East Fork Blacks Fork - South Saddle

Approach

All mileposts are referenced from the trailhead.

From the parking lot head back down the road to the sign-in board and to the bridge crossing the East Fork stream. Follow the well-beaten (horse) trail south while on the east side of the aforementioned stream for approx. 1.3 miles to the first major stream ford (good log bridge, 6-2004). At approx. 2.9 miles is the second and largest ford. Here the bridge has been washed down stream a ways. Either remove shoes and cross or try and jump to the logjam (6-2004) which is what I did and had no mishap both ways. The previous half-mile contains a large marshy area during the wetter time of the year and an old log Cabin. Continue through a large field and passing another log Cabin while crossing a few smaller drainage’s (streams) to milepost 5.9 to another large stream ford. At this point pass up the stream crossing and follow the West Side of the stream for an enjoyable undulating hike to large cairn and tree blazes that continue west and leaves the stream, at approx. milepost 6.9 (elev. 10,100). Leave stream and follow the blaze marks west, than north (shortly) and than finally south after gaining the ridge, continue southerly to milepost 7.9 (elev. 10,650). This point is shown as the camping spot as shown on the referenced quad maps.

Route Description

3.5 miles from camp to summit
2950’ of elevation gain from camp

From Camp get an azimuth from camp to the saddle between Wasatch west and Tokewanna (I read 270 degrees). You have two simple options here, either head on this compass bearing or follow the inlet stream for the lake at which the camp is located at. I chose to bushwhack cross country with the bearing of 270 degrees. So, from camp head south along the east side of the lake for a short distance (few hundred yards) to a point you feel comfortable to jump west over the stream. Start heading west for about 1.25 miles in which time you should be intersecting the aforementioned stream feeding the lake. Follow the stream for another 0.5 miles to a point where you should start heading south and where the grade will start to pick up. Head south and than west to milepost 2.25 and also the saddle between Wasatch west and Tokewanna (elev. 12,350) Saddle. After gaining the saddle start heading north along the ridge over point 12,473’ and scrambling along for another 0.75 miles (12,950’) to the flatter section of the peak, (while on the ridge I came across a few old branches, I starting thinking how these could have come to rest in this area.. now could it have been a European swallow or possibly a African swallow, the African swallow beats its wings 43 times and based on body weight…. damn here I go again, digressing) start heading easterly along the summit plateau for another 0.3 of a mile to the summit at 13,165.

Essential Gear

During the summer months no technical gear is required.
For Winter Crampons\snowshoes\skis would be useful - and maybe a snowmobile to get you to the trailhead

Miscellaneous Info

Images

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