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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....AGAINThe 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
Forest Service Shield
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 
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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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