Trip Report: Uintas: Wolf Creek Campground and Duchesne Ridge - Ski and Snowshoe Tour with Beacon Park and Snow P


Uintas: Wolf Creek Campground and Duchesne Ridge - Ski and Snowshoe Tour with Beacon Park and Snow P
By Kathleen Waller and Gail Coates
SNOWSHOE 03/08/2026 MOD
Uintas: Wolf Creek Campground and Duchesne Ridge - Ski and Snowshoe Tour with Beacon Park and Snow Pit Practice



Sunday, March 8, 2026



Organized by Gail Coates, Paige Kraus, and Kathleen Waller



Report by Gail Coates and Kathleen Waller




We started the day the usual way, gathering at Kamas Food Town before forming the traditional carpool caravan to the trailhead. We covered steps 1, 2, and 3 of an AIARE departure check (gear, plan, and communication) before heading out. Despite the Daylight Savings time change, everyone seemed awake enough to drive, which is always encouraging.


First up was the Beacon Park Challenge. Waller eagerly went to work shoveling out the area around the control box and signs. The one pair of skiers who had not already done it jumped in and promptly found all three beacons in under 10 minutes. Show-offs. Once their challenge wrapped up, the skiers headed off to dig snow pits and ski. The snowshoers took a more educational approach. Paige and Gail located the first beacon in about 15 minutes after some quality wandering and discussion. Dave and Kristian then tracked down the other two in about 20 minutes. Most people were using a beacon and probe for the first time, so there was a lot of learning happening, which was exactly the point


The snowshoers headed out and quickly discovered that the trail had been claimed by approximately every snowmobiler in Utah. We spent most of the hike staying near the trees and enthusiastically waving our arms like inflatable car dealership mascots so the snowmobiles could see us. We decided that while the area is scenic, it might be considerably more enjoyable in the summer when the machines are elsewhere. Eventually we turned around and made our way back to the trailhead where we linked back up with the skiers just as they were wrapping up their day.


The ski group completed step 4 of an AIARE departure check (DBEAST) and headed to the trees above Wolf Creek campground. We dug a snow pit on a north facing aspect at 9500 feet. We were stoked to find 155 cm of depth. Waller shared a new skill over running a paint brush over the walls of the pit learned recently from the amazing Pat with the Utah Avalanche Center (UAC). We found 1 finger (1F) hardness at the January Dry Layer (JDL) and 1F to 4F hardness at the ground layer both correlating with Nassetta's UAC forecast statement, "the snowpack structure beneath the surface is also showing signs of strengthening and beginning to adjust to its current state of being". We did a 30cm by 30cm compression test and a 30cm by 90cm extended column test. Both had no results until Sid climbed to the top and aggressively stomped our columns finally breaking at the deep JDL.


Next, the ski group skinned to the top of a knoll above the Wolf Creek campground looking for sub 30 degree lines with powder and cream. We got two runs with Traci putting in stellar up tracks. Sid skied aggressively the whole time without falling once. This fact has been verified by witnesses and will likely never be repeated. As the snowshoe group radioed their return and rounded the knoll into view, the ski group rushed to the campground and cars to not be beaten back by the competition.


Naturally the outing did not end there. A post-ski/snowshoe lemoncello appeared and was thoroughly appreciated. From there we headed to Miner Lake Diner for late lunch and a lively AIARE debrief with lots of insights and opinions.


The evening concluded at the UAC Trivia Night at Hopkins Brewing where the group (plus Steve Duncan) continued the tradition of questionable confidence and a surprisingly decent performance. We had a great time and managed to secure second place in Round 2, which we are choosing to count as a major victory.

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