The trip began by flying to SLC on Wednesday June 26, 2002.  I had planned to hike some that day but caught up with hanging out with the parents.  I figured one day at 6,400 feet was better than nothing.

Mom and Dad got up early Thursday morning to drive me to the West Fork Blacks Fork trailhead from their home in Park City.  Leaving about 7:15am, we drove through Kamas and took the Mirror Lake Highway all the way to the North Slope Road (about 20 minutes north of Mirror Lake).

The North Slope Road is the only east-west road on the north slope of the Uintas.  The Bear River forest service office has mentioned several weeks prior to our trip that the road could be nasty.  Our 18 or so mile trip along it was beautiful.  The road was in great condition with perhaps only about a mile of rough washboard terrain.

After 18 miles, there was a sharp turn-off to the right (south) - this was the WFBF road.  It continued for about five miles along the river where there were plenty of panoramic viewpoints and just a few motor homes camped out along side.  At mile five the road crossed the river.  My original plan was to begin hiking from here.  The road continues on for another 3.5 miles until the "official" trailhead.  This was June so I had thought that it may be impassable.  Luckily, it was only eight inches deep and provided a smooth crossing for my Dad's Xterra.  Mom, on the other hand, was quite nervous...

We could only drive another mile due to increasingly rough road conditions.  Just after the river crossing is where you will need a 4x4 with good clearance.  The first 23 miles though could be handled by a Tercel or Neon.  Be careful of the section between Elizabeth Pass and East Fork Fork Blacks Fork as it can get very rough.

So, my parents dropped me off right at the intersection with the Bear River Smiths Fork Trail.  This trail travels east-west for tens of miles following closely to the wilderness boundary.  It was now almost 10am and time to get going.