07-08-2011, 07:49 PM
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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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[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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