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Grandaddy Basin - High Uintahs - Utah,USA

Grandaddy Basin - High Uintahs - Utah,USA


Postby ndhudson » Sun Sep 18, 2011 7:23 pm

Date walked: 08/08/2012

Distance: 34.6 km

Ascent: 1158m

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Finally got around to posting my birthday backpacking trip...

This year was the big 35 for me. I don't feel 35, I hope I don't look 35 (though, I've been going grey since I was 24). Seems like it was yesterday that I was 25...don't know where the time went. When Gale asked me what I wanted to do for my birthday, I thought to myself...romantic dinner? mmmm, nah. Club night dancing? mmmm, nah. Quiet night in with a movie and take-out? No. The hills were the only place I really wanted to be. So with only two days to spare, our closest option was the Uintahs. Turns out, our dinner of dehydrated Beef Stroganoff was one of the best and most romantic dinners I've ever had for my birthday. Thanks babe! ;) Now, on to the hike...

The Uintahs of North Eastern Utah are the highest mountains in the contiguous United States running east to west (peaks averaging between 11,000 - 13,500 ft). This east/west orientation creates a mountainous bridge between the Colorado Rockies and the Wasatch Mountains near Salt Lake. Because of this unusual geographic arrangement, they tend to get quite a lot of our oh-so famous Utah snow, light and airy. Perfect for skiing, snowboarding and snowmobiling. We spend a LOT of time in these hills on our snowmobiles in the winter, but have not done a lot of hiking in them in the summer. So we thought it would be a good idea to see what we have been missing.

Grandaddy Basin is a large lake area in the Uintahs (elevation aprox 10,500). Grandaddy Lake is the largest of the hundreds of lakes in this area. It is a very popular fishing destination as it is a fairly easy 4 mile hike in. For us though, we decided to go a bit further. Our destination was to be Governor Dern Lake another 9 miles to the north through rocky alpine forests and lush green boggy meadows. This loop takes in about 9 lakes of varying size along the way. We pitched a tent for the evening halfway round the loop at Governor Dern and then continued around the loop the next day.

It was the perfect way to spend my 35th...and the perfect way to stay young!

GovernerDern_1.jpg
GovernerDern_2.jpg
GovernerDern_3.jpg
GovernerDern_4.jpg
GovernerDern_5.jpg
GovernerDern_6.jpg
GovernerDern_7.jpg
GovernerDern_8.jpg
Our romantic night at Governor Dern Lake
GovernerDern_9.jpg
Our morning view...
GovernerDern_10.jpg
GovernerDern_11.jpg
GovernerDern_14.jpg
GovernerDern_16.jpg
GovernerDern_17.jpg
Sunset coming out of the area
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ndhudson
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Re: Grandaddy Basin - High Uintahs - Utah,USA

Postby ChrisW » Sun Sep 18, 2011 8:06 pm

Great stuff ND, looks a nice walk though a bit long for me (maybe I could make it over 2 days) - as for the birthday, you don't look a day over 25 :wink: Belated Happy Birthday :D
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Re: Grandaddy Basin - High Uintahs - Utah,USA

Postby ndhudson » Sun Sep 18, 2011 8:17 pm

Ahhhhh, flattery get's you everywhere! :lol: Thanks, Chris!
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Re: Grandaddy Basin - High Uintahs - Utah,USA

Postby poppiesrara » Sun Sep 18, 2011 8:39 pm

Lovely stuff, ND, and another (very late...) happy birthday. And I'll be the second of probably many to say that 35 is a very surprising figure!
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Re: Grandaddy Basin - High Uintahs - Utah,USA

Postby morag1 » Mon Sep 19, 2011 9:32 am

Happy birthday Nicole, what a beautiful place to spend your special day :D

I too, no longer want night clubs or meals out for my birthday, I just want to spend more time in the great outdoors.
Great minds think alike eh :D
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Re: Grandaddy Basin - High Uintahs - Utah,USA

Postby ndhudson » Mon Sep 19, 2011 2:37 pm

poppiesrara wrote:Lovely stuff, ND, and another (very late...) happy birthday. And I'll be the second of probably many to say that 35 is a very surprising figure!


