uinta backpacking trip 2014

last year I requested that we hike in the basin east of painterbasin.  Richard granted my request and off we went.  We originally had Amy and Kelby coming with us - but Amy got injured so we just had kelby.  Because of the house we aren't as in good of shape as we would like to be, but we all still did pretty well.  38 miles in 48 hours.  I hope Kelby would like to come again.  It's nice to have bear bait sleeping outside while you are cozy in your tent.  I am proud of myself for having 0 big blisters.  That's a first for me!  I was extra cautious with my feet - changing socks every few hours.  I didn't turn on my phone until the last day - but rich and kebly got pics of the first of the hike.

 chepeta lake trail head.  we lost the trail within the first 5 minutes and meandered a while until we found it.  great way to start a hike.........

 lots of cairns.  lots of lost bits of trail.  by the reeder lakes.

 going up north pole pass, before taylor's lake.

 up north pole pass around 12,200 ft

 we finally hit the wilderness boundry on top.  always have to get a pic with the boundry sign, even if it is knocked over.

 we took a nap after coming down the pass (by fox lake).  I wanted to stop but the guys convinced me to continue on.  this lake above is called divide lake.  It was beautiful.  Kelby and I were trying to remember all the 13 articles of faith on our way over (its something I always try to remember on long hikes).

 going down into island lake.  beautiful because it was a change of scenery.

 cool, someone to take a pic for us!

 first campsite.  16 miles in (we started at around 9:30 am and took a nice afternoon nap).  Don't tell amy - this place is called BEAR FLAT.  we didn't see bears - which is good because our tent smells like a hamburger (really - we aren't sure why).

 good morning kelby!

 glamorous!

 first pass of the day on our way to spirit lake.

McCoy park.  wilderness boundry again.  we were only in the wilderness a for a little bit on this hike!

 lots of big parks.

 rich and kelby.

 Tamarak lake.  I loved it here.  I am sad I didn't take any pics of it (this is rich's).  I requested a break here to change socks.  It was beautiful.

 We walked through civilization.  Spirit lake lodge.  I thought it would be cool to visit somewhere with pottys and such.  I would have rather just peed in the woods in silence.  It wasn't that great.  we ate a good lunch of chicken and rice here at a campground.  that's a winner recipe.

 another big park.

 s. fork of sheep creek.

 this is after "elk park" as rich would call it (actually high ridge trail).  On our way up the big pass of the day.

 this is on top of the big pass.  the mountain/pass didn't have a name.

this is where my pic's begin:

 this is the view looking south.

 its amazing how far you could see from up top.  farther than you can see in the picture of course.  I am looking north, rich and kelby are facing south.

 on top of the ridge trail.  it was so peaceful up there.  possibly my favorite part of the entire trip.

 orange flower.  some type of sedum.

 lots of bluebells.  fields of them actually.

 lichen.  i especially love this orange color.  there was a lot of neon green too.

 coming down the big pass.  I love the grand vistas of rolling bald mountains.

 these white flowers were all over the place, really neat.  they close up at night.

 cool textures and colors as usual.

 blue sky, green grass and kelby.

 lots of asters.

 see richard?  next pic zooms in.

 richard.  at home in the mountains.  crazy how the tilt of the camera changes the colors.

 it took a long time to get this shot.  I was almost left a lone woman on the mountain.

 i bet if we waited long enough we would have seen a moose here.

 this is about mile 18 for the day.  we were done.

 we camped at the edge of whiterocks lake.  it was an ugly lake, mostly drained.  we had clam vermicelli and turkey chili.

 morning.

 more asters.

 pretty puddles.

 babbling brooks.

 bluebells.

 queen anne lace looking flower.

 the last cairn of the trip.

 shadows in the trees.

 last meadow.  there is actually a car just out of this frame.

cool blue flowers.

 oh - these are out of place.  from rich's camera - kelby and i

back at the car.  feeling tired and happy.  thanks for another great trip honey.
more pics rich requested i put this up:
https://docs.google.com/folderview?id=0B5WTrp82x6iAU1JySGdkWFJJV2c&usp=docslist_api