backpacking - garfield basin - uintas - September 5, 2026

This is a remote Uinta backpacking trip into the Garfield Basin / Five Point Lake area. The backpacking portion is the core trip and is rated MOD+. The hike in is approximately 11 miles with about 2,000 feet of gain, and we will hike out the same way on Monday. Sunday activities are additional.

Garfield Basin is a beautiful and less-traveled part of the Uintas, with alpine lakes, open basins, big views, and plenty of room to explore. There are options for fishing, wandering, relaxing at camp, or going after peaks depending on interest and conditions.

Participants should be comfortable hiking roughly 11 miles with a full overnight pack, backcountry camping, treating water, storing food properly away from sleeping areas, and managing themselves in changing mountain weather.

The idea is to make this a basecamp-style backpacking weekend: hike in, set up camp, enjoy the basin, and let Sunday vary by person. Participants are welcome to explore nearby lakes, fish, relax at camp, hike, or join the optional peak objectives if that is a good fit.

On Sunday, I plan to attempt three nearby 12,000-foot peaks: Stone Benchmark, South Porcupine Mountain, and Porcupine Mountain, depending on weather, timing, and conditions. The peak portion is optional and is a separate step up in difficulty, likely MSD to EXT. It will involve off-trail travel, loose talus/scree, boulder hopping, routefinding, short breaks, and moving efficiently within a weather window. Limited or inaccurate route beta can make these peaks harder than expected, so participants need to know their limits and be willing to turn around.

This is not a guided activity. Everyone should be self-sufficient with gear, navigation, food, water treatment, layers, rain gear, headlamp, and emergency supplies. At the same time, because this is an organized group trip in remote terrain, communication is expected. Self-sufficient does not mean disappearing: if anyone chooses to split from the group, stay at camp, change objectives, or return by a different route, we will make sure the route, plan, expected return time, and communication options are clear.

Email me for more information if interested. Please include whether you are mainly interested in the backpacking/camping portion or the optional peakbagging on Sunday. If we have not hiked together before, please include a quick summary of recent backpacking/peakbagging experience.