Some pictures from our backpacking trip to Ryder Lake in the Uintas! On the way up, along the Stillwater Fork of the Bear River.
This is Ryder Lake, early evening.
Heading up to Mount Agassiz, nearly 12,500 feet. Of course, we're camped at 10,100 feet, so that makes the ascent a little less bad. We're headed for the saddle at the top of the photo. Sort of a nasty climb through a boulder field. No path anywhere. We just bushwhacked through the forest and then boulder fields.
At the saddle, looking back down on Middle Basin. The meadow in the middle of the photo was simply spectacular. We set up camp at the east end of the giant meadow, just inside the trees. Maybe the best campsite I've ever had. The night temperature in my tent at 3:30 am was 52 degrees. Perfect.
The boys on the saddle. The ones who struggled the most to get there enjoyed it most.
Nathan and I on the saddle, looking down into the basin on the other side, Naturalist Basin.
Going up the ridge to the top. A boulder-fest! Looks very steep, especially from a distance, but really not bad. There is never any real exposure. A fall would mean just falling to your feet.
On the summit. We could see forever. Mt. Timpanogos in particular, 50 miles away, was clear as a bell. We were looking right down Provo Canyon toward home. As is often the case, we got cell phone reception on top and made the celebratory phone call.
Our meadow, with the upper Stillwater meandering through it.
The beauty of high alpine flowers!
Back down at Ryder Lake, jumping off about a 10-foot mini-cliff. Cold water! Tons of fun!
Evidence that I can jump just like Nathan. Though, he beat me to the summit by about 10 minutes. He climbed that boulder-strewn ridge up 800 feet over about a quarter-mile in 30 minutes flat.
Nathan fishing Smeagol-style
I loved seeing/reading your adventures. Awesome pictures. It's been too long since we've seen you guys.
ReplyDeleteDarren, Glad you posted a link to your new blog. I will be a follower because I like to learn new things too. I wish I had climbed to Ryder Lake when I was young and could still do it, but it's fun to see the photos and travel there vicariously.
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