Bald Mountain Trail, Uinta Mountains- June 2022

If Mondays freeze fest wasn't enough, with clear skies overnight in the forecast I headed back into the Uintas for more fun with the stars! I arrived to a pretty empty trailhead on Saturday and threw on the pack and headed in. It was beautiful, much warmer than earlier in the week. The hike in was perfect and minus one or two people I passed on the way in, it was relatively quiet on trail. After 2.5 miles I was standing lake side of my home for the night.

After getting camp set, I went out to try my luck at fishing. I had a jump right next to my fly but alas, nothing to show for my first shot for the day at fishing. It was lunch time so I set up a time lapse and just sat against a tree and took it all in. It was so relaxing. My friends were supposed to be coming in, but not sure when they would arrive so I went back to camp to get my fire wood situation situated and to get ready for the evening. Shortly after that they showed up and we all put it together to go fishing after they got their shelters up.

We all spent some time fishing. Brandon landed some brookies on the other side, and I was able to get a Grayling on a first cast with a Royal Wolf! That really set the mood for a great evening which was about to be more spectacular than any of us expected. The sunset turned out to be one of the greatest to witness in a few years out there! We spent a lot of time shooitng pictures and runnning video of such an amazing sight! Its one sunset I will not soon forget!

Night fell and we got the fire going and we all made dinner. Devin was tired and turned in early and Brandon was short to follow him. I stayed up and got the Milky Way, and a Star Trail as the night skies were being good to me! Eventually it was time to turn in.

Morning came and with it clear skies and warm temps. The bugs were a bit less which was a nice break from having them swarm everywhere the day before. I made coffee, breakfast, then packed it up for the climb back up to the Jeep. It was a nice hike out and so quiet for how close this is to a very busy area. A great trip with good friends! Enjoy the images, and make sure you check out my YouTube video from this trip! Please Like and Subscribe! More Adventures to come!

Solo Summer Solstice In The Uintas, Uinta Mountains- June 2022

The summer solstice is a special time for the mountains of Utah. It signals the peak of daylight that we receive and is the turning point as we peak in summer but the days get no longer than on the Solstice. There was a weather pattern that had settled over Northern Utah and I made my way into the Uintas for a overnight trip. As I made my way up the highway, the rain turned to snow and when I got to Bald Mountain Pass, the snow was sticking to the road. I turned around and went down to Washington Lake to see if it would break up or if I was scrubbing this trip due to unforeseen weather.

The clouds eventually broke up enough I threw on the pack and headed in. It was snowing the occasional flake but nothing that was accumulating. The hike into camp was quiet and peaceful, though quite soggy to be expected. There were some really muddy spots and the lakes were as full as I have ever seen them. I eventually made it to the lake I wasa shooting for and quickly found camp and set up shop for the night.

After getting camp set I threw on the layers and gathered up the camera and fishing gear and headed lake side to shoot some time lapse and do some fishing. I fished for a while, there was no surface activity, but I did get one strike underneath on a leech, but alas there was no fish to be had this day. I was able to nab a great time lapse while lake side so all was not lost.

Evening set in and I got my fire going. It was Indian food for dinner. Madras Lentils and some Buffalo Chicken to mix in with it! So good! As the light faded so did the temps and I was happy to have my layers on as the temps were cold! So much for summer! The night sky was unreal and I was able to get the lake and all of its stars in one shot. Then the Milky Way showed up and put on a show! I returned to camp and could see the North Star just out the back of my camp so I decided to set up the camera and make some tea while it was shooting the images. Eventually the camera was done and it was time to get in the bag and get some good warm sleep!

Morning came and it warmed up pretty quickly. Everything had frost on it which is not surprising since it dropped to 28 overnight. My chair was frozen but found a rock in the sun to have my coffee on. I packed up camp as my tent was drying out. After I was packed, I walked down to the lake for one last shot at fishing. Unfortunately, nothing landed so I went back to camp. I threw on the pack and made my way back to the Jeep to close out another great adventure in the Uintas. Enjoy the images and make sure you check out my YouTube video from this adventure! Please Like & Subscribe! More Adventures to come!

Return To The Uintas- Uinta Mountains- June 2022

Finally, winter relinquished its grip on the Uintas! I made my way out there to scout the trailheads and see where we were at snowpack wise. I stopped at the Kamas Ranger Office and got my Mirror Lake Pass and then moved up the Highway. My first stop was Crystal Lake Trailhead. It is closed till July. Next stop, Bald Mountain Pass, but there was a 4 foot snow drift blocking the parking lot, so I moved on. I then stopped at the Highline Trailhead, but it too had too much snow. I decided to try one other trail and sure enough it was ready!

