Ryder Lake | High Uintas Wilderness, Utah

Each year my family gets together on the first weekend of summer for a family campout. This year we were in the Wasatch-Cache National Forest. This National Forest just happens to backup to one of my favorite places on earth to go backpacking - the High Uintas Wilderness.
After the campout, a few of us grabbed our packs and set out into the wilderness. The plan was to go in for 5 days (4 nights) and hike in to Middle Basin. There are a bunch of ponds and small lakes up there, but we hoped to stay at Ryder Lake.
It was a hot hike up, but with all of the snow melt, the streams were running everywhere. Since we were going in at the end of the weekend we were running into multiple groups on their way out. One group said that they had tried to get to Ryder Lake, but it was snowed in. We didn't let this stop us and in the final push up to the basin, we lost the trail in the snow. We had our GPS with us and were able to get up into the basin without having to traverse much snow. There were still parts of the basin that were covered in snow, but I would not describe it as snowed in.
We had a great time and the views.... the views were amazing!

[@CraigJensen-tq7sq]

Many years ago, when my older brother and I were in our twenties, and dad was healthy and could hike like a billy goat, the three of us hiked into and back out of Ryder and McPheters Lake. In one day. We started hiking after 4:30 in the morning with our flashlights, and after the miles and hours passed, we arrived at Ryder Lake. We fished, caught lots of fish between the two lakes and some smaller lakes. It was dark when we finally reached the trailhead and truck. Exhausted but so thankful for this amazing experience. I haven’t been back since and seriously doubt my knees would cooperate now that I’m much older, but my thoughts frequently relive that amazing day and I’m glad I got to visit this spectacular area of the Uinta’s. Miss you pops.

[@noelslater822]

This was a good vid! Beautiful country and what a peaceful serenity you can't find in most places!

[@mountainwanderer]

I still remember walking up into the basin and thinking that it looked like a giant painting! Unreal!

[@SouEuIAm]

Your videos are always great. Great videography, great music, great narration.

[@mountainwanderer]

Thank you very much! Thank you for watching!

[@DefenderoftheAccused]

Outstanding video. Thanks for sharing.

[@mountainwanderer]

I'm glad you enjoyed it and thank you for watching!

[@PumpkinVillage]

Another great video. The narration and music was spot on. What a beautiful location. Thanks for sharing. Take care, Al

[@mountainwanderer]

Thank you! It was an incredible spot. I took out "some" of the huffing & puffing because you get up over 10,000ft going back in there!

[@fliguy41]

Oh man the passion of the narrator here is deep and intense He should read Louis L'Amour stories on youtube

[@mountainwanderer]

Thanks! Louis is classic and you can believe that I have read many of them!

[@fliguy41]

Mountain Wanderer 10 hour drive holy moly. Takes me hour an a half to get to that trail head from home

[@mountainwanderer]

Count yourself lucky! I wish that I lived closer to the High Uintas, I truly love that place.

[@fliguy41]

Mountain Wanderer where you from?

[@mountainwanderer]

I live in North Idaho, but we have some of our group in Ogden & Eden. So I make it a point to get into the Uintas if I get down that way.

[@garettray4426]

Just what I needed, thanks for posting!

[@mountainwanderer]

Glad to hear it! Thanks for watching!

[@CavemanOutdoorsMissouri]

another amazing trip, loved the lake and the views around it. im jealous, thanks for sharing

[@mountainwanderer]

Those mountains were amazing. When I first walked up into the basin it looked like a giant painting. As you know better than most, the video does not do them justice.

[@PinetreeLine]

Incredible landscapes & views! Great trip with family. Love how you narrate your trip and share your thoughts and not just the obvious. You have a new subscriber. Thanks!!

[@mountainwanderer]

Welcome! Thanks for joining us! 2017 has been a great year for backpacking and I have a bunch of videos lined up waiting to be edited, so more to come!

[@kennethpowell8957]

beautiful country, excellent video. two thumbs up.

[@mountainwanderer]

Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it. It is beautiful country and I am already looking forward to getting back up there.

[@jodydeamer9418]

very enjoyable, like the voice over, nicely done

[@mountainwanderer]

Thank you so much!

[@jasonwiser4711]

Another great one. I guess that just put Ryder on a to do list. I'm happy to see you out there with that rod. I think that's the first time I've seen you doing that. I hope you enjoyed it. That basin really is beautiful! Thanks for sharing!

