Trip Report: Backpack/scramble Mt Lovenia (Uintas) via W Fork Blacks Fork


Backpack/scramble Mt Lovenia (Uintas) via W Fork Blacks Fork
By L Beth Blattenberger
HIKE 09/03/2016 MOD+

Trip Report, Deadhorse Lake/Red Knob Pass backpack (Uintas), Sept. 2-5, 2016

Victor Miele and I headed to the trailhead for the West Fork of Blacks Fork on Friday afternoon before Labor Day weekend. The road gets progressively rougher and there are a couple of stream crossings. Victor was driving and didn't hesitate at these, so we were able to shorten our hike a bit. We stopped where the 4WD road is gated and hiked the remaining two miles to the end of the road and set up camp.

Saturday morning we got a leisurely start at 10:30 and took time to check out a sheepherder wagon located near a weather station and solar panel. A gentle and scenic trail took us along the edge of a meadow to Deadhorse Lake at just under 11,000 feet. Along the way I discovered that Victor was carrying a ukulele, a wetsuit, fins and goggles and a fishing spear. The cold water in the lake and hail storms along the way and after we arrived unfortunately discouraged him from fishing. We got to the lake at 3:30 with time to explore a bit. There was a lot of room for camping and only a few other parties. Saturday evening there was an impressive thunder and lightning storm. I was worried about a couple who had recently headed up to Deadhorse Pass.

Sunday we planned an early start to scramble Mount Lovenia before afternoon thunderstorms. Unfortunately, we heard thunder and hail fell before we were even out of our tents. We still hiked to Red Knob Pass, where we were greeted by another hail storm. A view of Mount Lovenia was what we would have to settle for, given the weather. On the way back, we passed through a sheep herd, where I gave some cheese to a scrawny sheep dog.

We made it back to our tents just in time for a really strong hail storm. I lay in my tent thinking, "I hope they tested it for this," but it held up. The storms were brief and we were able to do more exploring.

Monday we hiked out through more sheep and were delayed on the drive home by a river of sheep that filled the road. Both milkshake places in Kamas had long waits that we decided to forego. But there were few people where we went backpacking, so it was a good Labor Day weekend destination.

Monday we hiked out through more sheep and were delayed on the drive home by a river of sheep that filled the road. Both milkshake places in Kamas had long waits that we decided to forego. But there were few people where we went backpacking, so it was a good Labor Day weekend destination.

Total distance: about 30 miles. Elevation gain: about 3,000 feet.