Ascended the gully just west of castle lake. Hit all 3 peaks then descended the east ridge between south and middle Powell down to cliff lake. Took a refreshing swim in cliff lake before returning to base camp at Henry's Fork lake. Hike in and out of camp via big meadows. Hit Gilbert and Gunsight the day before. No rain the entire trip.
vanman798 - Aug 29, 2022 12:24 pm Date Climbed: Aug 27, 2022
August 27, 2022
This is the 15th Utah 13er that I have climbed. From China Meadows trailhead (approximately 9520 feet) Brent Z and I hiked up East Smith Fork to the east side of Red Castle. We camped at Smith Fork Pass Lake at 11,152 feet having walked 11 miles from the trailhead. Next day we hiked 1.8 miles to Smiths Fork Pass (11,800 ft) then 2.7 miles with 1,700 vertical feet of gain (this includes 341 feet of ups from ups and downs) to the north summit of Mount Powell. We took about four hours from our camp to the peak. Round trip was 31 miles.
LazyJSkwires - Jul 1, 2020 2:54 am Date Climbed: Jun 30, 2020
Classic Uinta
A snowstorm blew through the day I was climbing and the day before, made for some nice pictures. Right as I hit the north summit the snow started falling in force, all I could see was the middle summit, everything else was a white wall. Not the first time that's happened to me out here. Decided to head home
ZeeJay - Nov 20, 2016 7:14 pm Date Climbed: Sep 19, 2016
10/17/2009 Via Elkhorn Crossing with nebben and Moogie737. Exceptionally nice fall day.
6/30/2009 Via Dahlgreens
5-14-2009 Started at the Henrys Fork TH about 5:35am with Brent and Lana. We followed the trail as best as we could to the vicinity of Elk Horn Crossing. The first two miles had almost no snow and then there was a mix of snow and bare spots, but we were able to stay on top for the most part without snowshoes. We put our snow shoes on, left the trail, and headed cross country to the gully west of Bear Lake. We ascended the gully up to the north ridge of Mount Powell. Once on top, this ridge seems to go forever and is very flat until right before the summit. It was unpleasantly windy on the ridge, but otherwise the weather was great. It took 7 hours to get to the top. On the way back we encountered incredibly mushy snow and sank in to our knees in places even with snowshoes on. The mile before and the mile after Elkhorn were really slow going. I thought it was going to be dark by the time we got back but we got out about 7:15 for a total of 13 hours and 40 min. It was about 21 miles RT and we just went to the highest summit.
7-31-2007 Started at Dahlgreen's TH. It didn't look like it got much use. I took the western most trail but soon lost it but just continued south until I hit an obvious trail presumably coming from China Meadows which I followed to above treeline. Then I just followed the long, flat ridge to the summit. Went to the 2 other summits also. Broke my finger in a stupid fall almost as far away from the car as I could be. A pretty ominous thunderstorm was brewing so on the way back I ran to get off of the open ridge. It rained off and on all the way back. 21.5 miles RT, 10 hr 35 min
yadahzoemtn - Nov 3, 2014 9:29 pm Date Climbed: May 14, 2009
Hiked to Smiths Fork Pass then scrambled the western approach before hiking the ridge to Kings. Unfortunately missed out on Henry's Fork peak after dropping down too far on the western side of the ridge.
apachedino - Oct 27, 2011 9:08 pm Date Climbed: Sep 24, 2011
From Wilson
Excellent traverse from Powell. That saddle is very high and didn't take too much of a drop. Looped down the very long ridge and back to China meadows. Unseasonably hot day.
jhardink - Oct 16, 2011 6:12 pm Date Climbed: Sep 1, 2011
North Ridge
Climbed via the easy north ridge, which I gained near Bear Lake in Henrys Fk. After the summit, I dropped east into Henrys Fk and made camp over on the eastern side of the basin. Had to walk through a sheep farm in the southwest section of the basin- there were thousands (no exaggeration) of sheep of there. I felt bad for anyone getting their water from the vicinity of Henrys Fork Lake- couldn't have tasted good!
9/24/11 traversed from Wilson to Powell and took the ridge back to China Meadows TH. Great day with 5700 vert at altitude
Matthew Van Horn - Sep 25, 2011 1:59 am Date Climbed: Sep 24, 2011
Nice
Traverse from Wilson Peak, looped back to China Meadows.
nebben - Oct 22, 2009 1:39 pm Date Climbed: Oct 17, 2009
Quite beautiful
I had a great trip with Moogie737 and ZeeJay. The different perspective of Kings and the other 13ers near it is quite amazing. We saw eagle footprints on the summit snow too.
