2023 Sep Uinta Highline WEBO

  •   Category Price Weight
  • Food $9.00
    2.5 lb
  • Water $0.00
    1.1 lb
  • Clothes, Worn $0.00
    0 lb
  • Sleep $382.50
    1.43 lb
  • Clothes, Carried $233.00
    1.05 lb
  • Shelter $96.00
    0.95 lb
  • Electronics $106.94
    0.93 lb
  • Pack $51.50
    0.86 lb
  • Kitchen $63.91
    0.23 lb
  • Ditty $23.17
    0.22 lb
  • Water $2.00
    0.08 lb
  • Navigation $0.00
    0.07 lb
  • Toilet $0.00
    0.06 lb
  • Total $968.02 9.49
    lb
    • oz
    • lb
    • g
    • kg
  • Consumable 3.78 lb
  • Base Weight 5.71 lb

Results

Chose the worst weekend possible. Bailed out 40 miles in at Chepeta due to 3 days of rain and snow(!). Waited all year for this trip and it was blown up at noon on day 2. Will likely focus on areas with more reliable weather for shorter trips as I just won't get that many chances to take trips like this.

Gear worked out ok:

  • 1L water capacity: workable but stressful on 19 mile stretch from McKee to Leidy. One option would be to carry 2L, but the better option would be to skip McKee Draw and go straight to Leidy TH -- you won't miss anything and 1L would be fine.

  • Midlayers: 5.5 oz Kuiu Peloton 97 + 1.2 oz poly imitation buff — just barely enough. Would swap to a warmer setup for additional warmth safety margin.

  • Antigravitygear rain jacket 2: I’ve been testing this every chance I got this year and I trusted it. Performed well in the rain I got and the pitzips are awesome. The hood is somewhat awkward and even after a redesign... works best with a brimmed hat.

  • Nunatak SULO 30: warm down to light frost, ~30F on first night. Coming from an Arc UL 30 had initial learning curve keeping my neck/upper torso warm the first night as there is no draft collar and adjustment is more barebones, but it is there and I figured it out. Non-gram-weenies will prefer the Arc UL for ease of use.

  • Borah Gear Solo Tarp: I have a custom tieout right in the center of the tarp, this does NOT help for storm mode. I’d like a tieout near the foot end so I can lift the tarp off my feet when pitched super low. Why haven’t I thought of this before?

  • Easton Nano 6” stakes: was worried the heads would pop off but worked great in the wind, like them, will use again. Might get the MLD-recommended 8” ones someday.

  • MYOG ~35L 13 oz frameless hipbeltless pack: love thruhiking with a pack that compresses small enough to qualify as my airline “personal item” and fit under the seat in front of me. Really streamlines travel and the tickets are cheaper. 4 days of food was manageable but slightly uncomfortable the first day, better on day 2 after eating food down a bit.

  • 5g microscissors: steel blades starting to rust after several years. could feel them straining to cut Walmart packaging. They’ve served me well but I will upgrade to beefier 2.5” westcott titanium.

  • Rain skirt: worked great in rain, could probably be a MYOG option made out of a trash bag.

  • 30 ml hand sani: this is way too much for a few days, I’d like to find a bottle half the size that works with thick hand sani.

  • Ozark Trail trekking poles: threw away one half, just used one. Had to crank the shit out of them to get them to hold. Don’t really trust them, but for $22…

Uinta Highline Trail. Straight-forward nav: go to McKee Draw. Head due west.

Similar kit to PCT/CDT/AZT + better rain gear + beefier stakes. Rain gear for the possible/likely multiple daily thunderstorms and hail. Ground described as variable/rocky, so shepherd stakes are out. Map notes multiple bailout points in case winter comes early.

2023 is a ~160% snow year, delay trip as much as I dare to allow max melt and hope to catch a nice late summer window before fall begins. Might have waited one week too long, we’ll see...

Next trip: Grand Canyon Winter 2025