Trip Map
An overnight trip to a magnificent basin containing high alpine
lakes and large alpine meadows. The trip is around six miles with
one steep part about halfway through. This trip was taken in mid
June 2003. The way to Amethyst Basin is to turn off Scenic Hwy 150
about 44 some odd miles Northeast of Kamas UT. The Trail head starts
at Christmas Meadows Campground, which would be a nice place in of
itself to base camp.
larger image
The start is at Christmas Meadows Campground along the Stillwater
Fork of the Bear River. This photo shows a still swollen Stillwater
which wasn't going to last long in this drought year (2003).
larger image
A couple miles up the trail you will branch off to the left along
the Ostler Fork and begin a steep section for about a mile. The
Ostler Fork comes crashing down as you go panting up.
larger image
Still working up the steep mile, trees will clear away momentarily
and provide you with great views of Hayden and A-1 peaks.
larger image
The trail is pretty well maintained but in late Spring and Early
Summer you will find a lot of Muddy areas...be warned.
larger Image
A very large meadow 4 miles up looks to be a great place to let horses
graze. A stream with trout flows through and the whole place is
very scenic.
larger image
Here is the same meadow with the camera panned over to the left of
the shot taken above. I considered setting up a camp somewhere
in the trees off of this meadow, in retrospect I wish I had.
This location is centrally located to provide access to all the lakes
in this
basin.
(Amethyst,
Toomset,
Ostler, and BR-24).
larger image
Here is another high alpine meadow just before arriving at Amethyst
Lake which is located in the cirque seen coming up. Not too sure
about camping in this area though, it is very pretty but seems
much more fragile than the first meadow shown above. Trees are
starting to be stunted at this level.
larger image
Amethyst Lake, an absolute gem of the Uinta's, I couldn't get a
decent shot due to its size so I settled on portraying how it sits
up against
the "Uintas Spine" in a cirque like setting. At this time
which was early Summer I was catching little Brookies as fast as
I could throw
in the line, but the keyword here is "little".
larger image
This little lake (known only as BR-24) is centrally located between
Amethyst Lake and Ostler Lake. There a some nice campsites around
this lake and the ground is more robust. I saw fish but they were
not even interested in the lures I threw.
larger image
Lake Ostler where I saw monster trout ringing the shore but were
not interested in a mid-day wrestling match with a flash lure.
larger image
Dog doing what Dogs do.
/\top
