Everything Goes Wrong: Uinta Highline Trail - Full Documentary 

See our second attempt! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-CJ4YNQfjun0.html

I did the Highline trail a few years ago, and it was an incredible experience. I've been in the High Uinta's countless times throughout my life, and I've learned to expect monsoon storms every afternoon, with the distinct possibility of extreme temperature fluctuations, lightning, hail, and snow. We were really lucky during our Highline Trail hike, and only had to deal with rain/hail on a couple of days. We got into a major hailstorm going down the backside of Anderson Pass, and had to trudge through it until we stopped to camp for the night at Northstar Lake. When the storm finally ended, the ground was completely white and covered with accumulated hail stones, but thankfully it melted off that evening before everything completely froze that night. Even though the trail is relatively short (~100 miles) compared to other through hikes, you have to evaluate your gear a bit differently than if you were on a lower elevation hike like the Appalachian trail due to the high altitude and remoteness (bail out points are pretty nonexistent on the back half of the hike). Running shorts and trail runners work great when the weather is good, but if it turns like it did with your group, it can be very rough. If you hike the trail earlier in the season, then you have to deal with swarms of mosquitos and snow at the tops of the passes. When I backpack in the Uinta's, I wear lightweight hiking pants for better protection against bugs and weather. Knowing that there is a very real possibility of getting completely wet, I also carry an extra set of clothing (shirt/pants or shorts/socks) to change into/rotate. Yes, it's extra weight, but sometimes being "stupid light" can be even more dangerous, and it mentally feels very comforting to know that you have some dry clothes to change into.

Great picture: opening up the tent to that snow. Raw & vivid. Great to see the Outdoor Vitals Team out there getting it.

Well done for taking the hard but wise decision to return. This will serve as a good example for others in similar situations...

Just watched the whole series tonight at work. All I could think about was I want to be on the trail. So glad to be part of the UL Member 100 Challenge. Great series and can't wait to share my 100 mile trip.

Brandon if you ever read this you're an absolute trooper! Congratulations you pushed yourself to the absolute limit, nothing to be ashamed of! Be proud :)

What a great adventure. This shows not only the training and prep that went into the trip and the importance of being geared for the conditions, but most of all the importance of being flexable should conditions change. This trip will be remembered not for its goal, but more importantly for the changes in direction it took. HATS OFF to OV for making the needed call and for sharing the simple fact that conditions can change and how being ultralight does mean being willling to adapt a trip as needed.

It was so fun and motivating to follow your prep and to see the anguish in your faces when you decide to turn back from Anderson pass and when you decided to get off the trail. The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. It will still be there next year! Keep sharing your adventures and insights. I know it’s a lot of video and editing, but the OV Tribe love it!

There are lots of old hikers but not very many old, bold hikers. Way to go...

I had hail at 11,000 feet this summer, too, trails that got lost, and lots of logs to climb over, so I could really relate. In fact, it would be awesome to join you when you try the Highline again! You inspired me to finish the video I'm making of my trip, and gave me some ideas. I don't look at trekking as so much of an athletic event and prefer to take more time, but your insights and transparency were helpful. Keep it up!

Anyone who has spent any amount of time on the Highline and the Uinta’s in general has been humbled by her majesty Mother Nature! I do 7-10 day backpack elk hunts in the Uinta’s and have begged for her mercy many times but her beauty is irresistible to me!

What an amazing experience for you and your team. And in my mind having Brennan come along to pick you up was icing on the cake. God Bless

This area is definitely on my bucket list. Thanks for sharing the whole process. I hope y’all look back on this trip as a huge success. You’re safe, you accomplished a great trip, and you deepened your friendships.

I get that you guys wanted to do this hike, but on limited time. Your training and preparations were well executed and for the most part, you completed your goal......fantastic! Know that some of us like to be in the outdoors....to enjoy the moment, to drink in all that nature has to offer. To do this, one needs to stop and smell the wildflowers, pause to enjoy the wildlife and sometimes dawdle in camp for a half or even a full day. In other words............the journey, not the destination is the goal. Doing it in comfort, with as lightweight of gear as possible is still a worthy pursuit. Thanks for sharing.

Loved the whole series. Thanks so much for sharing your adventures!

I enjoyed this series very much, great job to all of you. You all gained so much from the hike. This is what makes memories for years to come. Good luck with your next adventure.

Great video, guys. Makes me want to get out on the trail right now. I wouldn't second guess a single decision you made, glad it worked out like it did with everyone safe. Love your gear by the way.

Love it! Amazing job with the documenting. Definitely adding this to my list for next year.

I had a ton of fun watching the series. I hope you are able to make more! Keep living your dreams!

I'm really wanted to do the Highline but I would really need 10 days to do it. This was a great series of videos! Great choice to bail on this. Those conditions kill people and it was a wise move. Thanks guys for your great products!

Great series - I felt motivated, drained, hopeful, apprehensive, and relief with each chapter and gleaned some valuable information. Well done guys!

Awesome. Just awesome. You guys are inspiring. Thanks.

Your Day 3 was much like our Day 2 this year on the Uinta Highline Trail! We fortunately only had rain no snow! You guys made the right call.

