Geologic Story of the Uinta Mountains

by Wallace Hansen, Intermountain Natural History Association, Jean Kostak

Other than the Brooks Range in Alaska, the Uintas are the most prominent east/west range in the United States. They also contain the highest mountains in Utah, many of which exceed 13,000 feet, including Kings Peak at 13,528 feet--the highest point in Utah. There are well over 1,000 natural lakes and over 400 miles of streams in this 100-mile long range in northeastern Utah. While the intended scope of this book is fairly broad, the author presents the geologic story of the Uinta Mountains with a clarity and wit that gives this book a unique and popular appeal.

160 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2005

Reviews

[Tyler Mower · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this one while on a trip visiting the western & eastern Uintas. Until reading this I did not know the mountains extending east of Route 191 that connects Vernal with Flaming Gorge were considered part of the Uinta range. Always fun to learn something new!

I was hoping for more geologic intrigue for the High Uintas or the western half of the range, but the processes that created these gorgeous high mountains is what it is and is far more "simple" than I guessed. The eastern side of the range had a more dynamic geologic history, and therefore the bulk of this book addresses that region.

I've spent a good amount of time backpacking the western section, but have nigh to no experience in the eastern Uinta's, so it was hard to follow what was being described about those mountains because I'm not familiar with the canyons, peaks, and valleys of the eastern range.

One of my favorite aspects of the book was learning the history of geology in the area and the expeditions that sought to understand the story the rocks have to tell in the Uintas. The foundation laid by those who came before us, enables us to build a more comprehensible understanding today.

Unless you are a geology buff or familiar with these mountains, the information in this book will not find place within the nooks of your brain. Go backpack, explore the canyons, experience its drainage systems, and then this read book. This will make those and future experiences more fulfilling.

[Nathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this book because of my fondness for the Western (or "High") Uintas. While there certainly was some great information about that region, I was disappointed that most of the book dwelled on the arid eastern half of the range. Which makes sense--the Eastern Uintas are more geologically diverse than their western counterparts--but I've just never cared much for that area. I also felt like the sections of the book should have been arranged in the reverse order, so that the reader could have a better picture of the forces that shaped the Uinta landscapes before getting to the chapter on the landscapes themselves. As it was, I had a hard time visualizing a lot of the technical terms until the last third of the book.

I would recommend this book to anyone with more than just a passing interest in geology. If you already know the language, it's quite well written and even conversational, but if you don't know much about geology you're in for a very challenging read. As for myself, I learned a lot, even if most of the subject matter wasn't what I was originally looking for. I definitely wish I had known all this stuff during my Boy Scout backpacking days.

[Jared · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review pending...

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book that made understanding how the Uinta Mountains came to be realy easy to understand. Not technical at all, this is a great book for anyone who enjoys the Uinta Mountains.