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| | | Island Lake Loop - Uinta Wasatch Cache NF, UT | | | |
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Island Lake Loop - Uinta Wasatch Cache NF, UT
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| Hiking | 9.30 Miles |
1,308 AEG |
| | Hiking | 9.30 Miles | 5 Hrs 13 Mns | | 1.84 mph |
| 1,308 ft AEG | 10 Mns Break | 18 LBS Pack | | |
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| partners | | For the second dedicated hiking day of our 2025 Utah trip it was time to actually get into the Uinta Wasatch Cache National Forest... which is where the original plan was to do most of our hikes. (Spoiler alert: So much for plans)
As usual, it's your choice:
1. Move on to another (shorter) triplog
OR
2. Grab a coffee/beer/etc, sit in your favorite comfy chair and prepare to come along on an epic adventure.
THE DRIVE:
The 45 mile/1+ hour drive from Wanship to the Crystal Lake Trailhead included an unscheduled stop in Oakley... courtesy of the Summit County Sheriff's Department.
Just as we were entering Oakley, my attention was focused on a large dead skunk in the road, which required driving slightly onto the paved shoulder to avoid it. As a consequence, I did not notice a 35 MPH speed limit sign. Although slowing from the 50 MPH zone, I was definitely over 35 mph when I noticed an SUV parked adjacent to the road a few hundred feet ahead, immediately after a second 35 MPH sign... and in that instant I KNEW it was an unmarked patrol car, so, of course I slowed to under 30 mph and continued on past. Moments later in the rearview mirror I saw the SUV pull out, follow us for maybe 1/8th mile before lighting up the red & blue strobe lights. Oh great! What a way to start our Utah vacation.
](https://hikearizona.com/dex2/images/smilies/eusa_wall.gif "Brick wall")
Thankfully the deputy began immediately with I'm not going to cite you for anything, as long as everything checks out. He mentioned residents had complained about faster traffic and he was there to provide a presence to slow people down. That he did... for the whole rest of our week in Utah, Tracey took on the role of hyper-aware co-driver, so as a consequence, I faithfully kept to the speed limits.
(It's crazy how much that driving the posted limit will set off so many following drivers... as though I'm purposely slowing THEM and ONLY THEM. In some cases, yes, in a designated passing zone, I had to literally pull over and slow to force them to pass, getting them OFF MY pumpkin! How about choosing one, either back-off or pass!)
On the drive out UT 150 the main hazard was the free-range cattle, and how some drivers did/did not handle it well. Like stopping and waiting for a bull to move out of the lane... a bull who was NOT about to move without at least some external pressure. Suffice to say, no actual contacts, although there were at least 3-4 spots where evidence of a cow or deer had met their fate with a vehicle was present.
THE HIKE:
We began at the Crystal Lake Trailhead (just over 10,000' elevation) with temps already in the mid 50's, which was a surprise as we were now at a 4200' higher elevation than our Air BnB in Wanship, where an hour earlier it was mid-40's. So we left the heavier layers of clothing in the car. Even so, within a quarter-mile I had warmed up so much I had to remove my lightweight windbreaker and was already down to a thin white hoodie, which turned out to be just right, at times slightly cool, and other times slightly warm... pretty much in the Goldilocks zone.
My immediate first mistake was to follow the Crystal Lake Trail, rather than the Lakes Country Trail, which began within 50 feet of each other. After reaching Crystal Lake barely .1 mile later, I realized the mistake and followed what was likely a social trail along the North shore of the lake until it climbed up to connect with the Lakes Country Trail. I guess I'll have to pay closer attention to the planned route.
Moving on, we commence the first climb, amounting to roughly 300' in the next mile. At the trail junction just under 2 miles out, we turned left off Lakes Country Trail to follow the Smith Morehouse Trail for just over a quarter-mile before turning onto the Duck Lake Trail, which we would follow for roughly the next 2.5 miles, when we would reconnect with Lakes Country Trail for the last half mile to Island Lake.
Once on the Duck Lake Trail we will pass by Lillian Lake, Jack's Lake, Weir Lake, Pot Reservoir and eventually Duck Lake, where we reached the lowest altitude of the hike, at an elevation of 9799.7 feet. Which of course meant we would now be ascending before connecting with Lakes Country Trail for the last jaunt to Island Lake.
While on Duck Lake Trail, shortly before the Lakes Country Trail, I noticed another old rusty metal sign about 20 feet of to the North (in the direction my route expected to go) and wondered what it said. Being so rusty I couldn't make out, so I decided to get closer. Just as I turned off the trail and attempted to step over a dead branch, my boot caught the tip of the smallest knob sticking out of the branch, and in anticipation of completing the step, I pulled a muscle in my left thigh as I did a face-plant of sorts...
Thankfully my face did not hit anything.
However... in real time, practically before I had actually hit the ground, I hear Tracey yelling at me:
GET UP NOW! I am NOT going to carry you back to the car!
Sure, tell me something I don't already know.
However, jumping up in a flash was NOT gonna happen. I stayed face-down for almost a full minute to assess the damage. Once I determined the pulled muscle and twisted left wrist (it was holding a trekking pole at an angle as I went down) were the only sources of pain, I carefully stood up.
And what did the sign say? Something like dangerous terrain, do not follow, use new trail.
I say something like because in the aftermath I never did read the whole sign.
And furthermore, why wasn't the sign right next to the trail to prevent even one step toward danger?
Oh yeah, and now as I think about it, I neglected to take a photo before continuing on. 
Without the photo, did the event actually happen? Or did I just imagine it? Oh, but there is NO WAY I imagined it, as I was stepping gingerly and at a slower pace the rest of the hike. (Which continued pretty much every hike the rest of the week)
Ok now, where were we? Oh yeah, beginning the final ascent to Island Lake. In one sense it was good the trail WASN'T one long smooth tread all the way up along the cliffs but rather a bit more rocky, forcing me to slow down, take one small step at a time, and not twist my leg in such a way as to get the stab of pain from the muscle. Besides, it was the safer way.
Once at Island Lake, I began the debate in my mind... The original plan was to hike the full perimeter of the lake before heading back, but now, feeling a bit less than optimum, do we really need to close the loop? Not yet ready to commit either way, at least we can look for a spot of nice flat boulders to settle onto for a well-deserved lunch break. Shortly after we began heading around the South end of the lake, we found our location. While the respite was very welcome, once lunch was over it was time to decide... loop the lake or head back? My heart wanted to continue but my mind, being more rational and wondering if my leg would hold up heading back to the trailhead, let alone adding possibly a mile of unknown terrain, as the official Lakes Country Trail ends at the lake. While there is a 'social trail' of sorts, our experience on one such trail by Crystal Lake at the outset shaded our outlook.
While the rest of the hike provided a variety of awesome scenery, including lakes, mountains, trees (too many dead pines) along with another ascent near the end, my mind was focused as much on preventing further injury as taking in the scenery. That said, I added 30 more photos on the return leg.
Overall, this was a great introduction hike to the area... and the elevation. Being just over a week after my bout with Covid, I truly expected the elevation to hamper me more than it did. Only a few times did my lungs/upper chest hurt to the point I had to stop and take a minute to catch my breath. We will hit a few lower altitude hikes the next few days before returning for more 10K+ adventures.
Temps: 55-65° F
Whew! Way too many photos!! I'll have to whittle it down to something reasonable.
(All but one of the dozen+ rusty metal sign photos will be excised.) |
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