It seems everyone at UtahOutside is getting in on the yurt action this season. Jared Hargrave has already laid out some great skinning/skiing adventures, so it’s high time we showcased something for all the snowshoers out there. Thanks to some pre-season planning by a good friend, I had a chance to shoe to the Bear Claw Yurt in the Uinta Mountains. It was my first ever yurt experience, and it not only lived up to expectations, it surpassed them in nearly every way!
Bear Claw Yurt is maintained through a cooperative effort between the US Forest Service, the Boy Scouts and the Bear River Outdoor Recreation Alliance (BRORA). Thanks to these entities, there are five yurts available for rent in the area, and all are linked by an impressive trail system. Our adventure began at the North Slope Trailhead, just a few feet away from the winter closure gates on Mirror Lake Highway. We had an impressive group: 7 humans and 4 travelers of the furry, paw-propelled persuasion. Our motley crew geared up with snowshoes, packs and sleds full of beer and food before heading out to our home for the next two nights. The trails in the area service snowshoers, skiers, and snowmobilers. The motorized folk enjoy a separate route, and Bear Claw Yurt falls in the no-motor zone (boots, snowshoes or skis are the only way to reach it). Blue skies and crisp temperatures made the two mile hike enjoyable, though some of the group was feeling the burn from hauling sleds packed with lots (too much?) of backcountry booty.
Just as everyone was tiring, we arrived at the yurt. Bear Claw is the original structure in the area, and has recently been updated to a 20′ diameter. The well-appointed yurt is the largest in the system, and can sleep up to 8 adventurers. A very old, very large iron stove is the centerpiece of the yurt, and that bad boy is the key to happiness. Everyone got busy setting up their bunks, unpacking bags, and of course, chopping wood. Nothing can make you feel like a backcountry badass like swinging a big axe in the bitter cold of the mountains. Soon enough we had a fire ripping in the stove; the yurt was heating up and the whiskey was flowing. The rest of the day was spent unearthing the outdoor fire pit, firing up the propane lines for cooking, and dipping heavily into the beer supply. We ate like kings thanks to Jeff (who schlepped not one but two dutch ovens on his sled) and his wife Jaclyn, who has no rival when it comes to chicken enchiladas. The temperatures dipped close to -20 that night, but between the dinner, the whiskey, and the stove, no one was complaining.
Pancakes and coffee got us moving in the morning. With snowshoes back on, it was time to explore some of the trails. Just up the Sage Draw route from Bear Claw is Lilly Lake Yurt. We checked out the namesake body of water, which was frozen solid. After some snacks, it was back into the pines. Instead of following the groomed trails, we broke a new one up to Dead Man’s Pass. Another snack break was well-earned after the 400′ climb in fresh powder. The view from the pass is outstanding, and if it weren’t for the chill in the air, we might have lingered much longer up there. This loop hike eventually passes the East Fork Yurt and ends back at Bear Claw. It’s only a six mile jaunt, but the combination of snow, elevation and spellbinding scenery make for a full afternoon of excitement. Celebratory drinks were drank, and this time it was Larissa who delivered an amazing feast: our bellies were blessed with salmon steaks, veggies, and au gratin potatoes. You can’t beat that after a full day of snowshoeing! That night, we loaded up the stove and got the temperature in the yurt up to the mid-90s…let’s just say strange things happen when you combine heat, good drinks and tired people.
As with any good adventure, it was over all too soon. The next morning we loaded up the packs and sleds, and did a thorough cleaning of the yurt. Before we knew it everyone was back at the trailhead, toasting to an excellent trip. No TVs, no phones, and no worries…if you’re looking for a winter getaway, I can’t recommend a backcountry yurt trip highly enough.
If you are interested in planning a trip, contact the Evanston Recreation Center at (307) 789-1770. They handle the reservations for all five yurts in the area, and these folks are very helpful. Don’t worry about the prices, it’s only $50/night Sunday-Thursday, and $75 for Friday, Saturday and holidays. Bear Claw Yurt has a propane stove and is well-stocked with firewood (CIY: chop it yourself!), so the only things you need to bring in bulk are good food, and your beverage of choice.
If you would like to check out the BRORA Website you can find it here; http://brorayurts.org/ there is lots of good info about the area and the yurts.