Many thanks, poppiesrara...youth seems to follow the walkers. 8)
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Re: Grandaddy Basin - High Uintahs - Utah,USA

Postby ndhudson » Mon Sep 19, 2011 2:42 pm

morag1 wrote:Happy birthday Nicole, what a beautiful place to spend your special day :D

I too, no longer want night clubs or meals out for my birthday, I just want to spend more time in the great outdoors.
Great minds think alike eh :D


Thank you very much, Morag! Great minds, indeed! One of these years, I look forward to spending my birthday in the great Scottish outdoors. :thumbup:
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Re: Grandaddy Basin - High Uintahs - Utah,USA

Postby MarilynMunro » Thu Sep 22, 2011 7:12 pm

Another wonderful vista, ND. really beginning to love your backyard, if you keep up the sales pitch there'll be no one left here when you next visit old Caledonia.
Happy birthday, (35.....methinks not fair lady) :D
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Re: Grandaddy Basin - High Uintahs - Utah,USA

Postby ndhudson » Fri Sep 23, 2011 12:43 am

MarilynMunro wrote:Another wonderful vista, ND. really beginning to love your backyard, if you keep up the sales pitch there'll be no one left here when you next visit old Caledonia.


I'll trade ya places! ;)

MarilynMunro wrote:Happy birthday, (35.....methinks not fair lady) :D


Ah shucks, thanks MM!
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Re: Grandaddy Basin - High Uintahs - Utah,USA

Postby MarilynMunro » Sun Sep 25, 2011 12:31 pm

ndhudson wrote:
MarilynMunro wrote:Another wonderful vista, ND. really beginning to love your backyard, if you keep up the sales pitch there'll be no one left here when you next visit old Caledonia.


I'll trade ya places! ;)

Hiya, gave that some serious consideration on Friday after taking a walk up alongside the Allt a' Bhalachain to the Cobbler, the weather was atrocious, visibilty down to a few metres, just like a Scooby Doo scene :lol:
Keep the piccies coming, Nicole.
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Re: Grandaddy Basin - High Uintahs - Utah,USA

Postby coachmacca » Sat Sep 15, 2012 5:19 pm

Firstly Happy Birthday! (Better late..) and 35 ? Surely thats a typo ? :shock: (Bandwagon anyone? True though :wink: ) Great to see Utah as Im looking at coming across to Utah and up to Banff next year , just looking at areas's , trails, places to see etc..

Great report and looks like you had a great birthday - got me thinking about what I'll do for my 39th next year! Want to be on a summit for it anyway!
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Re: Grandaddy Basin - High Uintahs - Utah,USA

Postby ndhudson » Thu Sep 20, 2012 5:43 pm

coachmacca wrote:Firstly Happy Birthday! (Better late..) and 35 ? Surely thats a typo ? :shock: (Bandwagon anyone? True though :wink: ) Great to see Utah as Im looking at coming across to Utah and up to Banff next year , just looking at areas's , trails, places to see etc..

Great report and looks like you had a great birthday - got me thinking about what I'll do for my 39th next year! Want to be on a summit for it anyway!


Hi Coachmacca! :wave: What time of year are you coming to Utah? I could recommend a million and one great hikes for you and your wife. Utah's has it all...high deserts, low deserts, high alpine, slot canyons, snow, raging rivers and even a dead sea! What's strikes your fancy?
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Re: Grandaddy Basin - High Uintahs - Utah,USA

Postby gammy leg walker » Thu Sep 20, 2012 7:19 pm

Belated Happy Birthday ND.

35................never. :wink:
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Re: Grandaddy Basin - High Uintahs - Utah,USA

Postby pollyh33 » Thu Sep 20, 2012 9:37 pm

Happy Birthday Nicole

images.jpg


What a fantastic way to spend your birthday!!!

I have to ask, did Gale carry the bulk of the camping kit???? :lol:
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Re: Grandaddy Basin - High Uintahs - Utah,USA

Postby HighlandSC » Fri Sep 21, 2012 10:22 pm

Good to see some of Utah again 8)

35? No way!

Big 30 for me next week :shock: My wife finds grey hair on me. Can't see it myself. Think her eyes are going :wink:
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