HELP FOR THE HIGHLINE TRAIL....FOR WHICH WE ARE PROFOUNDLY GRATEUL!

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The HIGHLINE TRAIL...maybe..."NOT GIVING UP .....EASILY!"

But, first to THE GRANDADDIES & JEFF LAKE

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INCREDIBLE HELP FOR THE 

HIGHLINE TRAIL

Following is a wonderful letter from Gordon Hirschi &

The Uinta Basin Back Country Horsemen

From: Gordon Hirschi <braveheartsavenger@gmail.com>
Sent: Saturday, July 29, 2017 1:57 PM
To: cordellandersen@hotmail.com
Subject: Highline Trail

Hello Mr. Andersen,

My name Gordon Hirschi I am president of Uinta Basin Back Country Horsemen.

The first year I was voted in as president I talked our group into adopting Trail  025 Highline Trail. I knew it was in bad shape and had not been completely cleared in 15 years when  I googled this trail it recommended the east start stop point as Leidy Peak Trail Head. Three years later we had  marked and cleared this trail from Hwy 191 to Leidy Peak Trail Head. We have also taken on Don Hatch Memorial Trail, Manila Park Trail, and Trout Creek Trail.

Ashley National Forest notified me that you were going to hike across The Highline Trail this summer. I told them that we had cleared it last summer but with the snow load from last winter and this years spring high winds that we needed to gather some back country horsemen and at least remove any trees that are blocking this trail. We started clearing trails about one month ago starting at forest road 021 and Highline Trail I was told Vernal Ranger District Trail Crew had already cleared from Hwy 191 to forest road 02. We have cleared this trail to Summit Park and will have it cleared to Leidy Peak Trail Head by Tuesday Morning. I spoke with some hikers near Lost Park which told me there were some recent blow downs near East Park and we will catch these on our way out.

Now that we have cleared these trails we are working on better signage one of which is Hwy 191 Trail Head.

I hope you have a great trip and we appreciate the credit you have given our chapter on your website. We also maintain a facebook presence at https://www.facebook.com/UBBCH/

Uintah Basin Back Country Horsemen - Home | Facebook www.facebook.com Uintah Basin Back Country Horsemen, Vernal, Utah. 501 likes · 39 talking about this. We are a horsemen's group dedicated to keeping public lands and... *************************************

The HIGHLINE TRAIL...."NOT GIVING UP....EASILY!" First to JEFF LAKE.....

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BACKPACK #1-2017 to THE GRANDADDIES

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MAYBE...STILL?
 ¡ THE HIGHLINE TRAIL!
NOTE:  Gordon Hirschi & the Uintah Basin Back Country Horsemen have contacted me about their incredible efforts  to clear the trail from Leidy Peak to Hwy. 191, including improving the signs, which has been so encouraging that I'm seriously re-considering doing the Highline Trail. As soon as I have their permission I'll post here their letter to me.
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"Not Giving up....easily" 

With a backpack planned for August 10-13 again to the GRANDADDIES, this time with my buddy Ted Packard, and son Mike.  My objective to clean-up my previous failure and ..........FIND & EXPLORE

JEFF LAKE

No SPOT Tracker this time, but will have sat phone from SKYCALL SATELLITE  & report to KSL OUTOORS RADIO on Saturday August 12th.
This will be the final test to determine whether I do the HIGHLINE TRAIL from August 16-31

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To put this into perspective, I quote below the last segment of my previous photo/essay reporting.....

....the discovery of RANGE LAKE

we see below:

The backpack was not easy like it once was, and except for all the wonderful people I met and talked to, the experience wasn't fun like it used to be...
......BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE...I DID DO IT ACTUALLY IN 3 DAYS RATHER THAN 4, so, physically I can still do it....
..... but  I have had to make some serious decisions....since.....
"'I'M NOT COMPLETELY STUPID!"
My decision is to now focus more on completing the
GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY of the Guatemalan Foundation 
and retire that mission at the end of August, and...
.... from now on begin putting this whole project together in the 
"REPORTING" phase I vowed to do in my youth.
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I won't stop backpacking, as to do so would "have me grow old" which I'm not ready for yet....so there will be an occasional backpack--even this year in August when the mosquitoes are gone, but not the heavy duty schedule I have announced for 2017.
 I will persist working out daily and keep moving....and even work on preparing to run one more time in 
May 2018 the

International Half Marathon in Coban, Guatemala.
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I WILL BE IN TOUCH & CONTINUE TO POST HIGH UINTAS INFORMATION & EVEN REPORTS ON OTHER'S EFFORTS.
I'll  inform all when the Project is ready for publication.
Thanks for everything....love you all and have you in my prayers!
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UPDATE ON HIGH UINTAS & BACKPACKING

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With information on the thaw, snow depths on Bald Mountain Pass, Opening of key roads, and Passes, etc.

