Uintas - Allsop to Priord Loop - August 12-14, 2011

[CarpeyBiggs]

more photos and captions are here - http://www.danransom.com/TripReports/?p=869



A Lost Trail?

Over the last month or so, I've found myself rather impressed with the North Slope of the Uintas. It's weird, because I've long neglected most of the drainages on the north side, and I'm not quite sure why. Most likely, it's because it's hard to create loop hikes out of most of them, and the idea of 10 mile out and back trips really doesn't appeal to me. I'm not a particular fan of the livestock grazing and above average number of horsepackers up there either.

However, I had seen many pictures from the sister drainages in the East Fork of the Bear River, and so I was determined to link up the two drainages in one trip and hopefully catch some nice light at Allsop Lake and Priord Lake. The problem is linking the two without too much work. I had found a couple of options online for getting between the two lakes, and the most popular seemed to be what I call "Yard Pass," the small pass between North Yard and Yard Peak. It was certain to be a massive scree scramble up, and a loose scree-ski slide down on the west side. But, with a little effort, it was sure to go. That is, until we got up to the lake, and realized the entire gully was still deep in snow, and neither of us had spikes or an axe. We'd have to figure another route.

After a nice evening catching countless fish and a reasonably colorful sunset sans clouds, I poured over a map trying to figure out if anything else would go. Lots of cliffs, and little potential I thought. I decided we'd hike up to the base of the cliffs in the morning and see if we could pick our way through. There was a small break that looked promising, just north of North Yard peak. It was steep and full of big boulders down low, but up high, it looked particularly good, and the topo looked like it might even go on the other side too. We decided to head up and see what we could find.

Apparently, we weren't the only ones to have ever tried that pass. About halfway up the slope, I started seeing signs of use, but I couldn't figure if it was a game trail or what. A few hundred yards higher, and it became obvious. Signs of a constructed trail were everywhere, and there was at least one obvious switchback to the top. Who the hell would've used this route? And how long ago was it built? Those cattle ranchers must've been crafty fellas, for sure. Once on top, the trail cut back to the left, under a cliff band, and continued west into a hanging valley, where it eventually skirted North Yard's flanks and descended directly to Norice Lake. I couldn't believe it. The trail was non-existent in a few places, difficult to find in others, but in some stretches, it was as good as any trail around. We made the crossing from Allsop to Priord in less than 3 hours, and avoided the dreaded in and out route on the same trail. I was stoked to find such easy passage, and wonder what the history of the trail is. If anyone has any ideas, let me know in the comments.

The East Fork of the Bear River definitely delivers the goods, with great scenery and awesome fishing at both lakes. Surprisingly, Allsop had almost no mosquitoes. But Priord was absolutely unbearable, perhaps the worst I've ever seen the mozzies in the Uintas. And of course, both drainages were full of cows, Allsop being particularly bad. There was probably 100 head near the lake itself. But if you can look past the cows and horsepackers, the scenery is spectacular.


Unnamed Peak and Allsop Lake


Mt Beulah, and the fish boiling in Allsop Lake



The Cathedral and Left Hand Fork of East Fork of the Bear River


The route over "Allsop Pass"


Ridge walking


Priord Lake, and Yard Peak.


Yellow line indicates the route over "Yard Pass." Too much snow for us, so we opted for the purple route, which I am calling "Cathedral Pass."

[Dr. Nebz]

Very nice TR! Pics are awesome! What did you shoot with? I am very jealous, Alsop was on my destination list this year, but my wife just had surgery on her L5 disk in her back to remove two fragments from the rupture that were crushing her S1 nerve. It is going to be a few weeks till I can make it out again, and the season is rapidly coming to a close.

My friend Collin solo'ed this route two weeks ago. He looks to have taken the same route you did. Here is a pic from the saddle which looks just like where you went up. He said he caught quite a few fish up in both drainage's. He said he loved being solo up there, but hated the cows and the horse destruction of the trails.

[ibenick]

Awesome shots, Dan.

I couldn't agree more about the cows up there. Absolutely ridiculous that they can graze them all over such a beautiful, otherwise pristine wilderness. When we did it last summer we had to clear the camp of cow shit before we could even begin to setup camp.

As for the trail between Allsop and Norice, I've heard it discussed a few times. I'm sure Scott P will be chiming in momentarily, I seem to remember him knowing something about it in an older thread.

[CarpeyBiggs]

Very nice TR! Pics are awesome! What did you shoot with? but hated the cows and the horse destruction of the trails.