[@mountainwanderer]

Well, that is not me fishing. But he fishes every place we go, we've even been known to choose our routes so that he can hit a certain spot. I'm not much of a fish eater, but there is not much better than fresh fish with lemon pepper, cooked on a fire!

[@Nerding4Nature]

It's funny. I sent most of my summer exploring the Himalayas, and while they were amazing, I found myself missing the mountains at home. This video just makes me itch to get out. Hopefully I get get a chance to get into the mountains for a few nights before going back to work. Great video, as usual.

[@mountainwanderer]

That sounds like an amazing summer! If this video makes you want to get out into the wilderness, then my job here is done. :) Thanks for watching!

[@bobparsons77]

Terrific again..fun getting the dogs across some of those creeks/rivers!! Bob Alberta

[@mountainwanderer]

We got in there towards the end of the snow melt and there was water everywhere!

[@EvansBackpackingVideos]

Great view! I really like how you did the voice-over narration.

[@mountainwanderer]

Thanks! Still trying to get the hang of it, but I am getting there.

[@craigjensen789]

20 some odd years ago, my dad, older brother and myself did a day trip up to McPheters and Ryder Lakes. Camped at Christmas Meadows, woke up at 0400 and hiked up and fished the daylights out of both lakes and some of the smaller surrounding lake. We hiked out the same day under flashlight and it was a great trip. So amazing up there. I haven't been up there since which is a shame.

[@mountainwanderer]

I bet the fishing was pretty good then. One thing I would like to ask is: were the trees as beetle infested as they are today?

[@FlyfishermanMike]

Awesome trip! I'm hoping to get into that area this summer. FYI no fires within 1/4 mile of the lakes in Middle basin.

[@mountainwanderer]

It is a pretty neat area. Do you know what the snow pack looks like in the Uintas? If it is anything like up here in the Northwest, the snow will be there for a while.

[@FlyfishermanMike]

Mountain Wanderer Utah didn't have a great snow year but the Mirror lake highway isn't open yet. The cam at Bald mountain pass still shows significant snow so probably mid June. udottraffic.utah.gov/1_devices/Bald-Mountain.gif?rand=0.8856480643628168

[@dennyegstad1477]

Great video. Nice choice of music. I always hate it when people use heavy metal for a peaceful wilderness.

[@mountainwanderer]

Thank you! We create all of our own music, so it is nice to hear that you like it!

[@GRiiZZx]

So cool! Did you get to see any wildlife like elk or mountain goats? Those are my favorite!

[@mountainwanderer]

No, we didn't see anything on this one, but there were fish!

[@jasonwiser4711]

Man, I thought that was you. You're right about that fish cooked on the fire. It's especially vood if you've been eating kinda the same old thing every day.

[@mountainwanderer]

Well we are related. That is my nephew Brandon that is our resident fisherman. Eating dehydrated meals for a fews days will make most anything else taste great. That's why after every trip, we head straight from the trail to a restaurant for our victory meal. I still apologize to every poor customer who has had to endure us during that meal. We're salty from the mountains and more than a little ripe.

[@jasonwiser4711]

I get it about that victory meal. My last one was a little bag of cheetos and a strawberry banana yogurt at around 2:30 in the morning at a hotel. At least I had an opportunity to clean up in the room before it though.

[@lisa.k.805]

love it! one time I hiked 10 miles out of a canyon, didn't have any prepared food in my car.. went to the nearest convenience store... the person in front of me got the last piece of pizza... so I got a banana, and a can of bean dip, which I ate with old tortillas in my car.

[@DennisFTowle-gi3gf]

Where is the Robinson ("Wilderness Family") log cabin location?!

[@mountainwanderer]

You got me on that one... no idea!

[@cleric2371]

Looks like bark beetles are having there way with the Uintas, sad.

[@mountainwanderer]

I've only been to a handful of places in the Uintas, but in the places I have been, sadly there are more dead trees than live ones.

[@seww6]

What breed is that dog with the green bandana?

[@mountainwanderer]

That is Timber and he is a Husky / German Shepard.

[@seww6]

Mountain Wanderer ah i see.. he reminds me of the russian laika breed, hence my question :) great video too!

[@michaelstraukas9463]

How many hours is the walk up to the lake?

[@mountainwanderer]

I don't remember how long it took us since we did it in 2 days, but I would roughly say 3-4 hours.

[@DutchOvenDoins]

Who carried that shovel?

[@mountainwanderer]

I usually carry it. Thanks for watching!

[@jaredwhite489]

Leash up your dog!!!

[@mountainwanderer]

Nah, I'm good. Thanks for checking it out though!