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POST ON    

BEEFING UP MY SPINE....AGAIN, The HIGHLINE TRAIL & BACKPACKING PLANS FOR 2017

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UPDATE July 5th:  COMING....VERY SOON (1 day or less)....

.....REPORT OF 1st BACKPACK.....

Report could be named something like...

"Yes, I'M STUBBORN (or persistent)...but,  IN MY 82nd YEAR I'M NOT COMPLETELY STUPID!"

or 

"Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got…..wouldn't you like to get away…..where everybody knows your name and they're glad you came?"

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Obviously I survived it & achieved 50% of my goals--batting .500 is incredible....and due to meeting time after time, after time WONDERFUL PEOPLE ON THE TRAIL....had a great & reflective time...

THANKS TO MANY OF YOU...I LOVE YOU ALL!

I'll get it done today and show you some BEAUTIFUL FACES  & a few magnificent VISIONS OF NATURE!

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UPDATE - Friday, June 30th
1st backpack- The GRANDADDIES 
GRANDVIEW TRAILHEAD - will sleep at the trailhead Friday night and be on the trail Saturday morning, July 1st.  Will go past Grandaddy, Betsy Lakes, and down to Lost, Powell Lakes and on to Rainbow and will explore Range & Jeffs Lakes and then return to the Trailhead...about 4 days.  If interested you'll have to keep track of me using the following link:
SPOT TRACKING
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UPDATE - Friday, June 23, 2017

The following report was sent to me a few days ago from the Forest Service:

Hi Cordell: 

The road to the Grandview Trail Head will remain closed through the rest of June and possibly early July due to the ongoing timber sale.

I have a ranger that is checking on the trail that leads from Rock Creek (trail 073 junctions with 078/076) to the Granddaddy Basin as a backup route, I should know more by the end of this week.

And as general information, anyone hiking the trails in the Wilderness can expect trees across the trails, extremely high river crossings (they should not be attempted to cross) and above 10,000 ft. large and deep snow drifts.

If anyone needs further information they can contact the Duchesne Ranger District at 435-738-2482 and we can provide them with the latest information.

Thanks,

Jeff

Jeff Mitchell Wilderness Ranger Forest Service Ashley National Forest, Duchesne Ranger District p: 435-738-2482 jeffwmitchell@fs.fed.us 85 West Main, P.O. Box 981 Duchesne, UT 84021 www.fs.fed.us  Caring for the land and serving people

Today, June 23rd, just talked to Jeff who reports:

THE GRANDVIEW TRAILHEAD:  At the earliest it will be open to the public by the end of next week, or let's say, Saturday, July 1st.

LAKE FORK/MOON LAKE TRAILHEAD:  the trail is open up into the Brown Duck Basin, Tworoose Pass, etc.

UINTA RIVER TRAILHEAD: Apparently it is possible to get up to the Fox Lake area, etc.  I don't remember him mentioning the Atwood Trail.

ROCK CREEK TRAILHEAD:  Area not recommended yet as river crossings are high and dangerous.  The "La Marla Lake Trail" up into the Grandaddy Basin is being checked out by a Wilderness Ranger.  I will update when getting info.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SPECIFIC AREAS, CALL JEFF AT THE FS.

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MY PLANS:

Due to urgent work I still have to do for the GUATEMALAN FOUNDATION, & with my family, my backpacking will begin--if all goes well--by driving to the Grandview Trailhead on Friday, June 30th, sleep in my car to begin the necessary process (for this old guy in his 82nd year) of acclimatization, and hopefully on Saturday, July 1st--if getting to the Grandview Trailhead is possible, early around 6:15-25,   air my report on KSL OUTDOORS RADIO--using the satelitte phone from SKYCALL SATELLITE, then  head up the Grandaddy Trail.  I will update all of this on Friday morning June 30th, and include the link for my
 SPOT TRACKER.

