Ghost Pass

The West Fork of the Whiterocks trailhead, on the south side of the Uintas, is about 40 miles NE of our home in Roosevelt, Utah. We set out early one August morning.

The trail along the lakes was well-watered, and beautiful. We saw 3 people, all on horseback, in the course of the day. This was a huge crowd by our usual standards.

Mischief found this Forest Service sign a little confusing, but fortunately, a wise traveler has corrected the beaurocratic mistake.

This unnamed lake, one of many in the area, was the perfect reflection pool.

About 4 miles from the trailhead, we took off into unmarked territory. We were seeking a trail an old-timer had told us about, directly north of Cleveland Lake leading to an unnamed pass that was supposedly easier for horses (less rocky/steep) than the standard trail over Fox Queant Pass. Both passes lead into the High Uintas Wilderness Area.

We traveled through deep forest and marshy meadows, finding a few game trails, but no markers of any kind. Finally we came out of the forest and saw a pass. Squinting, we saw the ghost of a trail leading up the pass, still about a mile away. The "trail" was steep, and rocky, but no alternative presented itself. We led the horses as we followed it, because the footing was poor on the loose rock.

Soon Mischief and I needed a rest. After all, we were approaching 11,400 feet (3500 m), and the "trail" wasn't what anyone (except maybe Steve) would call an easy walk.

We finally "passed out", as Steve likes to call reaching the top of the pass. No one lost consciousness, fortunately. I gave my favorite steed a much deserved treat.
We looked down into Painter Basin (around 11,000 feet, 3400 m) and on toward the peaks that reach 13, 500 feet (4100 m). We could have admired the spectacular scenery all afternoon, but the sky had turned forbidding. One doesn't want to be caught in a high open place during a thunderstorm. On the way back, we had this view:
Only a few raindrops fell before we completed our 16 mile ride. I'm not sure this "new, improved" route has any advantage over the usual path over Fox Queant Pass, but we have at least satisfied our curiosity.

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