Belated Trip Report: The High Uintas

Provo River Falls 

This Summer I went on a trip but failed to post a report about it. It seems that this last year of my graduate program is taking away more of my free time than the first two years, but I want to be more dedicated to posting regularly as this is still one way I have to get the natural high that I always find when outdoors.

My long time buddy Devin called me up a few months prior to this trip, shooting out the idea to go backpacking in the High Uintas so we could get some serious fly fishing in. He had never been backpacking before, so this trip would be especially significant for him. We had one goal in mind: catch fish, and a lot of them. Seemed easy enough, we had both heard amazing stories about people catching hundreds of fish in the Uintas, so we felt that as long as we got up there then we would get sore from bringing in so many fish.

During our planning process I decided that it would be a good idea to invite Chuck, my buddy/next-door neighbor who was just starting to get into fly fishing, and to also invite my friend Ben who had gone with me to Fish Creek reservoir at Boulder Mountain twice before. Although I generally like to keep my numbers down to as few as possible, I thought that four was still a manageable number, and that we would all have a blast. I'm not at a point where I feel comfortable taking responsibility for a large group of people who haven't spent much time backpacking, but felt that two (Ben and Myself) on two (Devin and Chuck) was a good ratio.

Crystal Lake

Panoramic of Crystal Lake

Night 1 - Crystal Lake
Devin suggested going to the Crystal Lake trailhead which leads to several other lakes. This was the closest trailhead with multiple options, and was also the closest to where all of us would be driving from, so it made the most sense to meet there and camp at Crystal Lake on the first night. As Ben and I would be driving from the north, and Chuck and Devin were driving from the south, we wanted to make sure that we picked a place where we would be able to meet up with ease. That evening we all met up without a problem, and I immediately saw the difference between isolation vs. companionship.  I enjoy solo trips for the feeling of isolation, but hanging out around a fire telling jokes, or standing around in the darkness calling each others lies about seeing shooting stars is hard to beat.

Fishing the next morning was slow, to say the least. It has been a few months since the trip, but I'm pretty sure that Ben caught something at each place we stopped to fish. Devin caught a fish or two as well, but we all decided to pack up and head to Duck Lake so that we could spend a good amount of time figuring out how to be successful with our efforts.

The hike to Duck Lake was really pretty. It was only about 3 miles to Duck Lake, and it was pretty the whole way. There were a few ponds which weren't even marked on the maps, and then Weir Lake and Pot Lake which were. We passed two or three groups of scouts on our way to Duck, one of which had reported successful fishing at Weir Lake. I knew that we would pass some people as this was a fairly popular trail, but I wouldn't have guessed that we would see so many boy scout troops.

Duck Lake

Night 2 - Duck Lake
We found Duck Lake without a problem. As soon as we saw the lake, we also saw a group of scouts camped right next to the trail, so we opted to hike to the other side of the lake in hopes that we would find a campsite to use. We really didn't have a desire to camp right next to a group of scouts, so we were pretty excited to find the nice campsite that we did which was off of the trail and pretty isolated. We soon came to the realization that the voices of teenaged boys carry very easily - especially since we were camped below some cliffs which only bounced their voices directly to us. I'm pretty sure that at one point the boys were having a contest to see who could be loudest, but their leaders eventually asked them to stop, reminding them that they weren't the only ones there.

Fishing was pretty slow like it was at Crystal Lake. Before the trip I had given Ben a hard time for bringing his waders and float tube, but I quickly ate my own words as he caught one fish after another. The rest of us were only able to fish off of the bank, all the while the fish were chilling in the middle of the lake where Ben was able to cast. At one point near dusk Devin found a deep hole next to the cliffs, and landed enough for he and I to eat fish that evening.

Devin casting on Duck Lake

Right when Devin and I went to the bank to gut our fish it started to rain. It quickly went from a drizzle to a complete downpour. I left my rain shell back at camp, along with the contents of my pack spread over a rock, so by the time I was done gutting the fish I was soaked - along with everything in my pack.

