Trip Report: Snowshoe: North Fork Loop (Uintas)
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Snowshoe: North Fork Loop (Uintas) By Gail Coates |
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| SNOWSHOE | 03/01/2026 | NTD |
| Organized by Gail Coates, Paige Kraus, and Mike Berry Report by Gail Coates What a difference a little rain can make. We gathered at the North Fork trailhead off Mirror Lake Highway for what was planned as a 4.1-mile loop with about 335 feet of elevation gain. The weather was beautiful, and the promised rain held off. It was a bit warm as some of us went without jackets. In the end, all but the very dedicated Mike Berry opted to snowshoe. When we scouted the route on Thursday, we had solid snow coverage. After a night of rain, much of that snow had vanished. Undeterred, the group cheerfully carried snowshoes and skis for the first stretch before finally finding enough coverage to put them on. K. Waller led us in a stretch and mindful meditation circle. Two enthusiastic doggos (Cora and Lulu) joined us and added to the good energy from the start. Once we were moving on snow, we settled into a steady, conversational pace that allowed plenty of trail talk and laughter. Just past the summer parking lot, we crossed the snow bridge and took a longer break with snacks and beverages. The next water crossing required a bit more creativity. It felt more like an adventure obstacle than a simple crossing and it wasn't completely covered with snow and the snow that was there wasn't strong, but everyone made it across safely and in good humor. Waller split off to check on the NAC Yurt while the rest of us continued along the road and made our way back to the cars. From there, most of the group headed to The Notch for lunch and beverages. We were large enough to get our own room, which turned into the perfect setting for extended conversations and planning next week's outing. As a side note, the spiked cider and smoked salmon were amazing. |
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