Rachel Marsden

A huge herd must have recently moved through the Oweep, chewing all that grass right down to the dirt. The Highline Trail disappeared among countless paths etched into the turf by hooves. Art's mind went to Eric. He had probably come to the Uintas with an assumption.

A huge herd must have recently moved through the Oweep, chewing all that grass right down to the dirt. The Highline Trail disappeared among countless paths etched into the turf by hooves. Art's mind went to Eric. He had probably come to the Uintas with an assumption.

Eric knew a fair bit about sheep. They're a major part of Australia's agriculture economy. Same with New Zealand. And Eric had trekked around sheep in both places. But those ecosystems are a lot different than the alpine tundra of the high Uintas, where vegetation is very slow to recover from the impacts of grazing.

Eric knew a fair bit about sheep. They're a major part of Australia's agriculture economy. Same with New Zealand. And Eric had trekked around sheep in both places. But those ecosystems are a lot different than the alpine tundra of the high Uintas, where vegetation is very slow to recover from the impacts of grazing.

Eric probably hadn't anticipated needing to tell the highline apart from countless sheep trails.

Eric probably hadn't anticipated needing to tell the highline apart from countless sheep trails.

Art and Dan descended from Porcupine Pass and began crossing the Oweep Basin. As expected, they soon found the highline proved impossible to follow.

Art and Dan descended from Porcupine Pass and began crossing the Oweep Basin. As expected, they soon found the highline proved impossible to follow.

They went along this way for a while, finding and losing traces of the High Line, before coming to a tall wooden post standing alone in the tundra. It marked an intersection where another trail met the High Line. But the signboards were cracked in half, sitting on the ground. They were illegible, having been worn smooth by the elements. Art was outraged.

They went along this way for a while, finding and losing traces of the High Line, before coming to a tall wooden post standing alone in the tundra. It marked an intersection where another trail met the High Line. But the signboards were cracked in half, sitting on the ground. They were illegible, having been worn smooth by the elements. Art was outraged.

No, they don't. The U.S. Government Accountability Office issued a report in 2013 saying the Forest Service had a persistent backlog of deferred maintenance on its trail system. It amounted to more than $300 million in work that hadn't been done.

No, they don't. The U.S. Government Accountability Office issued a report in 2013 saying the Forest Service had a persistent backlog of deferred maintenance on its trail system. It amounted to more than $300 million in work that hadn't been done.

That hasn't improved in the decades since, and areas deep within the backcountry, like the Uinta Highline Trail, are less likely to see routine maintenance because of how difficult and costly it is. Art realized this dilapidated trail intersection could have confused Eric, sending him off on the wrong path. He made a mental note of the spot.

That hasn't improved in the decades since, and areas deep within the backcountry, like the Uinta Highline Trail, are less likely to see routine maintenance because of how difficult and costly it is. Art realized this dilapidated trail intersection could have confused Eric, sending him off on the wrong path. He made a mental note of the spot.

Art and Dan kept moving west, following the Highline Trail, when they could find it. They eventually caught up to the sheep herd at a place called Lambert Meadow. The meadow's enclosed on three sides by high ridges, making it a sort of natural corral. The Duchesne County Sheriff had seen the same herd during his helicopter flyover the day before.

Art and Dan kept moving west, following the Highline Trail, when they could find it. They eventually caught up to the sheep herd at a place called Lambert Meadow. The meadow's enclosed on three sides by high ridges, making it a sort of natural corral. The Duchesne County Sheriff had seen the same herd during his helicopter flyover the day before.

His chief deputy had checked with the Forest Service, which manages grazing in the Uintas, to find out who owned the animals. They belonged to a rancher in Wyoming, but that's not who Arden Dan found tending the herd.

His chief deputy had checked with the Forest Service, which manages grazing in the Uintas, to find out who owned the animals. They belonged to a rancher in Wyoming, but that's not who Arden Dan found tending the herd.

Many of the herders who tend flocks on the forests and rangelands of the Western U.S. are migrant laborers from Latin America. They come to the States on temporary visas and are entirely dependent on their bosses for food, supplies, and communication. They have very little contact with the outside world. Art asked if the herders had seen an Australian man with a red backpack.

Many of the herders who tend flocks on the forests and rangelands of the Western U.S. are migrant laborers from Latin America. They come to the States on temporary visas and are entirely dependent on their bosses for food, supplies, and communication. They have very little contact with the outside world. Art asked if the herders had seen an Australian man with a red backpack.