Uinta National Forest - Summit Loop - June 2, 2009 - Member Trip Report
| Hike Name: | Uinta National Forest - Summit Loop |
|---|---|
| Country: | United States |
| State: | Utah |
| Trip Rating: |  |
| Trip Date: | June 2, 2009 |
| Duration: | 3 hours, 30 minutes |
| Trail Conditions: | Poor |
| Trail Traffic: | None |
| Trip Weather: | Cloudy |
| Trip Winds: | Moderate |
| Trip Precipitation: | Rain |
| Trip Temperature: | High: 41-50, Low: 41-50 degrees Fahrenheit |
| Trip Report: | Dad and I drove up to the Summit Trailhead for this hike today. Dad is almost 86 years old and can’t hike anymore, but he misses it so much we decided to do some of this trail together – in remembrance of some great times we spent together. It was cool and blustery and threatening rain. We hiked together for about 0.5 mile from Summit up the Great Western Trail, and then we turned around and took the aged veteran back to the car. He had his crossword puzzle book and his pillow, so he was prepared to wait it out while I went back on the trail solo. I hiked about 1.5 miles down to the upper meadow in Pine Hollow and part way up the ridge beyond when the rain started in earnest. The trail quickly turned to mud, and then it became a running stream of water. Every step on the uphill climb entailed some forward progress mixed with a little backsliding. The rain stayed with me all the way, sometimes light, and sometimes hard. In the more forested areas, such as the stretch between the ridge top and Mud Springs trail junction, and up through the saddle to the east side of the ridge, the trail was merely wet. In more open areas, it was a quagmire. The wildflowers were in full bloom, however, and that more than compensated for the slippery hiking conditions. On the descent into the Cascade Springs area, even though this part of the trail is heavily wooded, there was a part of the trail that was like a slip-n-slide, and I came down it on my rear end. Beyond the campground at Cascade Springs, on the climb back up to Summit, the trail was mucky and deeply grooved – very difficult to navigate in the wet conditions. I arrived back at the car at the Summit Trailhead after hiking for 3 hours and 30 minutes, only a little slower than usual. Dad was sitting on a fence at the trailhead enjoying the views and the rain. How sad it is that we will never have a hike together again. |
There are no comments yet.