Ever since moving to Utah in March I was eager to explore the Uinta Mountains. From the map it looks like a SOTA-ite’s dream, speckled with summits over 11,000 feet. My dream came true in July when the family and I spent three nights camping at Mirror Lake. The campground sits at 10,000 feet and to the west, reflected in its waters, lies Bald Mountain (11,9) and Reids Peak (11,7). Time to bag some summits.

Getting there

Mirror Lake rests along the beautiful Mirror Lake Scenic Byway, Hwy 150. It is about 100 miles east from our house in Ogden, UT. Once in Kamas, UT you are getting close and only have about 30 miles to go.

Mirror Lake Campground (turn off)

40°42’11.2”N 110°53’36.7”W

Bald Mountain Summit Info

Reids Peak Summit Info

The Hike

I didn’t have a real plan to how I was going to start my hike the morning of. On our drive to the campground (CG) we passed the Bald Mt trailhead (TH) at the summit pass, sitting at about 10,800’. One option I considered was to ride a bike two miles from the CG back up the hill to the TH. The other was just to go overland and find a route up the north side of the mountain. My naivety told me riding a junior size mountain bike up the hill to the highway was a good idea…

At 5:00 in the morning I quietly got up, put my pack on, turned on my headlamp and rode off into the darkness.

Sunrise in the Uintas.

Immediately I knew

this was a bad idea. I crossed the outlet stream of Mirror Lake and began the steady climb up the road to the highway. My son’s bike I was riding, a junior bike, and not geared to support a grown man with a 25-pound pack, pedaling uphill at over 10,000 feet (i.e.: it didn’t have an engine). I had to stop three times to catch my breath. By the time I reached the top of the road I knew there was no way I was going up to the TH. So I simply rode across the highway and stashed the bike about fifty yards uphill in the brush. It would be an adventure from here on out.

Reids Pk at sunrise, on ascent up Bald Mt.

From here I just followed the terrain uphill and trekking slightly north. I knew I wanted to intersect the slope on the north side of the mountain, somewhere. After about ten minutes of hiking uphill the low trees ended at a boulder field and I could clearly see a potential route (see map below). I saw several possible routes but continued north as some looked like they could end in dead ends due to steep or narrow routes. Once I got up above the lower skirt

The stairway to heaven, heading up Bald Mt.

of the mountain I saw a clear route, straight up the >45 degree slope of boulders. Halfway up the sun began painting the mountain tops and served as a motivation to me to get pick up my pace.

I crested the summit edge just before 08:00. Several stands of cairns greeted me as there was no one else up there yet. I didn’t waste any time and began setting up my dipole antenna. I found a nice indentation in the rocks that would serve as a great operating location. Time to get this summit on the air.

Cairns on Bald Mt.

After about twenty minutes the first group of hikers joined me on the top. I assisted with group photos and then finished up around 8:45 with my last contact being with Phil (NS7P) in Oregon. Again not knowing how exactly I was going to get to Reids Peak, I set off alone, north, away from the other hikers. I was able to navigate a

The ham shack on Bald Mt.

route down the northwest ridge of Bald Mt. After a treacherous descent over too many unstable boulders I arrived at the saddle. I took off my pack, had a snack and water, then had the serious discussion with myself to ask if I was up for this next summit. I was only 700 vertical feet away. Of course I was up for it. Onward and upward.

Heading up Reids Peak was an act of discovery. From the saddle

On Reids Peak looking east to Bald Mt. and Mirror Lake below.

there wasn’t a clear path but I used the paths from mountain goats as my guide. Tufts of fur left in the lower scrub pines gave evidence I was on their turf. The route up is just an exercise in finding the path of least resistance. I arrived at the summit at about 10:45, tired, but glad I did not give in to the call of a cold beverage and relaxing back at my camp. The summit on Reid was just as barren as Bald, but with the help of random rocks I was able to secure my antenna mast and get on the air. Twenty-seven contacts later, all on CW (Morse code) it was time to now head for home.

Reids Peak, on descent for home.

Gear (summer):

Trekking Poles

A light jacket

Sunglasses / Sunblock

Sturdy hiking boots
Umbrella for shade

Radio Gear:

HF: Elecraft KX-3

Antenna: SOTAbeams, Linked dipole (40, 30, 20 meters)

HT: Kenwood DH-72 (APRS was spotty but available)
Cell coverage was spotty on the summits only.

Trail:

Not really applicable since I blazed my own trail. If you follow my route expect loose rocks and boulder fields.

Difficulty:

Strenuous if you take the Bald Mt trail, difficult from the north route.

My Route, Red up, Blue return.

73 and safe hiking!

KH7AL