The Uinta Highline Trail is a 104-mile high-elevation route that follows the Uinta Mountains. It is a rare mountain range that travels east-west as opposed to the majority of ranges, which span north-south. Because of the logistics of car shuttles, distance, and the ability of food I knew I could carry, I simply decided to do the route as an out and back (some call it a yo-yo). This is the gear I took on the 5-day backpacking trip.
This pack has become a staple of my gear. It has survived carrying a cast-iron skillet, up to nine days of food, and a number of FKTs. I simply don’t feel secure without it. The custom Dyneema Composite Fiber printing capabilities are something special that LiteAF is able to offer.
Six Moon Designs Deschutes Plus Tent
The Deschutes Plus is a lightweight tarp with enough coverage against the outside world that the mosquitoes couldn’t get in. I paired this with a piece of Tyvek.
The Flex 22 from Katabatic is the piece of gear I have put more miles on than any other item I have ever used. It simply works great for three-season backpacking and is quite versatile even as an extra layer in a pinch.
Kento Light HS Hooded Jacket Men
A lightweight jacket with enough waterproofing to withstand the afternoon thunderstorms, and also packable enough to offer easy stowing during the periods of great weather. This was my first trip with this jacket and it performed well.
Sea to Summit Air Mat Sleeping Pad
The biggest differentiator in the Sea To Summit sleeping pad compared to others that I have used is the relative ease that it can be inflated. Especially when sleeping above 10,000 feet for the entirety of this trail, the 10 breaths it took to inflate made it a worthwhile gear choice.
Swiftwicks socks have become a go-to sock. Not only do their designs match my fashion sense perfectly, but they are light enough that in some of the wetter sections of the Uinta Trail I could change socks and the wet pair would be dry within the hour.
Gossamer Gear LT5 Trekking Poles
The Gossamer Gear LT5 trekking poles are simply unmatched in their lightweight construction and easy telescoping length adjustment. They have worked for everything from ultrarunning races to FKTs.
Anker PowerCore 26800 Power Bank
The Anker PowerCore has been the most reliable power bank I have found over the past few years. I think the 26800 is overkill for most trips, but I was less worried about the excess weight, and more unsure how long the out-and-back (200 miles) route would take me. In a normal situation I would use a power bank with around 15,000 mAh.
An ultralight option that is rechargeable and eliminates the need for extra batteries. This has been in my fastpacking kit for years because of the ease of use, quick recharging, and the fact that it simply offers just enough light to make night hiking perfect. Many thru-hikers use this headlamp, which is what initially turned me on to it.
The Sawyer Squeeze has been a part of nearly every hike I have taken since my first thru-hike in 2011. It is simple, reliable, and I usually use it on top of a standard water bottle as opposed to bringing the pouches.
