Tuesday
October 1st, 2002
Day 167 (page 2)

Start: Evantson, WY
Finish: Heber City, UT

Miles Today: 101
Miles to Date: 16197
Trooper Mileage: 185118

Just over the highest point, I came across Butterfly Lake, at over 10,000 feet. There was a light snow falling, there was no wind, and there was absolute quiet. In spite of the fact that it was late morning, the cloud cover muted the light to almost a twilight level.

Butterfly Lake

The surface was almost glass-smooth, reflecting ghost-like images of the trees on the far shore. The overhanging clouds brushed the tops of the trees, the forest dissolving in the distance to a gray nothingness.

Uinta Waterfall

Traveling downslope on the south side of the mountain range, the snow lightened up as the altitude decreased. I came across this waterfall along the way. The water cascaded down step-like ledges of stone to a wide pool at the base. It was a popular stopping place for people traveling through these mountains, and some of them left their own whimsical little artifacts to mark their presence.

snowmanComing out of the mountains, I called Max and updated him on my progress. At his suggestion, I stopped at a cafe in Kamas for lunch - I was sorely in need of a large, hot meal, and I was not disappointed.

After a satisfying meal, I continued on, arriving back in Heber City. I spent a few days here and in Park City back in early June, as I swooped down out of Idaho then east towards the central Midwest. This marked the cross point of my journey, which tracked as a big lopsided figure-eight across the country, no entering the final dash towards home and balmy temperatures.

I arrived at Max Paul's little ranchette in the afternoon. His wife Gayle was home, getting ready to cook dinner. Max returned from work later in the afternoon, and I was treated to another nice, hot homecooked meal.

Behind Max's farm