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MY WARM-UP  BACKPACKS TENTATIVELY ARE:

1.  GRANDADDIES:  down past Lost & Powell Lakes, to pick up two missed, RANGE & JEFF  LAKES & if all goes well,  swing up to Pine Island Lake, and back past Fish Hatchery, Betsy & Grandaddy Lakes:   30+ miles, 4 days. NOTE: Date depending on conditions  in June, in other words, the thaw.

2.  MIDDLE FORK BEAVER CREEK:  Will explore Beaver, Coffin & other lakes, & will climb Thompson Pass, leaving 2 passes to go to achieve all 22 in the Wilderness.  30 miles 5 days.

3.  FROM EAST FORK OF BLACKS FORK TRAILHEAD:  To Little East Fork of Blacks Fork and   UPPER ALPINE/ABOVE TIMBERLINE LAKES.  20 miles, 4 days.

4.  TWOROOSE PASS (with which only North Pole Pass remains) from the Lake Fork Trailhead up to the  Brown Duck Basin, Pass, & lakes.  35 miles, 6 days.

All of this is in preparation for doing the entire HIGHLINE TRAIL, from near Flaming Gorge to Mirror Lake, in August.
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Scheduled DREAMS for 2017 (82nd year) Combining with it the ENTIRE HIGHLINE TRAIL...IF MY "ANTI-AGING CHALLENGE" formula keeps doing its MIRACLE!

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YouTube video (silent) ROCK CANYON & CONQUERING SQUAW PEAK.....The Weekly HEAVY DUTY WORKOUT for week of Sept. 25-30th & DAILY WORKOUT WINS MORE FRIENDS!

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WHAT'S WITH THE SILENCE FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS?

This old guy is still working out twice daily with incredible High Uinta plans for  next  summer....all resulting from the successful backpack to "Little Andy Lake"  summer  2016.  Me hiking around town every day  with a tough looking backpack loaded with rocks and water filled bottles, no matter what the weather, is  even getting a little out of hand with rumors circulating in my area...."that old guy is likely one of the three Nephites!"  Mormons will get that, otherwise maybe Googling it will turn up something, but it is all a lot of fun........

 
FUND RAISING
ON MY DAILY HIKE WITH PACK
Seeing me on the streets of American Fork, people stop and ask, "Are you alright?"  Guess I must look pretty bad! Some offer me money, and I tell them I'm not a homeless old guy, just an eccentric millionaire out getting his exercise, but some don't believe me and insist on making a donation. I give them my two business cards so they can see that they're helping the 
High Uintas Wilderness Project, and the GUATEMALAN FOUNDATION!

OPPS....A GLITCH!
Below are my enthusiastic plans for 2017, but as I have pushed my daily training--especially the jogging to do the race mentioned below, my back surgery from 2012 for a pinched nerve has been failing me and the sciatic nerve down the back of my left leg started giving me pain.....so in a few days the determination will be made about a possible surgery...but it will have to be  quick, as I'm not about to give up easily  on the challenges outlined below!
But in general my Anti-Aging Challenge formula is 

working so well  the following is the dream for 2017--at 81+ or in my 82nd year:

Scheduled backpacks for Summer 2017

1.  GRANDADDIES:  down past Lost & Powell Lakes, to pick up two missed, RANGE & JEFF LAKES & if all goes well will swing up to Pine Island Lake, and back past Fish Hatchery, Betsy & Grandaddy Lakes:   30+ miles, 4 days. NOTE: Depending on  conditions done in June

2.  MIDDLE FORK BEAVER CREEK:  Will explore Beaver, Coffin & other lakes, & will climb Thompson Pass, leaving 2 to go to achieve all 22 in the Wilderness.  30 miles 5 days.
3.  From E. Fk Blacks Fk Trailhead:  To Little East Fork of Blacks Fork and   UPPER ALPINE/ABOVE TIMBERLINE LAKES.  20 miles, 4 days.
4.  TWOROOSE PASS (with which only North Pole Pass remains) from the Lake Fork Trailhead up to the  Brown Duck Basin, Pass, & lakes.  35 miles, 6 days.

5.  HENRY'S FORK, PAINTER BASIN in late July & early August, to visit again Little Andy Lake--taking time to get better pictures, Trail Rider Pass, Beard Lake, George Beard Basin, and in Henry's fork Cliff, Castle & other Lakes. 50 miles, 8-9  days.