Moogie737 - Oct 18, 2009 7:22 pm Date Climbed: Oct 17, 2009
North summit from Henrys Fork TH
With ZeeJay & nebben. 11+30 R/T. Spectacular day - some snow, unlimited visibility and light breezes. Lollygagged on the summit for almost 45 minutes it was so nice. One doesn't get this kind of day very often in the High Uintas; it was a divine gift in my opinion.
utclimber - Aug 18, 2009 8:45 pm Date Climbed: Aug 16, 2009
Long Day
Starting from China Meadows, I climbed Wilson Peak and Mt. Powell in a day. On the way up I went by Red Castle Lake, climbed Wilson Peak, descended towards the Smiths Fork pass, and up Mt. Powell. Total distance was around 33 miles, which took 12 hours 35 minutes.
byates - Aug 10, 2009 10:31 pm Date Climbed: Aug 9, 2009
First of four peak traverse
Via Lake Blanchard Route. First peak of a traverse of Powell, Henry's Fork Peak, King's and Dome.
Route Climbed: Via Cliff Lake Date Climbed: August 5, 2005
I climbed to the South Summit via Cliff Lake through Henrys Fork Basin. From below it looked like the tallest summit, but when we got to the top it was the smallest. We didn't have much time because of impending rainstorms so we didn't touch the other summits. What fooled me was the round US Geological survey marker cemented to a rock. Anyways, it is an easy summit and nobody ever goes there!
Route Climbed: Lake Blanchard Date Climbed: August (?) 1991
Summitted Powell in August 1991 or there abouts. Nice peak. We also climbed Flat Top (north ridge of Powell, rather than a seperate mountain) over New Years Eve, 2000, though we originally planned to try for Kings.
steven.reed.smith@gmail.com - Sep 26, 2024 1:03 pm Date Climbed: Sep 7, 2024
Powell LoopAscended the gully just west of castle lake. Hit all 3 peaks then descended the east ridge between south and middle Powell down to cliff lake. Took a refreshing swim in cliff lake before returning to base camp at Henry's Fork lake. Hike in and out of camp via big meadows. Hit Gilbert and Gunsight the day before. No rain the entire trip.
vanman798 - Aug 29, 2022 12:24 pm Date Climbed: Aug 27, 2022
August 27, 2022This is the 15th Utah 13er that I have climbed. From China Meadows trailhead (approximately 9520 feet) Brent Z and I hiked up East Smith Fork to the east side of Red Castle. We camped at Smith Fork Pass Lake at 11,152 feet having walked 11 miles from the trailhead. Next day we hiked 1.8 miles to Smiths Fork Pass (11,800 ft) then 2.7 miles with 1,700 vertical feet of gain (this includes 341 feet of ups from ups and downs) to the north summit of Mount Powell. We took about four hours from our camp to the peak. Round trip was 31 miles.
LazyJSkwires - Jul 1, 2020 2:54 am Date Climbed: Jun 30, 2020
Classic UintaA snowstorm blew through the day I was climbing and the day before, made for some nice pictures. Right as I hit the north summit the snow started falling in force, all I could see was the middle summit, everything else was a white wall. Not the first time that's happened to me out here. Decided to head home
ZeeJay - Nov 20, 2016 7:14 pm Date Climbed: Sep 19, 2016
Powell9/19/2016 Via Elkhorn Crossing and north ridge.
3/8/2012 Skied via the north ridge. See TR.
10/17/2009 Via Elkhorn Crossing with nebben and Moogie737. Exceptionally nice fall day.
6/30/2009 Via Dahlgreens
5-14-2009 Started at the Henrys Fork TH about 5:35am with Brent and Lana. We followed the trail as best as we could to the vicinity of Elk Horn Crossing. The first two miles had almost no snow and then there was a mix of snow and bare spots, but we were able to stay on top for the most part without snowshoes. We put our snow shoes on, left the trail, and headed cross country to the gully west of Bear Lake. We ascended the gully up to the north ridge of Mount Powell. Once on top, this ridge seems to go forever and is very flat until right before the summit. It was unpleasantly windy on the ridge, but otherwise the weather was great. It took 7 hours to get to the top. On the way back we encountered incredibly mushy snow and sank in to our knees in places even with snowshoes on. The mile before and the mile after Elkhorn were really slow going. I thought it was going to be dark by the time we got back but we got out about 7:15 for a total of 13 hours and 40 min. It was about 21 miles RT and we just went to the highest summit.