Awesome video of an incredible trail guys. Thanks for sharing all of the struggles you faced as well! It's so important for people to see the tough decisions you guys had to make. It would've been so easy for you guys to keep pushing on and get into a really dangerous situation. I really appreciate the thorough decision making, and I'm hoping to do this trail in 2022 so this is invaluable insight. Happy trails!

Just finished watching you bunch of crazy guys over at the Outdoor Vitals slay this Hardline Challenge, it was so much fun and exciting to sit and partake in this journey with y’all even though things didn’t go in your favor towards the end and I know for a fact had they (things) , y’all would’ve finished it in 5days. Thanks soo much for sharing this with us all

Brutal hike - you guys made the right choices. Great video.

Great video thanks for sharing. I completed the Highline Trail thru hike solo last year good call avoiding Anderson Pass with that snow. Many of those passes are already sketchy in certain areas let alone in those conditions you guys faced.

What an amazing adventure. Lots of lessons learned, type 1 and type 2 fun as well. I did expect, at the very end, when it read the end of the highland challenge that it would then say - For now! Nate

Hunted the area around chapeta lake and swift creek few years ago and have always wanted to come back and do the highline trail and had a 5 day plan in my head as well. strong work guys.

Thank you doe the video. I enjoyed it a lot. Highline trail is one that I plan on doing.

Great effort!! Fail? Nah!! You were stopped by things beyond your control!! Inspiring. :)

Y’all should do a load out video of what you all brought on the trail. Taysons pants during the snow storm looked like some dope capris. And Brighams rain coat looked on point.

Geez! Where were your Satu pants and dragon wool base layers? You sell them for heaven's sake!

I really enjoyed this series. Fun to watch, good motivation, plus I learned some good information. Sorry it didn’t work out like you all planned. I really enjoy all your videos, and your products. Seems like y’all have the right priorities. Last thing, dude, lose the ‘stache. :)

We came down that same pass - North Pole - in the pouring ice cold rain as well around the same time you were, we couldn’t have been more than a couple days separated on the highline heading the same direction hahah!

Wow. You guys are for real! So i bought my sleep system from outdoor vitals !!

Always better to Live to hike another day! But all said and done, great trip, and video! Fanfreakingtastic! And not even a UL hiker.

Good for you guys for knowing your limits. Here in Canada in the fall we bring 3 ply goretex pants and jackets and spikes or crampons and ice axes to wear on your feet and we wear pants. We actually usually carry that stuff in the summer too if we have mountain passes in our hiking agenda. Its pretty hard to go ultralight because you have to be super prepared.

I think making the hard decisions is more impressive than pulling off the goal.

There's no shame in pulling out from a dangerous situation, and in hindsight you would have been in trouble if you chose to try to continue. Glad it played out the way it did. The UHT has some tough love.. we had hail on almost every pass but what kicked us off were two wildfires, and we had to dodge them to get out. Glad to hear you had a great experience with Mountain Transport, Amanda is well respected and does a great service to the region. Not too many choices for UHT. Well done, I've subbed and will be watching for your next attempt.. I'm headed back to finish in July/August solo. Happy trails!

I was a camp host up at marsh lake this summer and we had a lot of rain in August I know it was not fun I was at 9400 feet and glad I could be close to shelter and a warm trailer in my younger days I did that trail 2 times it can be a journey 😀

I will add that the wind shirts and rain jackets looked very intersting............

I had to bail at 10,000 feet this summer. I came straight from Tennessee to the trail without enough time to acclimatize and didn’t take any medications to help with that. I also think I got a stomach bug 2 days before that lingered making it near impossible to eat/drink. That first day with the water carry/altitude is gnarly! Ended up paying a day-hiker for a ride to town. Huge bummer for me, but I felt the need to comment since I’ve been there too. Way to push through as long as you did man!

Smart decision to bail. Sometimes you eat and the bear and sometimes the bear eats you.

What were the dates for yalls trip? I started late in the day on 8/16 and finished 8/22. Some of the most spectacularly wicked weather for me as well. Total blast.

What are those packs? Great area , Well done video.

I did UHT early August. Great trail, great weather. Epic all around. Took 8.5 days. When was this trip?

This was great. Wondering how you kept your gear dry. Did you all use pack liners?

I also wanted to ask which tents you were using?… the few interior shots made it look like you were using an ultralight config, but would like to know what you took and maybe why? Thx. Oh and may I suggest a Tenkara rod if you are taking a fly rod on trail with you.

Sorry fellas. Can’t wait until I see the video of you all trying again.

I am starting to lose count of the number of times I had to bail on kings due to weather. Nice job making good decisions and staying safe.

Looks like y'all had the same backpack. I'm wondering how well it worked for you.

I might have missed it, but are those white Dragonwool shirts or something different?

Do this in the middle of summer😂

How come none of you used the Dominion tents???

Do you take some wind pants with you at least now??

I remember that snowy week in August. There was another group that was hiking the Highline Trail and had to be rescued. The following week was pretty wet, but not snowy, and the rivers were all running high and fast.

What time of year was this? Late August?

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