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IMPORTANT

Keep an eye on this website as summer approaches for more details, and  get my  link to  the SPOT Personal Satellite Tracker , which I go nowhere without, and  follow my progress, & make sure and listen every Saturday morning to hear my satellite phone reports on  Tim Hughes' KSL OUTDOORS RADIO, program. 
Satellite phone acquired from Russ Smith & SKYCALL SATELLITE, where you can get yours for your outdoor adventures.

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THEN.......Originally Scheduled for Summer 2018 in my 83rd year--now changed to August 2017

THE FAMOUS HIGHLINE TRAIL

 It follows the spine of the High Uinta Mountains we see above

To crown my High Uintas Project, I want to do the entire HIGHLINE TRAIL--  inaugurating  hopefully new signs the Forest Service by then should have installed on the eastern end, we see below near Flaming Gorge .  There is only a generic  sign on the highway, and the pitiful one we see below where the trail begins at around 8,000 feet, and heads west for approximately 100 miles ending on the Mirror Lake Scenic Byway at 10,378 ft. elevation--no register, no distance signs, etc.

Along those 100 miles I will make  a few sidetrips--including items which were 
to be done  in the list of "original 2017 backpacks"  most importantly, North Pole Pass,  Garfield Basin upper lakes, Oweep Basin lakes, & Crater Lake--(seen in the 1st picture) to get that "perfect picture" I have mentioned many times, and also will finally get back to Continent & Reconnaissance Lakes & others, ending at the western end of the HIGHLINE TRAIL on the Mirror Lake Scenic Byway seen below. 


A few years ago I did a series of 14 topographical maps outlining the Trail with the intention of doing it--then came 2012 when I wasn't able to do any backpacks and was resigning myself to being a cripple!   
But  I kept working, tweaked my anti-aging formula, and with a miracle hip replacement--WAS BORN AGAIN!   
I will do the normal 97-106 miles of the Highline Trail, plus approximately 20 extra miles for a total of around 126 miles in about 14  days--no re-supply.  
Hopefully, after all the warm-up backpacks, I'll be in better shape and hurry through the initial long stretches of less interest, and even do other side-trips.

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IN  A FEW DAYS I'LL POST A PHOTO/ESSAY OF MY RECENT ROAD TRIP TO THE EASTERN BEGINNING OF THE HIGHLINE TRAIL....this is part of my effort to encourage the Forest Service to put up signs on the eastern end worthy of this great trail!

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I   REPEAT.......two items....
 KEYS TO YOUR FAMILY'S PEACE OF MIND & MAYBE YOUR SURVIVAL:
Keep an eye on my website as summer approaches to get my  link to  the SPOT Personal Satellite Tracker , which I go nowhere without, and  follow my progress & make sure and listen every Saturday morning to hear my satellite phone reports on  Tim Hughes' KSL OUTDOORS RADIO, program. 
Satellite phone acquired from Russ Smith & SKYCALL SATELLITE, where you can get yours for your outdoor adventures.
  A sat phone has saved my life & may yours too!
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THE FUTURE AFTER SUMMER 2017?
I have learned  being 80+ I begin aging and going down-hill noticeably if I stop relatively heavy duty exercise daily ("heavy duty" for an 80+ year old guy)....and to motivate me to do so  during the long Fall-Winter-Spring off-season I need to have.....

STIMULATING GOALS TO WORK TOWARDS

I have in my mind what they will be for 2018, but will take first things first, and work on the above goals....with a preliminary one  that will help me achieve the others, which is:  To run again, THE INTERNATIONAL HALF-MARATHON IN COBAN, GUATEMALA in May 2017 and likely be, the oldest to get to the finish line...
So, every day, no matter what the weather I do a little hike around a couple of big blocks, with my 35 pound backpack, and 6 days a week exercise and jog at American Fork's Fitness Center--
--that is free for 80 year olders.
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Giving the youth a run for their money!
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AND, IF I DON'T MAKE ALL MY GOALS?
I CAN HANDLE THAT--and eat a little crow, KNOWING THAT IF I DIDN'T SET ANY GOALS I LIKELY WOULDN'T DO MUCH TO EVEN KEEP ALIVE & MOVING.  
All the work of preparing will be
"the CAKE" 
& KEEP ME HEALTHY & STRONG,
& achieving some or all of the  goals will  be the 
 "FROSTING ON THE CAKE!"
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THEN I'LL SET NEW ONES FOR 2018 
& KEEP MOVING!
I'm not interested in any other option!