Catherine Pass, Wasatch-Cache National Forest- September 2022

I took a weekend home from the Uintas because I had fall cleaning to do. I did not know if I was going to get out for a hike untill I powered through it all on Saturday. So that left Sunday for me to get some miles in and possibly Tenkara for some trouts! I had not been up the Catherine Pass trailhead in a very long time so I thought I would visit this favorite of mine in Little Cottonwood Canyon. I made my way to the end of the road, thne parked the jeep and began on foot. It costs $10 to drive the road one mile. I saved myself the $10 and hiked the road for the first 1/2 mile, then you make a right which is the start of the Albion Meadow Trail. This is easy hiking and well graded switchbacks which wind you up to the Sunnyside lot, the start of the Catherine Pass trailhead.

This trail has some steep sections but is relatively short to the pass. The veiws were great and the temps were just about perfect to slightly warm. The hike to the pass was uneventful, but I did have this section alone and enjoyed the silence as I made my walk. Arriving at the pass it was breezy, and just lovely to see the fall ground cover colors contrasting with the greens still in the trees.

Even though the wind was blowing pretty good, I had brought my Tenkara rod with me so I decided to take the 1/2 mile hike down to Lake Catherine to give it a shot. I found a spot that seemed less windy and I tossed a line. The first bug got nothing. But as soon as cast the second dry fly, it got hit right away! I put it back out and got hit again! This time I had a fish! Nice little brookie, and nice to be Tenkara fishing once more! Evening comes earlier this time of year so it was back up to the pass, then back to the Jeep to head home! The evening light was nice and the veiws of the canyon were really sweet! After 6.4 miles I was back at the Jeep and headed home. A great fall hike for the first weekend of fall! Enjoy the pics! Make sure you watch my YouTube edit posted below for the full immersive experience! More adventures to come!

Cuberant Basin, Uinta Moutains- September 2022

Seems like all the good weather this year saved itself for September! I had another oportunity to get out and I decided I needed to make my annual trip into Cuberant Basin. I put in at the trailhead afternoon. The trail was empty and there were only about 6 cars in this lot. I put on the boots and pack and headed in. It was a very nice walk, quiet, and I only passed a couple of hikers on the Lofty Lake Loop which I did as an overnight trip that I split into 2 days back in 2012. I made it to the turnoff which was the old Kamas/Cuberant junction and made my way in. Once again much drier on this side than the rest of the Uintas I have visited this year. Up and up we go as you climb the south face of Mount Marsell, then its up a short but really steep section and you are on Marsell Pass! I hung out for a mintue taking in the view, one of the best in the Uintas in my opinion. Over and down we go as you drop off the other side and land in a pretty meadow. Down to #2, then we made the final leg into camp!

Once I got camp set up, I put together the Tenkara rod and headed out to try to catch a fish. I got several on, and had more than a dozen strikes, but alas nothing landed. The sunset was amazing and the light it shed was on the ridgetops and peaks was some of the best of the year! Just as I was wrapping up fishing Jim, one of my friends that I did the Uinta Highline Trail with in August made it in! I did not know if he was going to make it but I was happy he did! We settled in for a fire and dinner. I put my camera out for a star trail and then settled in by the fire. After a bit we turned in for some much needed sleep.

We awoke to clear skies and chilly temps. I had frost in my vesitbule so you know a hot cup of coffee was on the priority list. I went out and fished for a bit but alas nothing landed. I came back to camp and put it together for the day and decided to tour Jim around the basin. We had a nice off trail adventure. We went to the spooky pond and moose tracks pond. We then moved to #4 for some fishing. The Tenkara rod is so light I at one point had to check to see if it was still in my pack beccause I did not feel the weight at all. We fished for a bit and in one of the bays I struck gold! Tiger that is! I hooked into a really nice Tiger Trout! The fight on the Tenkara from this fish was amazing and in the top five fish I have had on the line all year! It was jumping out of the water with my fly and it was such a beautiful fish to land! Jim's dog had a roughed up pad, so we returned to our lake to take care of that and to finish off the loop of the basin. I settled in and just as I did Michael, Jim's son showed up to join us for the night! The Highline crew was all together! I went out for some evening fishing and my luck drastically improved! I landed several fish in the Tenkara rod and that was a treat! We made dinner at dusk and got our fire going. It was warmer this night and I enjoyed the fire while my camera did its magic. Then it was off to sleep as the moon lit up camp like daylight.

Sunday morning came and it was time to pack it up and head home. The hike out was beautiful, perfect weather, and there was even some frost in the shadow of the meadow on the way out. That is a sign that fall has arrived in the high terrain. Hoping to get one or two more trips in before winter reclaims the high terrain. Enjoy the pics, and check out the YouTube video below for a live action version of this trip! More Aventures to come!

Granddaddy Basin, High Uintas Wilderness- September 2022

After doing the Uinta Highline trail, I was not sure when I would return to the High Uintas Wilderness. I was fortunate to schedule a trip with my best friend Jared to visit Grandaddy Basin! We left early on a Saturday morning and we made our way to the trailhead. It was a holiday weekend but it was less busy than I expected. I knew no one would be in my secret spot so all we had to do is make the hike in and we would have solitude till we hiked out on Monday. The push to the pass was hot and dry, in fact, this side of the Uintas is the driest I have seen all year. We made the pass in about an hour and then made the descent into the basin.

We meandered down the trail passing several lakes until we made our break off trail and on to my secret spot! It was unusually warm for being over 10,000 feet so we got camp set then sat in the chairs in the shade till evening. I ventured out to our secret spot and tossed a line! Got some nice fish on, and even had a monster break off my line and steal my fly! We returned to camp at dusk and got out fire going. After a great dinner and some good times by the fire, and shooting some astrophotography it was off to bed.

We had a great nights sleep and woke to warm temps and made coffee and breakfast. Then we put together camp and headed out for a off trail adventure. We visited several lakes that were promising for fish, but alas produced nothing. In our wanders, we found this amazing overlook and we spent quite a bit of time up there enjoying the cool breeze. We moved on to try our luck at fishing but alas only a couple of strikes, nothing landed. We eventually made our way back to camp and setteled in. I was determined to catch a fish for dinner and boom second cast I had a massive brookie on! I fished till dusk, then we go our fire going and prepped our fish! This was absolutely top three all fish dinner I have ever had! After our pescatarian feast, we setteled in for our last night by the fire! What a night it was for star trails and the moon lighting up the basin! We coaled out our fire for a good nights sleep!

Morning came and it was time to pack it up and head home. We were on trail early and to the vehicle by noon! This was a really great trip to celebrate freindship, accomplishments, and finishing the UHT! Enjoy the pics and make sure you watch my YouTube video for a full exeperience of this trip! Please Like & Subscribe! More adventures to come!