I got online and found that there was a Yurt above Vernal on Diamond Mountain that we could hike to so we reserved it. It was only about 3 miles and the directions said we could get there in just over 2 hours. Ok, maybe if you are used to running marathons, uphill, in sand you could get there in 3. It took us 6 hours including getting lost 3 or 4 times, having all our water freeze, almost deciding just to camp in the snow and there were a few times where we seriously considered cannibalism.
We made it just before midnight, exhausted and hungry but all pretty stoked to get there. They Yurt was awesome. It has a nice warm stove and comfortable beds, lots of dishes and firewood. It really was the hardest, yet best trip I have ever done with Young Men and Scouts and I would do it again in a heartbeat.
The only reason we are smiling is because we have no idea what we are getting ourselves into.
A few hills and stream crossings got in our way.
6 inches of new snow = hard snowshoeing.
Tell me that those aren't the coolest homemade snowshoes you have ever seen. Jedidiah Smith would be proud.
A couple guys packed in their snowboard which turned out to be a pretty cool idea.
Still walking.
FYI, if you decide to haul stuff on one of these sleds, every young man will throw their extra gear on it for you to haul.
Getting a little dark, but still walking.
Payoff. A view from the top. You can see Vernal at night.
On the plus side it took less than 2 hours to get out.
It took much less if you rode your snowboard out.
