HIGH UINTAS WILDERNESS
The Uinta Mountains were named for the Uintats Indians, a branch of the
Ute Tribe. They are part of the Wasatch-Cache National Forest (established
in 1906.) "Wasatch" is an Indian word meaning "high mountain
pass." Among the first white men in the area were Jim Bridger and Kit
Carson.
The wilderness comprises 460,000 acres and is partially in the Ashley National
Forest. The mountains are unusual, being the most prominent east-west range
in the contiguous United States. Elevations range from 8000 feet to the
13,528 foot tall King's Peak.
There are over 500 lakes, 250 of which support fish, and over 400 miles
of streams. No fewer than 18 trailheads allow access to the wilderness,
most from the north and south slopes.
One evening, camped about 200 feet off of Lake Fork River Trail, just as
light was fading, two deer, browsing the ground for their supper, approached
within feet of out tents. Finally aware of us, they simply made a semi-circle
around our camp, browsing all the while, and continued away, resuming the
straight, direct line of travel they had approached on. Wow!
INFO:
Wasatch-Cache National Forest
8230 Federal Building
125 S. State St.
Salt Lake City, UT 84138
(801) 524-5030
Ashley National Forest
355 N. Vernal Ave.
Vernal, UT 84078
(801) 789-1181
High Uinta Trails by Mel Davis: Wasatch Publishers, Inc., Salt
Lake City, UT; 132 pages.