7-31-2007 Started at Dahlgreen's TH. It didn't look like it got much use. I took the western most trail but soon lost it but just continued south until I hit an obvious trail presumably coming from China Meadows which I followed to above treeline. Then I just followed the long, flat ridge to the summit. Went to the 2 other summits also. Broke my finger in a stupid fall almost as far away from the car as I could be. A pretty ominous thunderstorm was brewing so on the way back I ran to get off of the open ridge. It rained off and on all the way back. 21.5 miles RT, 10 hr 35 min
yadahzoemtn - Nov 3, 2014 9:29 pm Date Climbed: May 14, 2009
Via Henry's ForkWith Brent and Judy
mattleggett - Sep 22, 2014 2:31 pm Date Climbed: Sep 16, 2014
Powell-Kings-S. KingsHiked to Smiths Fork Pass then scrambled the western approach before hiking the ridge to Kings. Unfortunately missed out on Henry's Fork peak after dropping down too far on the western side of the ridge.
apachedino - Oct 27, 2011 9:08 pm Date Climbed: Sep 24, 2011
From WilsonExcellent traverse from Powell. That saddle is very high and didn't take too much of a drop. Looped down the very long ridge and back to China meadows. Unseasonably hot day.
jhardink - Oct 16, 2011 6:12 pm Date Climbed: Sep 1, 2011
North RidgeClimbed via the easy north ridge, which I gained near Bear Lake in Henrys Fk. After the summit, I dropped east into Henrys Fk and made camp over on the eastern side of the basin. Had to walk through a sheep farm in the southwest section of the basin- there were thousands (no exaggeration) of sheep of there. I felt bad for anyone getting their water from the vicinity of Henrys Fork Lake- couldn't have tasted good!
Mooner - Sep 25, 2011 3:49 pm
Up I go9/24/11 traversed from Wilson to Powell and took the ridge back to China Meadows TH. Great day with 5700 vert at altitude
Matthew Van Horn - Sep 25, 2011 1:59 am Date Climbed: Sep 24, 2011
NiceTraverse from Wilson Peak, looped back to China Meadows.
nebben - Oct 22, 2009 1:39 pm Date Climbed: Oct 17, 2009
Quite beautifulI had a great trip with Moogie737 and ZeeJay. The different perspective of Kings and the other 13ers near it is quite amazing. We saw eagle footprints on the summit snow too.
Moogie737 - Oct 18, 2009 7:22 pm Date Climbed: Oct 17, 2009
North summit from Henrys Fork THWith ZeeJay & nebben. 11+30 R/T. Spectacular day - some snow, unlimited visibility and light breezes. Lollygagged on the summit for almost 45 minutes it was so nice. One doesn't get this kind of day very often in the High Uintas; it was a divine gift in my opinion.
utclimber - Aug 18, 2009 8:45 pm Date Climbed: Aug 16, 2009
Long DayStarting from China Meadows, I climbed Wilson Peak and Mt. Powell in a day. On the way up I went by Red Castle Lake, climbed Wilson Peak, descended towards the Smiths Fork pass, and up Mt. Powell. Total distance was around 33 miles, which took 12 hours 35 minutes.
byates - Aug 10, 2009 10:31 pm Date Climbed: Aug 9, 2009
First of four peak traverseVia Lake Blanchard Route. First peak of a traverse of Powell, Henry's Fork Peak, King's and Dome.
madsjim - Aug 6, 2005 7:04 pm
Route Climbed: Via Cliff Lake Date Climbed: August 5, 2005I climbed to the South Summit via Cliff Lake through Henrys Fork Basin. From below it looked like the tallest summit, but when we got to the top it was the smallest. We didn't have much time because of impending rainstorms so we didn't touch the other summits. What fooled me was the round US Geological survey marker cemented to a rock. Anyways, it is an easy summit and nobody ever goes there!
Scott - May 24, 2005 7:10 pm
Route Climbed: Lake Blanchard Date Climbed: August (?) 1991Summitted Powell in August 1991 or there abouts. Nice peak. We also climbed Flat Top (north ridge of Powell, rather than a seperate mountain) over New Years Eve, 2000, though we originally planned to try for Kings.
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