Ben showing us how it's done

Dinner was pretty good. I didn't have the satisfaction of eating my own catch, but Devin's fish tasted just as good as mine would have. Just as we did the previous night, we enjoyed talking late into the night. It was especially nice having a fire to dry ourselves out with. It was while hanging out and laughing around the fire that I realized how great of an idea it was to have Ben and Chuck come with us.

Day 3 - Weir Lake

Weir Lake - My Favorite

After another day of both Chuck and I getting skunked, we decided to hike back to Weir Lake and spend several hours there. That lake was, by far, my favorite of the trip. We were the only ones there and the lake was picturesque. Ben continued to catch fish after fish, and I managed to catch one - yes, only one. I decided that the next time I take a trip like this I'm going to follow Ben's example and carry the extra weight required to kick out to where the fish are. We only hiked a few miles each day, so carrying another seven to ten pounds would be worth the ten or more pounds of fish that I would catch.

No matter how amazing a trip is, there is still a level of energy which comes with the anticipation of going home. Chuck was literally bouncing on the trail (which either says something about how much he missed his wife, or said what he thought of the trip). The rest of us were excited and ready for home as well, but it's safe to say that all of us were already thinking of our next trip.

Chuck on the trail home

There are several things I learned/observed from this trip which I want to remember for future group trips:

1. Instead of everyone keeping track of their own trash, we placed it all in a large trash bag. Bad idea! I volunteered to pack it out, but really we each should have carried our own trash back out - empty soup cans and all.
2. We planned out our meeting location so well that even though we arrived two hours apart from each other, there was no problem finding each other in the dark.
3. It is a good idea to not only pack for yourself when going on a group trip, but to think about "the group" as well. We only had two flashlights for the four of us, so putting tents up in the dark took more time than it would have had we been prepared.
4. Ben and Devin both had new packs and sleeping bags. It would have been a good idea for them to test out their equipment at home before the trip. Although their bags worked out fine, the sternum strap to Chuck's pack broke. If he would have known about the design flaw a few days before the actual trip then he could have made a permanent fix without a problem. Instead, he had to go without his sternum strap - something which isn't trip ender, but which is one of three ways to distribute the weight from your pack (the other two being your hip belt and stabilizer straps). Always a better idea to discover small problems at home which could turn into bigger problems on the trail.
5. Pumping water for the four of us is quite possible with one pump, but is time consuming as well. A 2:1 ratio instead of a 4:1 would be better. We had tablets as a backup, but didn't want to use them unless we had to.
6. Eating fish in the backcountry is especially messy and smelly. I didn't even care about hanging our food that evening simply because we all reeked of fish so bad that any bear would have loved to use our digits as finger-food. Next time it will be a good idea to either wash everything which smelled of fish (including our hands), or place them in a bear bag along with everything else.

For a final thought I have to say that sometimes it’s best to just go and have fun - still prepare adequately, but just make the trip happen. This was Devin’s first time backpacking, Chuck's first time fly fishing, and Ben’s first trip since starting a job which didn’t allow him to get outside where he belongs. The trip provided everything which a good trip should: an opportunity to think without distraction, a chance to hit the “restart” button, and the gift of just living in the moment without thought of life’s duties and obligations. There were no mishaps, everyone made it out fine, and there were no close calls other than the three of us wanting to poke a hole in Ben’s float tube out of jealousy.

**As a side note, my camera that I posted about previously (with a horrible review) did quite well. It may be worthless at taking photos inside, but landscape photos turn out pretty well.

Are YOU an outdoors-snob? (Elitism in the backcountry)

A few weeks ago I posted a question in an online forum for rock climbing. As I am strictly a novice on the topic, I decided that it would make sense to ask those who know a lot about the sport before I began a business venture which would cater to it. I posted a simple question asking for opinions, and for the most part I received a positive response. There were the less-than-positive responses as well, including the gentleman who was kind enough to point out that if I "had any pull in (the) industry, (I) wouldn't be (there) asking (those) questions..." Very nice of him to remind me that I am but an ant compared to the giant outdoors industry.

