Hiking Bald Mountain, Uinta Mountains

If you live in Utah and you are familiar with the beautiful scenic Mirror Lake HWY that heads east of of Kamas Utah, then you may already know about this hike.
I would say it is safe to assume that hiking Bald Mountain is one of the most popular hikes in the Uinta Mountains along this scenic HWY.

They call the Uinta's land of a thousand lakes.  Which if you are driving around may be hard to imagine.  But if you'd like to take in the views and get a glimpse of what they were talking about when they gave it this nickname, then hiking up to Bald Mountain is a great place to see it from!
The peak is easily seen and stands out in many area's of this part of the Uinta Mountains.

The trail head starts at the Bald Mountain Pass, which is at 10,759 feet elevation.  There is a large parking area with a well marked trail start.
If you have any trouble as you come to the trail head divide, you take the larger trail on the right.
the trail is about 2 miles up, so 4 miles round trip.

Pretty much from the minute you start this trail, you will be climbing.  Mostly over rocks.
Although I personally would consider it family friendly.  You will be hiking along some steep edges at times and loose rocks as well as a few places that have 1000+ drop offs.  So if you have children that are hard to control, they may not be the best fit for the hike.  Unless you plan on carrying them.

The trail climbs quickly, and even within the first 1/4th of a mile you will start to see the beautiful surrounding views.  Which on a clear day, can give you a view of all the lakes and the Timpanogos Mountains in the distance.

Quickly you will discover yourself rising up and above the treeline as you climb the switchbacks - hence likely the name for Bald Mountain.

You'll be climbing pretty much the entire time.  However, you will have a short little break a little past the half way point where it flattens up a little before you start the climb on easterly side of the mountain.

You can see the switchback portion here.
From here its steeper but not much further to the top.

The climbing on this next section is the steepest section, this is also the section with the steeper drop offs.  But as you'll notice the views below of Moose lake, Mirror Lake and Hayden peak as well as the others are just beautiful and very much worth it!

You're climbing up the broken rocks and boulders in this section.  To many the trail is pretty easy to see or find.  But if by chance you loose track, just look up for the stacked rocks that mark the trail head and follow them up.

Also, be a kind hiker.  If you see someone or the weather has knocked them over, just take a few seconds and re-stack the rocks.  In case someone else needs the marker.

I give my sister extra super woman props for carrying her younger one
on all the rocky climbs and descents.

Once you get up on the top, you can take a break and enjoy the views.  Feel free to walk out along the mountain to check out the views in all directions.

This is one of the final boulder climbs to the top.

Keep in mind the rocks and boulders up here may move a little as you step onto them.  So watch your footing carefully, especially when you are around the edges.  As you will notice quickly a fall would pretty much be the end.

Once you've made it to the top you'll find yourself at about 11,942 feet in elevation.  Ya, you just climbed 1,182 feet in just a few short miles.  So you've earned the beautiful views that await you!

Although, they could be anywhere.  There is a group of Mountain Goats down below that live and climb around on the cliffs that face Mirror Lake.  I've actually counted up to twenty before.
They can be very difficult to see from up above looking down.  However, not impossible depending on where they were at.

I was actually able to look down from the edge and see a couple climbing their way up.  They always amaze me at how easily they can climb up the steepest ridges and mountains with those hooves and never fall.  They make it look so effortless.
(Note: the easiest way to see them is with Binoculars from Mirror Lake.)  They blend well, but if they are moving around they are even easy to pick out with the naked eye even from below.

Take your time, enjoy the views and then when you are ready enjoy the views and the decent down. As you may have noticed it was easier for me to snap shots on the decent so even though I wrote the post going up, the shots were actually taken as we climbed down.

I have hiked this many times in my life, most of when I was younger.  But I have to give Wonder Woman props out to my sister who piggy back carried an extra 40 pounds of cuteness and little legs that there was just a little to much climb for.  Awesome girl, pretty much carried him the entire time both up and back down.

OTHER TIPS

* This is a great hike for adults and families, who like to climb.
* The trail head has an out-house bathroom.  But no water, you will need to bring your own.
* It's also a great hike to use as a trail run, would be an awesome workout going up!
* There are many hikes in the Uinta areas nearby.
* Fun idea, take a map and when you get to the top pick out all of the peaks and lakes by name.
* Bring a jacket on cooler days, as the temps can get quite cold above, even if it is warm down below.
* Bring binoculars, and try to pick out the mountain goats below you.
* You will need to stop at the ranger station or self pay booth and buy a pass for your vehicle.


Have you hiked Bald Mountain before?  Have you been up to the Uinta Mountains before?  Or have you done higher elevation climbs out west before?  If you have, then you know it's an amazing new world up above 10,000+ feet, isn't it!

Finally Feeling Better and a Little Mountain Time

Finally I started feeling better.  In fact, by last Wednesday I woke up no longer in a lot of pain when I took a deep breath:)
Yay, I have been excited that the respiratory illness has finally decided to leave!  That seriously wiped me out over the last 3 weeks!

I am still overly tired and seem to be able to sleep forever.  It's not related to the cold I am getting over.  But I am not in the mood to dwell on that today.

I am so embarrassed at my Fitbit numbers, I even had a week where I reached the unranked section.... Ya, not good and even worse when I don't like in my mind looking lazy, even if it was out of my control:)

I also haven't had as much time to spend visiting other blogs, at least not much as I normally spend.  I have been reading blogs at work, but most are too hard to comment by phone, so I haven't shared as much comment love. *sorry*

I am going to try a light run this morning.  I just need it for the
relaxation part of it! I have to do something later today that is needed, but I am not looking forward to it and I think getting out for a light run will help before that portion of my day begins!

