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Backpacking the Most Topographically Isolated Mountains in America

Topo Traveler

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This might be my craziest video yet. My friend Austin and I came up with this insane plan to walk across over 16 miles of mud playa to reach the most isolated mountain range in the United States - the Newfoundland Range - and summit its highest point, Desert Peak. The place is a literal island in the salt flats of Utah. Normal people might drive there, but we wanted to walk because of some Lawrence of Arabia and Dune inspiration.

GEAR I USE! I know you guys are always asking, so I’ve finally put some links together for stuff I use in my videos.

CAMERA GEAR
Drone: https://amzn.to/41U5Jg3

Main Camera: https://amzn.to/41r5zg6

Second Camera: https://amzn.to/4tF1G3i

GoPro: https://amzn.to/4cy7YvF

OUTDOOR GEAR
Light Backpacking Pack: https://alnk.to/6mTpgVc

Tent: https://alnk.to/8tSv9xw

Sleeping bag: https://alnk.to/5ujCtGx

Light sleeping pad: https://alnk.to/b7BRROk

Insulated Sleeping pad: https://amzn.to/48AXCZz

Hiking Shoes: https://amzn.to/4c9MC6t

Helmet: https://alnk.to/b7BRKd1

Ice Axe: https://alnk.to/8tSv2H7

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20 Comments

@TopoTravelers Creator 8 months ago (edited) Pinned

Quick correction and clarification: I wanted to clarify that I meant isolated in terms of topography and ecology. There is literally no topographic variation across the salt flat, which completely encompasses the mountain. No other range in the US has that, and few others on the world that do. Also, ecologically, the salt flats are about as lifeless as it gets. Yes there are microorganisms, but there are microorganisms everywhere. Yes, the mountain ranges in Alaska are more remote and harder to get to and are more separated from civilization, but in terms of topographical and ecological isolation, I would argue the Newfoundlands has them beat. And on a global scale, I would say this is up there, but not the most isolated on Earth of course. Just the US.

Correction is that Lake Bonneville was held back by a natural earthen dam of alluvial sediments and bedrock, not ice like I said in the video.

@dinc.5225 8 months ago

I like that you guys dont edit in backing music. Just feels more authentic and helps recreate that feeling of peace that so many of us seek in nature.

@jaredc433 8 months ago

Lawrence of Arabia: Mormon Style lol

@Jacksonflax 8 months ago

Got stuck out here after I crashed my motorcycle trying to climb desert peak in early July. Almost died of dehydration! Very fun time. Eventually climbed back up to the saddle of the mountain with a messed up leg and two days without water and got an SOS message to my friend and he drove 7 hours to save my ass. Good weekend lol.

@bungalo50 8 months ago

10:38 Those are Muddy Ice Spikes! Quoting directly from Wiki: "Water expands by 9% as it freezes. Occasionally the surface can freeze over except for a small hole; the continuing freezing and expansion of water that is below the surface ice then slowly pushes the remaining water up through the hole. Reaching very cold air, the edge of the extruded water freezes while remaining liquid in the center. More freezing below pushes more water up, the edge freezes, and so on. If the rate of extrusion of water is the same as the rate of freezing at the lip of the hole, then this process is continually repeated and successive layers form an upward-growing tube of ice."

@Theboywiththeaxe 8 months ago

Genuinely appreciate that there isn't cheesy background music in the video. Feels alot more authentic. Keep it up lads!

@GizzyDillespee 8 months ago

"Look, we found our tracks from last night!"
"And look at that 3rd set of prints... the bigger ones, with the claw prints in front, following the same path, even... It's funny we didn't notice them last night..."

@focusmerida6863 8 months ago

A singular trial of endurance and discovery through the dessert muck. 20,000 years from now arcaeologists will dicover your exposed footprints and ask themselves, "WTF were these doorknobs thinking?"

@extremechimpout 8 months ago

43km in those conditions is an impressive feat of endurance!

@markmark2080 8 months ago

From an old timer whose adventure days are in the past, I really enjoyed this well 'filmed' and edited video, thanks so much.

@markoberg8372 8 months ago (edited)

As an Utah-based desert rat, I’ve been to the “Newfies” multiple times. They are indeed extremely isolated. There are accounts of buckboard wagons abandoned by miners, found in the 1960s. Mind bending isolation, out there. Pro tip - if you get your vehicle stuck in the mud - use a winch with a boat anchor…there’s nothing to anchor on for miles and miles and miles.

@pushydesign 8 months ago

8:50 “The pioneers used to ride these babies for miles”

@disophisis 8 months ago

I've camped out near the flats a lot as a kid, and I used to ride my motorcycle across the flat to these mountains. It always made me feel like I was on another planet.