This experience got me thinking about sports in the outdoors, and made me wonder if we are just as bad as any other sport out there when it comes to elitism. Do we too have a hierarchy within our sport, with the car-campers who spend hundreds of dollars at the bottom, and mountaineers who can afford thousands of dollars worth of equipment as well as expensive traveling expenses at the top? If this hierarchy does exist, what is it that sets our sport apart from the rest?

The more I thought about these questions, the more the very thought of it disappointed me. I have always loved the outdoors because anyone can afford to go there, and even the dirt poor can afford to take a walk on a trail. One of the reasons I first became interested in backpacking was due to the fact that once I purchased the essential gear needed for an over-nighter, the only costs associated with the sport is strictly for food, gas to get to the trailhead, and possibly an entrance fee if you go to a National Park.

Don't take me for an ignoramus, I've always known that there are more or less expensive products in every existing sport, just as there are those who can or can't afford them. Even if you were to enter a home repair store you will see products which "get the job done," and those that get the job done with style and finesse. The part that bothers me is that those at the top of the outdoors hierarchy take those at the bottom for pathetic little wanna-be's.

Good old family camping

While writing this, I can't help but think of my Jr. High School years when I thought that I was a skater. I owned a skateboard, had enough skating-brand t-shirts to last me a week at school, and was always looking for cool stickers to purchase for my closet door at home (I could only fit so many on my actual skateboard). I had all the skating flare someone could wish for, yet I lacked the ability to actually skateboard well. Where was I on the skating hierarchy? Although my ability to skateboard was a little better than a beginner, I put myself above anyone I deemed as a "poser," or someone I felt was in the sport just to "look cool"without the dedication to really "live" the sport.

So how does this translate to backpacking, rock climbing, or any other sport in the backcountry? Well, flip through any outdoors magazine and you will see advertising for products that are not so expensive, and those that are ridiculously costly. That isn't to say that the expensive products aren't so steep for a reason, but the point is that there is a very wide spectrum of affordable and not-so-affordable products in every sport, giving those who have money an advantage over those who don't. Thus the opportunity for elitism. Why won't you hear very many outdoorsmen bragging about their new North Face jacket? Because you can find The North Face products in literally ANY sporting goods shop - not just the stores that specialize in rock climbing, backpacking, and mountaineering. Does The North Face jacket still keep you warm and dry? "Well yeah, but...," and then come the countless reasons why The North Face is no longer taken seriously, and then talk about the many other brands which do a much better job, and which are nearly indestructible.

One final story:
I once needed to fix my kitchen sink and instead of driving all the way to Home Depot, I went to a major plumbing store used by general contractors and plumbers. When I asked one of the clerks for help finding a specific fitting, I received a cold "you're bothering me, and are worth nothing more than the dirt on my sole of my shoe" sort of look, which was followed by a quick response which included directions to walk just past a bunch of fittings I had never heard of before, straight across from some water lines I wouldn't recognize if they hit me square in the face. Thinking that I may have been a little paranoid, I asked my co-worker at UPS who also managed one of the stores where I had this experience. He confirmed that the employees of this plumbing supply chain are used to working with professional plumbers who spend hundreds or thousands of dollars with each visit, and that they tend to get annoyed when having to work with the average Joe who needs to fix his toilet. Elitism in the plumbing industry???

See! Escaping the elements WITH style:)

Conclusion:
The point of this never-ending post is this: WHO CARES!!!! If you want to get outside to experience natures endless wonders, do it. Whether you bring a black trash bag to repel water, or a $600 breathable jacket with all the bells and whistles; either way you will be outside, and this is all that matters. Sure, there will always be the outdoors-snots who love to check out everyones gear to then pass judgement while claiming that those who are "hardcore" wear certain products - WHO CARES!!!! Decide for yourself why you get outside, or why you buy certain outdoors apparel. If you are one of those outdoors-snobs just remember, it's not about doing the sport in style, it's about loving the sport - period.