Location: South of Red Mountain, Uinta-Wasatch National Forest
Elevation: 9,060 ft
Last night’s dog walk treated us to a sunset so vivid and painterly it could’ve been plucked from a Charlie Russell canvas—bold oranges and purples fading into the deepening sky.
We woke to a crisp 48° inside Clifford. At this elevation, it made for the perfect sleeping weather—cool and still under a blanket of pine-scented silence.
By mid-morning, the sun had broken through and brought warmth with it. Gayla and I set up the 10×15 modern tarp, giving us both a shaded spot to cook and work. The sky was dotted with those perfect “happy clouds,” like a Bob Ross painting come to life. Brunch was a hearty blend of hash browns, brats, eggs, and a generous topping of melted cheese—camp comfort food at its finest.
While Gayla dug into some client work, I set up my HF station to activate US-4398, Uinta-Wasatch National Forest. Running just 5 watts through my homebrew 20m linked dipole, I was able to log 31 unique contacts and 37 total. Not bad for a quiet forest activation.
After the battery tapped out on the radio, I took time to recharge both it and my laptop. Just as I was thinking of taking a break, a soft rain shower rolled through, cooling things off even more. It wasn’t hot to begin with, but the moisture added a freshness to the air. I tightened down the ropes on the tarp, laid back, and let the rhythm of rain on nylon lull me into a peaceful afternoon snooze.
The rest of the day drifted by slowly. We’re easing into the workweek mindset, but not in a rush to leave this alpine pocket of peace. The dogs certainly appreciated the lazy pace—naps were the main event.
Later in the evening, we took another walk around camp. We spotted more Beard Tongue, Indian Paintbrush, and some Lanceleaf Stonecrop dotting the forest floor. On our way back, three mule deer bounded off into the timber—not a bad way to wrap up the day.
Miles Driven Today: 0
