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+--- Thread: High Uintas Helicopter FlyOver July 8th (/showthread.php?tid=677207)
High Uintas Helicopter FlyOver July 8th - piscispursuit - 07-08-2011
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[size 3]OK, here is the very latest. My neighbor and I took his helicopter on a flight to the Uintas this morning to double check conditions before our trip next week. We found that the "GO/NO-GO" zone right now sits at or near 11000'. We flew up into several drainages from the north and over the passes to the south.Virtually every lake we saw under 11000' was open, a few over 11000' were also open but many were still partially or fully iced. There are large drifts and some snow fields also above 11000' and most area that high would be soggy walking. For instance upper red castle was iced upat 11300' however lower red castle at 10800' was fully open and no snow on the hike in. The west end of the Uinta’s is more socked in snow-wise than the middle or east end. All high passes have snow on them and will be sketchy at best. Upper Lake Fork Basin has a ton of snow in it - it will be 2-3 weeks at least before you can travel up there. The snow level is about 100-200' feet lower on the north slope, 10800' or so, though the lakes were open at 11000'.Amethyst Basin is closed for at least two weeks. The upper basins of the StillwaterFork are closed as well, though McPheters had only drifts around it. East Basin(Kermsuh) is closed. Norice and Allsop Lakes - closed. Rocky Sea looked passable with care. All other passes east of Rocky Sea would not be advisable and Dead Horse Pass you better have a pair of downhill skis. Dead Horse Lake and Ejod both had a little ice left but there was considerable snow on theapproaches. Red Knob Pass and Squaw Pass are closed unless you like cliff diving. We didn't hit anything around Grandaddies but I suspect based on the other areas of that elevation they are wide open - only 10300'. Upper Yellowstone and Timothy Lakes basin are accessible though there are big drifts here and there. Bluebell Pass is open. Clements/Atwine Lake area is open and we saw a ton of fish jumping there. The whole upper Uinta River Basin looked fine as long as you don't go far above timberline. Anderson Pass is not advised and Kings Peak you'd need a rope and crampons on that north ridgeline. We have a route planned now that we're gonna hit for a six day trip next week. I've attached a few pictures - be careful and have fun. Let me know if you have specific area questions that I didn't cover here.[/size]
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Re: [piscispursuit] High Uintas Helicopter FlyOver July 8th - riverdog - 07-08-2011
Thanks for sharing the information. I was replying to a post earlier and thought what we really need to make more than an educated guess is someone to fly over and take a look.
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Re: [piscispursuit] High Uintas Helicopter FlyOver July 8th - kochanut - 07-08-2011
awesome thanks for taking the time to write this up!
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Re: [piscispursuit] High Uintas Helicopter FlyOver July 8th - hookngrinin - 07-08-2011
Thanks for the detailed info. It still looks like there is a lot of snow in the basins. It is not just the snow that will make hiking the Uintas difficult. I have been poking around a little and have contacted the Forest Service about current conditions. All the rivers on the South Slope are running very high, several bridges have blown out and the trails are very sloppy.
I have some friends that headed to the Grandaddy Basin on Wednesday July 6 to check on conditions there. They were hiking on top of 5-foot snow drifts as they approached Hades Pass looking over Grandaddy Lake. There is still a lot of snow in the Grandaddy Basin. There was still some ice on Grandaddy Lake and Heart Lake was still froze over. . See attached photos.
Also, in case you didn't know and a heads up, flying over designated wilderness is strongly discouraged by the Forest Service.[blush] It may even be illegal depending on the altitude you were flying. Based on the photos you posted, it looks as though you were flying fairly low.[
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Re: [hookngrinin] High Uintas Helicopter FlyOver July 8th - piscispursuit - 07-08-2011
I don't know anything about that since I'm not a pilot, though I believe a flyover is fine as long as you maintain a certain altitude above the ground, we were always at least couple thousand feet up as we just flew up a drainage looked around then came back out to go to the next one.
I agree with the rivers being high, we noted that as well I expect it will be muddy also. The bottom line is that any time one travels in the backcountry they should be prepared for whatever they encounter. I've had it snow a few inches on me in mid-July in the high Cascades. The Uintas are no different, there will be challenging conditions but be sure of your abilities and limitations, have the right equipment and don't be afraid to turn around if conditions dictate. The factors that make wilderness travel tough or demanding are part of the reason why wilderness areas are special places. Just use good common sense.
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Re: [piscispursuit] High Uintas Helicopter FlyOver July 8th - kniephof - 07-08-2011
That's the coolest Uintas report/update I've ever seen! I'll bet it was a fun flight. Thanks so much for the info. I did a one night trip into Wall Lake last weekend and there was a ton of snow still. Looking to head out again in a week. I'm obviously going to be judicious in choosing a location. =)
Thanks to Hookngrinin for your additional info and pics.
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Re: [piscispursuit] High Uintas Helicopter FlyOver July 8th - Uintaman - 07-09-2011
Very nice report, great pictures, really appreciate the update. Planning a July 24th weekend in to a lower elevation lake, south facing. Confident it will be good.
Hope to bump into you folks up there some time.
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Re: [piscispursuit] High Uintas Helicopter FlyOver July 8th - Matador - 07-09-2011
Awesome!!!! Thanks.
I am heading up tomorrow. You eased my mind about access.
BTW, which drainage were the attached pictures taken in?
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Re: [piscispursuit] High Uintas Helicopter FlyOver July 8th - catfish-logic - 07-09-2011
Those were some great pics! Love that snow. I just got back from Vernal and I saw the Duchesne River it was full and muddy, pretty awesome, to me anyways.
Oh and I'm happy to say, glad no one had a Vietnam flashback while riding in the helicopter.[crazy]
My zodiac sign is scorpio.....we are pretty sarcastic. Sometimes we say dumb things.
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Re: [piscispursuit] High Uintas Helicopter FlyOver July 8th - tkidder - 07-09-2011
Now that's a great report!!
Thanks for sharing the info
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Re: [tkidder] High Uintas Helicopter FlyOver July 8th - trfishin - 07-09-2011
Thanks for the pictures and great report. I cant wait to get out and do some atv riding and fishing very soon.
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Re: [piscispursuit] High Uintas Helicopter FlyOver July 8th - bowhunter3 - 07-09-2011
Thank you very much for the update. I was planning on heading up to the uintas tomorrow, and now I am pretty positive I will be making that trip. Awesome update/report!
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Re: [piscispursuit] High Uintas Helicopter FlyOver July 8th - Wannahunt - 07-09-2011
Wowzuz. It's just amazing how much snow remains up there this late in the year. Nothing like camping and fishing in that country though, snow or not. Excellent report and pics. Thanks!
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Re: [piscispursuit] High Uintas Helicopter FlyOver July 8th - campingfoool - 07-10-2011
Everybody else has already said it....but I'll do it too...Thank! Great report!
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Re: [piscispursuit] High Uintas Helicopter FlyOver July 8th - brookieguy1 - 07-10-2011
Thanks man. Gonna have to ask you for a flyover on the Boulder next spring! (I'll get you some fuel money if you send the intel to me in a P.M.[
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