This was my first solo backpacking trip! I had wanted to backpack to a lake in the Middle Basin for some time. I am part of a facebook group called High Uinta Lovers, and we share pictures and trip reports of excursions into the Uintas. A few of the other members had shared reports of coming up from Christmas Meadows and camping near Ryder Lake. I wanted to try something more direct and completely different.
 |
| West side of the basin overlooking McPheters Lake |
Thursday I left Provo about 4pm and arrived at the Highline Trail head at around 5pm. I parked there and hiked directly up Hayden's Pass.
 |
| Driving over Bald Mtn. Pass, looking at my route. |
There is no official marked trail up Hayden's Pass. Parked at the Highline Trail parking area, head northeast across the open meadows, then wander through the trees until you come to the base of the scree slope. Alternatively, follow the trail just to the South of the cabin and it wraps around the cabin and heads North and will also lead you in the direction of Hayden's Pass.
 |
| Panorama of Hayden's Pass |
 |
| Baldy and Reids Peak |
Hiking the pass was wicked. I was fairly winded by the time I reached the top of the pass. From the parking lot to the top, it is around one mile and goes from about 10,300 to 11,700 in elevation.
 |
| Top of the pass looking into Middle Basin. |
 |
| Coming down the slope into the basin. |
Going up the pass was one thing, coming down the other side was totally different. That side of the pass was still covered in snow, so I slid down part of the way and back stepped the rest.
 |
| Taken just after I slid off the final patch of snow coming down the pass. |
Once in the basin, I made great time and hiked directly to McPheters Lake. I camped with no fire and originally planned to camp on the West side of McPheters in a stand of trees. The mosquitoes ended up driving me nuts, even though I was thoroughly doused in bug repellent. I retreated to the meadow South of the lake and put my sleeping gear on an open section of rock.
 |
| Where I slept that night. |
I slept great that night, and was up with the sun the next morning. I took a dip in McPheters Lake, dried off, dressed, ate, then packed up and hit the trail again.
 |
| Ryder Lake behind me. |
I headed South across the basin and went straight for the saddle on the North side of Mt. Agassiz. Once on the saddle, I hid my backpack and put on my day pack and headed up the ridge line to the peak. On the way up I found a plane wreck!
 |
| Taken from the Agassiz ridgeline, peeking over into Middle Basin. |
I had no prior knowledge of the plane wreck, and was pleasantly surprised to find it. I am currently working on becoming a professional pilot, so I have my Private Pilot License and will soon have my IFR rating. After I got home, I did my research and couldn't find out anything about the wreck. From examining what was left though, I know it is a Twin Beech from around the 70's.
 |
| Top of Mt. Agassiz looking from the Ruth Lake area (L) into Middle Basin (R). |
After eating lunch on the summit, I scrambled down the peak back to my backpack. I hiked down the West side of the saddle. I ran into some mountain goats and we were both surprised. Other than that, the hike down was uneventful. Once at the bottom, I headed North Northwest in the general direction of the parking lot. I had planned on hooking up with the Highline trail and taking that back to my car, but looking at the map, I realized it was a good mile due West to reach the trail. Instead, I just bushwhacked and bee lined it to the car.
 |
| Hiking out. |
Back at the car, I looked at my watch and saw that it was only 1pm. I had only been out for 20 hours! I had made much better time than planned. With time to kill since it was the weekend, I drove over to Evanston, WY and filled up my car. On the way back through, I hiked Ruth Lake and also stopped at the Hayden's Peak Overlook.
 |
| Hayden's Peak Overlook |
Great weekend trip. I enjoyed the solitude of being alone. Definitely will do more solo trips in the future.
Comments
Post a Comment