Scroll down for Uinta Friends, Animals and Birds, Fishing, Wildflowers, Origin and Rocks,
2009, and 2008 Trips
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This album has a collection, in large format, of the best of the best, sometimes with a few introductory images to help us understand the location and circumstances surrounding each area. Most of the drainages, basins, passes and prominent mountains of the High Uintas Wilderness are represented. To get the whole story read the captions and comments. Enjoy!
Uinta Friends
Along my 1,327 mile trail (thru 09) of backpacking in the High Uintas I have been lucky to meet a bunch of very good people I call my "Uinta Friends." This album has around 300 of them, many of whom I continue to have contact with. I appreciated meeting them, and consider all to be very special people and friends. In the album, after a shot or two describing my effort, I present my original buddies that introduced me to Uintas in 1952 and then leap forward 50 years to many I have met on the trail. My life has been greatly enriched by all of this special fraternity. At the end of the album I added on the new 2009 "friends" with a few photos of their '09 trips in the Uintas. From here on I will try and do better with those I meet and hope they will share a few photos of their trips to add to this album each season.
Here and there on my website I mention how I prefer having my camera in hand rather than trekking poles. This has made possible from time to time focusing quickly onthe amazing wildlife of the High Uintas. Here is a collection of some of the best images recorded to date. As is the case with all the categories regarding the Uintas, it is always a work in progress, so expect additions from time to time.
Fishing the Uintas
In 1952 I was lured into my first backpack for the July Fishing Opener in the High Uintas. It was one tough trip into the Grandaddy Basin. We did catch a whole mess of pan-sized trout, whetting my appetite for larger fish, but more than anything else I got hooked on the Uintas. This segment relates my 58 year search for bragging sized trout and arctic grayling, and happily reports some luck over the years. I'm pleased to reveal exactly where it has happened, and where and how you can begin your quest--even for record fish. Let it be known that the Uintas don't have to take a back seat to anywhere--but you'll have to be willing to pay the price, and if you persistently do so, once in a while you'll luck out--I promise.
Wildflowers
In my research on the High Uintas I read years ago that there were at least 200 varieties of wildflowers. My "stalking" backpacking pace, as contrasted to the 25-30 miles/day marathon backpackers brag about, makes possible me seeing and appreciating such beauties that many miss. Many of these colorful and inspiring flowers are so tiny as to be almost invisible. From the foothills to Kings Peak I have focused on, and zoomed in on a total of 238 varieties, some of them being classified as shrubs, others as trees. I have spent many hours in my attempt to identify all of them and have included both common and scientific names where I have been successful. I possibly am mistaken in some cases, and would appreciate any corrections and suggestions from any of you. I have also found discrepancies and contradictions between reputable field guide books. I will continue my effort to identify all and of course add to the two collections--Foothills and Alpine, as I persist in my explorations.
This segment begins with a couple of Google Earth images of the Uinta Mountains with a brief geological explanation of their formation in the captions and comments. My back-packing buddy and daughter, Mahana, early on began a collection of unique rocks from the areas she explored with me. I have kept up the tradition adding to our collection a rock or two from each trip, along with many photographs. I hope this colorful and unique selection helps you appreciate even a little more the High Uintas. By the way, the only gold found so far has been Kings Peak at sunset, seen on the "home" page.
2009 Trips
Family & personal needs reduced my backpacking exploration of the High Uintas during 2009, but I was able to get in 3 trips, as follows:
1. A lesson in high altitude sickness from the Center Park Trailhead towards Toquer Lake.
2. Exploration in Wyoming and the Uinta's North Slope in search of the TIE HACKERS.
3. Exploring the headwaters of the Bear River to Alsop Lake
Note: Remember, to get the whole story, you have to click on the first image and then view one image at a time, reading both captions and comments.
A short slide show was made for each of the 6 backpacks during 2008, each with narration and background music. To see them go to the "slide shows & blog" section. The slide show screen is very small, so I present here the same photographs in larger format so they can be fully appreciated. The trips presented here are noted below:
