to get rained on as it was in the forecast. I got out for some fishing and had on some small brookies right off the bat. Jim showed up and we decided on firewood as we weren't sure how cold it was going to get that night. After getting firewood sorted we fished some more. A small hail/sleet storm maybe lasting 20 minutes came through. I just kept fishing. It was so light it didn't bother me. Even caught a couple while the hail was hitting the lake. Evening settled in and it was time to get out fire going and get dinner sorted out.
Just as we were finishing dinner the clouds started to break up and the sunset we witnessed by far was the best out there this year! As you can see amazing light!
Night fell and I went out to shoot the Milky Way. While it was wonderful to see, I think this location would be an earlier in the summer location to shoot the Milky Way. Will keep that on the radar. I then put out my camera for a star trail. Jared turned in, shortly followed by Jim. I was up for a coulpe of hours by myself, which I did not mind. I kept the fire going as the temps dropped, and the night sky was incredble! I retrived my camera from the shore and did some in camp night shots, then it was off to bed.
Morning came with some slower warming temps and a frosted meadow. I made coffee and filmed the light time lapse on the peak. We then packed it up around 10:30 and hit the trail back the Jeep. What a great adventure and fun way to wrap up the 2021 backpacking season in the Uintas! Its been a great year and if you have seen my posts you know it! Enjoy the pics! I'll put up more posts for some fall fun and when the snow starts to fly. Check out my YouTube video from this trip and please like and subscribe! More adventures to come!