I put on the pack and headed on in. The water was rushing in the creek as I made my way up the trail. There were some small piles of snow, and some moddy sections, but nothing unmanageable. The flowers were starting to bloom and it was really green this year! After a couple of miles I landed lakeside with a beautiful view!

I found the camp I wanted and got things set up. It was so quiet I sat in my chair for a bit just soaking in the silence. I then put together my fly rod and headed down to toss a line. right away I had action and I fished for a few hours before heading back to camp. Evening set in, I had a nice fire and enjoyed the night sky. Eventually I turned in for some sleep that I was well ready for.

I awoke to clear skies and cool temps. I made coffee and had breakfast, then put it together for the day to go explore another fishing hole in the area. THe views were spectacular from this area and the fishing was just as hot! A few fish a bit bigger than my home for the night! There was a lot of water crossing to get here but the reward was so worth it. To have a lake all to yourself in the Uintas only a few miles from the road is generally unheard of in June. I fished for hours and had to change a few flies that the trees kept taking from my greedy casting. Buddy Jim and his friends showed up in the evening and we had a nice fire and sat around enjoying the Uintas once more. I shot some photography then turned in.

Sunday morning came and I took my time packing up because it was only a few miles to the road. Jim and his friends said goodbye and I did some finishing touches on camp and the fire pit. I had a nice hike out with the sound of the creek leading the walk. Eventually I was back at the car and another perfect weekend was had. Enjoy the pics and moving pictures! Check out my YouTube video from this trip below. More adventures to come!

Boulder Mountain, Dixie National Forest- June 2022

May was wet for our mountains. When you are having a 1,000 year drought that never hurts. But it put more snow and slowed the snow melt in the northern mountains of Utah. I had previously planned a trip here but one of those storms in May made me postpone plans. It was to be single digits overnight and barely scrape to the freezing mark. I cancelled my plans and reschelduled them. This trip is that reschedule. I made the drive to Torrey, Utah and then made my way up Hwy 12. I made it to the trailhead and in short order threw on the pack and I was off. It was so green and lush this year! Most of the runoff was done here, and the meadows were a bit dry and dusty. I made my way on the trail just enjoying the hike until I reached my camp for the night.

I put my home together for the next two nights then proceeded to go fishing. I missed about four of them, then I hooked into a monster! It was a 19" Cutthroat Trout! It was a monster and I was barely able to hold it. This fish is the size you see in rivers and was a hell of a fight! Evening set in and I made my way back to camp and settled in for the evening. I got my fire going and then worked on dinner. I did some pork tacos with cheese and sauce for dinner. Then I had Buttermint Tea for dessert! I put my camera out for a star trail and when it was finished I got in the tent for some much needed sleep.

I awoke to partly cloudy skies and no wind. I got up and made coffee and there were some mosquitoes. I put on some picardin and they left me alone. My freind was supposed to be meeting me here, but I was not sure when he was gonna show up so I decided to go fish another lake to burn some time till he arrived. The hike over was pretty and had some serious thorny berry bushes. I had a couple of places where I had to clean them off my pants. I fished for a bit, but no hits just a couple of rises. I ate lunch and took in the view. This lake it pretty and it was just nice to have a place on this planet all to myself. Jim sent a message to my inReach and I knew if I fished some more and took some time lapse videos I would get back to camp near the time he would be on trail to head in. I was about to give up fishing when I was Tenkara Style tossing a fly infront of a log when I got hammered by a fat Brook Trout! It was a surprise, and a nice way to wrap things up at this lake to get a fish on the way out!

I arrived back at camp and settled in my chair for a bit. It was nice to just feel the light breeze on my face and to watch the aspens sway in the wind. I wanted to just walk around for a bit and I went out in the main meadow. Along comes two huge Elk walking accross the other side of the lake. Watch my YouTube edit if you want to see them the video turned out. It was awesome to see them. Jim showed up around 5:30 and he got set up then we went fishing. I took first strike with a Colorado Cutthroat which was in the 12'13" range. I got hit several times on many other flys I used, but when I put on the leach, I landed quite possible one of the fattest brookies I have ever landed! Easily 3 lbs, and just build like a tank! The sun started to set and we got our fire going and had dinner. Darkness fell and I went out to see the Milky Way while Jim turned in. It was so beautiful stretching over the area like the tail of a kite! After returning to camp I turned in.

Morning of Day 3 began with a little bit of a sleep in, then I awoke for some coffee and breakfast. Spent a nice morning in camp chatting with Jim, then I put it together to head home. The trail out was quiet and just beautiful to be on. I made a good pace and found myself at the Jeep after a spell. A great weekend in one of the gems our state has to offer! I had the best fishing I have ever had in this area! Enjoy the pics and check out my YouTube video posted below! Please Like and Subscribe! More adventures to come!