Dave Cawley

We're making this long, dusty drive because I want to try and hike Eric's same itinerary to cross the Uinta Highline Trail. The idea of doing this hike came to me around the start of April. At that time, snow conditions in the Uintas looked a lot like they did in 2011. It was setting up to be another record snow year. I thought I could gain some insight about what Eric might have experienced.

We're making this long, dusty drive because I want to try and hike Eric's same itinerary to cross the Uinta Highline Trail. The idea of doing this hike came to me around the start of April. At that time, snow conditions in the Uintas looked a lot like they did in 2011. It was setting up to be another record snow year. I thought I could gain some insight about what Eric might have experienced.

You've heard me try this approach once already, in New Zealand, and it didn't go so great. I bailed on that hike when it started to feel unsafe. But here I am again.

You've heard me try this approach once already, in New Zealand, and it didn't go so great. I bailed on that hike when it started to feel unsafe. But here I am again.

I hope it works, because I've... Oh, a little thunder roll there. That's fun. I'm not thrilled at feeling a patter of rain on my arms, or at seeing black clouds just off to the west.

I hope it works, because I've... Oh, a little thunder roll there. That's fun. I'm not thrilled at feeling a patter of rain on my arms, or at seeing black clouds just off to the west.

That's a good question. That's actually what I was just thinking of. So, yeah, I've been pretty nervous about this for... A long time. Nervous because of snow. The U.S. government has a network of remote weather stations spread out across the western states. They're called SNOTEL sites, and a bunch of them are in the Uintas. I've been checking the Uinta SNOTELs almost every day.

That's a good question. That's actually what I was just thinking of. So, yeah, I've been pretty nervous about this for... A long time. Nervous because of snow. The U.S. government has a network of remote weather stations spread out across the western states. They're called SNOTEL sites, and a bunch of them are in the Uintas. I've been checking the Uinta SNOTELs almost every day.

Right up to the start of July, it appears I might run into dangerous conditions on the trail, just like Eric.

Right up to the start of July, it appears I might run into dangerous conditions on the trail, just like Eric.

I don't think I'm tempting fate, but it doesn't mean that I want to be flippant about the risks either. I put on my pack and prepare to start walking. Nina comes along. We're only a few minutes in when we encounter a problem. Well, that's fun. The trail is flooded out. A heat wave has sent the Uinta snowmelt into overdrive. Water's inundated a section of the trail.

I don't think I'm tempting fate, but it doesn't mean that I want to be flippant about the risks either. I put on my pack and prepare to start walking. Nina comes along. We're only a few minutes in when we encounter a problem. Well, that's fun. The trail is flooded out. A heat wave has sent the Uinta snowmelt into overdrive. Water's inundated a section of the trail.

I start scouting for another way around.

I start scouting for another way around.

My plan was never for Nina to accompany me on this entire journey. She's just here to record sound of the send-off. I can tell Nina's not willing to walk away while I'm still wandering around this flooded-out meadow. But I find a place where the water funnels into a little stream I can hop over.

My plan was never for Nina to accompany me on this entire journey. She's just here to record sound of the send-off. I can tell Nina's not willing to walk away while I'm still wandering around this flooded-out meadow. But I find a place where the water funnels into a little stream I can hop over.

You know, when there's water across the trail, like, shin-deep water, I don't want to soak my feet right from the get-go. So yeah, you got to kind of work your way around. But it's fine. The highline is actually just on the other side of the stream. It's not like a big turnaround or anything. You've said. I'm sure. Yeah, I'm positive. Nina makes a face at me, a mix of concern and a little doubt.

You know, when there's water across the trail, like, shin-deep water, I don't want to soak my feet right from the get-go. So yeah, you got to kind of work your way around. But it's fine. The highline is actually just on the other side of the stream. It's not like a big turnaround or anything. You've said. I'm sure. Yeah, I'm positive. Nina makes a face at me, a mix of concern and a little doubt.

I step onto a rock in the middle of the stream and shout goodbye. I'm looking at rain over North Pole Pass. Well, I got to get moving, but... I'll see you in a week.

I step onto a rock in the middle of the stream and shout goodbye. I'm looking at rain over North Pole Pass. Well, I got to get moving, but... I'll see you in a week.