Wednesday after an appointment I found myself not to far from one of my favorite canyons, so I couldn't help to instead of turning the car to go home, turn it to head up the canyon.  It was a beautiful drive (pic's shared in this post today), spring hasn't quite sprung in the mountains here yet except for in the lower elevations.  I drove up to about 9000 ft, and although most of the snow (since we like skipped winter here this year) was melted, the lakes are still frozen over.  However, a lot will change over the next month and I am really looking forward to camping on the weekends again come June!

I rarely take selfies, here is my niece
and I taking a hiking break for a camera
kissy face pic:)

Thursday, I was a bit in the outdoorsy mood.  (When am I not:) So I went with a sister and her two cute kiddo's and we did a little hiking.
We only went about 2 miles, and it took us 3 hours.  That's what happens when you walk the pace of a 2 & 4 year old:)  But that's okay, since my lungs still weren't the best, it actually worked out perfectly and I just felt fine and enjoyed a new hike I had never been on.  Even though it's one that technically in a way is visible from my house.
I know weird huh!  From my front door, I live about 20 minutes away from over 70 different hiking trails.  I've taken all maybe 3 of those my entire life.
It's not that I don't hike, I guess I just don't mind a further drive to a destination to start, but I have decided this year I am going to start take advantage of the close proximity of so many awesome trail heads closer to home.

However, if you ask my niece she told me to make sure I only pick hikes that don't have bugs, LOL She is such a girly girl, but that's okay!

My cute niece and nephew love to throw rocks.

I booked a few more weddings for this year, and I have a big one that I am getting everything prepped for later this week.
This week, I am going to focus on staying busy instead of things in my life out of my control.  I am also going to definitely get out and begin running again.
It's going to take a couple of weeks to work back up, after not running for almost 4 weeks. But that's okay, I am looking forward to it!

LAST, I just opened sign ups this morning for the next Giveaway Hop, that will run in JUNE. If you'd like to join us we'd love to have you. Visit HERE to sign your blog to join.



So that is a little brief on my week.  How did your week go?  Have you been getting out and enjoying spring too?

Travel to Mount Desert Island, Maine

TRAVEL TUESDAY

Today I'd like to take you to a beautiful island in Maine, Mount Desert Island.  To name a few, this is home to Acadia National Park, State Parks, Carriage Roads and Trails, Light Houses, beautiful seaside towns and Cadillac Mountain, the highest point on the island and the first place in the continental United States to see the sunrise each day.

It's a place where you can drive or walk down a road, and sit at point like above, and no matter which direction you decide to take its impossible to take a wrong one.

The history is deep on this little island, which won't feel so little once you start exploring.  You'll see carriage road gates like the one pictured above that were built long before your time to guard the roads.  It will give you a chance to jump into a time before your time and allow your imagination to roam.

Occasionally hidden, and at times in plain site are beautiful old carriage road bridges.  Just imagine a time where you sat in a horse drawn buggy and traveled these forests.  But you don't have to have a horse and buggy, if your active and love to hike there are miles and miles of hiking trails to get out and explore this beautiful island.

Beautiful lakes and ponds are all around.  Wake up and get out early and you might catch sight of a large moose or other wildlife.

Hike up Cadillac Mountain and stand at the top in the early morning and watch the sunrise come and be the first in the continental United States to see the rays of the sun touch the ground that day.

While your up on the mountain, walk around and explore the views around.  You can pretty much see the entire lay of the island from up here.  

Charter a boat and go whale watching, or fishing for the day.

Or just drive around the different seaside towns and take your camera and appreciate the quiet beauty of the place.

Visit a lighthouse or two, watch for seals and other sea wildlife.

Grab a backpack and hike on a carriage trail and explore the forest, you'll never know where it may lead.

It might end up leading you to a beautifully built old carriage home.

I never got bored just taking my rental car and driving around the island.  Taking in the views, and looking at the beautiful fall foliage.  This is New England after all, lush green forests become brilliant fall colors of every color imaginable on the color palette.  Brightest of oranges, blood reds, corals, yellows of every shade.  

Everywhere you go, you'll see something new and beautiful.  It's a small peaceful island, so it gives you a chance to visit small town peace and quiet.

Mount Desert Island is a beautiful place to visit, you'll love it!  And if you are a runner, they have a beautiful fall marathon.  My pictures would have been a tad more brilliant, but I actually visited during a Nor'easter and a lot of the leaves had already dropped from the storm.  But no matter when you visit spring, fall or summer you'll love it!  I am sure it is just as peaceful and a different kind of beauty in the winter too.

IF YOU GO:

*  Bar Harbor does have a small airport, but their aren't many flights.  You can fly into Bangor and rent a car and drive the less than an hour drive to the island.
*  There are many beautiful hotels on the Island.  I chose one that had a seaside view.
*  Mount Desert Island is also home to Acadia National Park
*  This is a fish and lobster town, if you love fish you'll be able to eat anywhere:)  If you are like me and don't love fish I will warn you there aren't many other options.  But I did track down all the little pizza and sub shops:)
*  I highly recommend renting a car.  There is so much to see, you'll want your own vehicle to be able to explore it all.
*  Bring a GPS if you have a hard time getting a sense of direction in trees.  But if you are like me, after an afternoon of driving around you'll have no need for it after, its very easy to find your way around all the towns and roads on the island.