Visiting the Uintas Mountains

Utah has several high mountain ranges, including the Wasatch Mountains that rise dramatically just east of Salt Lake City. The state’s highest peaks are found farther east in the Uinta Mountains, with Kings Peak reaching 13,528 feet (4,123 meters). I’d like to climb Kings Peak one day, or at least do an overnight camping trip in the Uintas. Utah’s mountains are also home to mountain lions, black bears, mountain goats, and plenty of other wildlife.

The two photos above show the mountains visible from the Salt Lake City area. The first was taken during the summer, while the second was taken in late spring when there was still plenty of snow at higher elevations. When I visited in late April, much of the snow was melting and sending large amounts of water down from the mountains.

The spring snowmelt filled the mountain creeks, with some of the water rising nearly to the top of their banks. One of the things I enjoyed most about this area was how quickly the landscape changed as I gained elevation.

Traveling from Salt Lake City into the mountains can be done in less than an hour, making the Wasatch an easy place to escape for hiking, skiing, and other outdoor activities. On this trip I attempted to reach Lake Blanche, which sits beneath Sundial Peak. I began the hike in warm weather under a clear sky and intense sunlight, but as I climbed higher the terrain changed from blooming trees to patches of snow and ice.

I made it most of the way toward Lake Blanche and Sundial Peak, but as I climbed higher it became obvious that I was the only person on the trail and the snow was more than a foot deep in places. Worse yet, I had to pick someone up from the airport later that day, so I didn’t have the luxury of spending extra time trying to find the snow-covered trail and continue toward the lake.

It was April, but during that single hike I felt like I’d passed through three seasons. I started in almost summerlike weather, climbed through cooler spring temperatures and blooming trees, and eventually ended up hiking through deep snow in the mountains.