I Tried to Hike 100 Miles Alone. I Failed.

I set out into Utah’s High Uintas with an ambitious goal: hike roughly 100 miles of the Uinta Highline Trail in seven days, completely solo.

I started at the McKee Draw Trailhead and planned to make my way east across the Uinta Mountains, eventually finishing near Hayden Pass. Unfortunately, the trip didn't go quite as planned.

My backpack weighed around 55 pounds when I started. A big part of that weight came from having to carry about 4 liters of water, because the first section of the trail has roughly 20 miles without any reliable water sources. That meant I had to carry enough water to get through the entire stretch and camp my first night without access to a water source.

The first 25 miles also turned out to be much more difficult than I anticipated. Fallen trees covered large sections of the trail, making it difficult to navigate and especially difficult to travel with such a heavy backpack. Progress was much slower than I had planned, and it took me considerably longer to reach camp each day than I expected.

By the second day, I was also starting to experience some elevation sickness as I approached the pass before Deadman Lake, where I eventually made camp.

At that point, I was beginning to realize that my original plan might have been too ambitious. I was carrying too much weight for the mileage I was trying to cover, and with some significant thunderstorms in the forecast, I ultimately made the decision to bail after four days and roughly 40 miles of the planned route.

Obviously, this wasn't the outcome I was hoping for when I started the trip. But the experience taught me a lot about what I would need to change if I attempt the Uinta Highline Trail again.

I'd still like to complete the trail someday. On another attempt, my biggest priority would be dramatically reducing my pack weight. I'd also consider starting farther west, around Leidy Peak, which would allow me to avoid the long initial stretch without reliable water and much of the downed-tree section that made the beginning of this trip so difficult.

For now, this is the story of my first attempt at a 100-mile solo backpacking trip through the High Uintas — and why I ultimately decided that 40 miles was enough.

About the Uinta Highline Trail

The Uinta Highline Trail crosses some of the most remote and spectacular terrain in the Uinta Mountains of Utah, passing through high alpine basins, mountain passes, lakes, forests, and expansive wilderness. It is an ambitious backpacking route, particularly when attempting to cover significant mileage each day while carrying a heavy pack.

This trip was my attempt to experience a large section of the trail completely solo.

Trail: Uinta Highline Trail
Location: High Uintas, Utah
Starting point: McKee Draw Trailhead
Ending point: Near Chepeta Lake
Planned distance: ~100 miles
Completed distance: ~40 miles

If I get another chance, I'll be back — hopefully with a much lighter pack.

#UintaHighlineTrail #HighUintas #Utah #Backpacking #SoloBackpacking #UtahHiking #UintaMountains #BackpackingUtah #Hiking #Wilderness

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Gear used for this video:
📸: GoPro HERO8 - https://amzn.to/3DCjjqc
📸: Selfie stick (waterproof) - https://amzn.to/3HKNMqs
📸: GoPro accessories - https://amzn.to/3lTnw2a
📸: Silicone Protective Case - https://amzn.to/3KThuIR
👟: Trail Runners - https://amzn.to/4xXN8xB
🎒: Overnight Backpack: https://amzn.to/3SUNhmJ
🏕️: Tent - https://amzn.to/4zr6Rr8
🏕️: Sleeping pad - https://amzn.to/3bZvLb8
🥄: Spork - https://amzn.to/4qS1cXv
🔥: Stove - https://amzn.to/46hzpG9
💧: Water filter - https://amzn.to/4zyH9kF

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