I shoot panasonic m4/3, this trip was a gh2. and yes, the horsepackers and trail destruction and cows is pretty unbelievable. appalling, really.

[CarpeyBiggs]

As for the trail between Allsop and Norice, I've heard it discussed a few times. I'm sure Scott P will be chiming in momentarily, I seem to remember him knowing something about it in an older thread.

yeah, i found more on it now. looks like it was most likely sheep herders back in the day, possibly the 30s. pretty cool little route, i was stoked to stumble onto it. surprised i couldn't find a map or anything else on it before i left though.

[accadacca]

Thanks for sharing. Awesome area fo sho!

[jdgibney]

I love those photos, man, thanks for sharing!

[IntrepidXJ]

Great report

[Sombeech]

Allsop was my first destination in the Uintas.

[pixie1339]

Nice! You got some sweet shots up there, and that trail is a pretty awesome find, too.

[Scott P]

Nice photos.

About halfway up the slope, I started seeing signs of use, but I couldn't figure if it was a game trail or what. A few hundred yards higher, and it became obvious. Signs of a constructed trail were everywhere, and there was at least one obvious switchback to the top. Who the hell would've used this route? And how long ago was it built? Those cattle ranchers must've been crafty fellas, for sure. Once on top, the trail cut back to the left, under a cliff band, and continued west into a hanging valley, where it eventually skirted North Yard's flanks and descended directly to Norice Lake. I couldn't believe it. The trail was non-existent in a few places, difficult to find in others, but in some stretches, it was as good as any trail around. We made the crossing from Allsop to Priord in less than 3 hours, and avoided the dreaded in and out route on the same trail. I was stoked to find such easy passage, and wonder what the history of the trail is. If anyone has any ideas, let me know in the comments.

It was built in the 1930's for sheep rather than cattle.

The trail is mentioned in the book Mel Davis published in 1974 as well.

FYI, Allsop Pass typically refers to the pass SE of Allsop Lake (rather than the one you crossed) and is published as such in several sources. The pass you crossed is sometimes referred to as Cathedral Pass by my friends and I, but it has no official name.

When I used to visit the area, there were cows in the lower EF Bear River close to the trailhead, but not beyond. I've never seen them anywhere near Priord Lake and the trail there was actually somewhat hard to find. It appears that much has changed in 20 years!

[gnwatts]

Beautiful images.

[homerj]

Amazing pics!!! I love the 1st four, especially the 4th one!

[gloo]

AWESOME TR. and some great shots too, I'm jealous

[CarpeyBiggs]

It was built in the 1930's for sheep rather than cattle.

The trail is mentioned in the book Mel Davis published in 1974 as well.

FYI, Allsop Pass typically refers to the pass SE of Allsop Lake (rather than the one you crossed) and is published as such in several sources. The pass you crossed is sometimes referred to as Cathedral Pass by my friends and I, but it has no official name.

When I used to visit the area, there were cows in the lower EF Bear River close to the trailhead, but not beyond. I've never seen them anywhere near Priord Lake and the trail there was actually somewhat hard to find. It appears that much has changed in 20 years!

ah. very nice. so allsop pass refers to the pass that drops into dead horse from allsop?

i like cathedral pass better anyway. i'll change my map.

the trail to priord from norice is still hard to find. the meadows seem to grow over quickly up there. the sheep trail is actually not too bad, but you lose it in a few places. the cows aren't bad at priord, certainly not like allsop. allsop was a total joke, covered with cows and cow shit.

[Scott P]

so allsop pass refers to the pass that drops into dead horse from allsop?

Yes.

the trail to priord from norice is still hard to find.

It used to be somewhat hard to find from about half way up to Priord from the junction of the Left Hand and Right Hand Forks. There were actually two trails you could find and strangely going down it was easier to find one and going up, the other.

the cows aren't bad at priord, certainly not like allsop. allsop was a total joke, covered with cows and cow shit.

Sorry to hear that. I visited both lakes many, many times (especially when I worked at East Fork Bear River) and it didn't used to be like that. Allsop is one of the prettier lakes in the Uintas. I haven't been there since 1998 and haven't been to Priord since 1991.

There's another old trail that goes from Priord Lake to Upper Rock Creek.

[Deadeye008]

Very nice. Love the campfire shot on your website.

[Daines]

these are great pictures makes me wanna get out and hike.

[wes242]

Awesome Shots!