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Backcountry Fever
← Rolling Hills to Lookout Peak
Planning for Gannett →

Scaled the Dragon’s Tail to Grandeur

Posted on June 30, 2022August 20, 2024 by Backcountry Fever

I was happy to see Grandeur make the list again for 2022’s Six Pack of Peaks Challenge!  After last year’s Double, I’ve hit this peak now five times but always wanted to scale the Dragon’s Tail to the top. 

This route does follow along a narrow ridgeline once you get up on the tail.  However, it’s covered in brush and far less impressive than I thought it would be.  Honestly, I think that ridge looks a lot more impressive when you see it from the West Ridge trail looking across from the other side.

So I guess you could say I was a bit disappointed but still glad to have done it.

This route starts at the Grandeur Peak (Face) Trailhead at the very end of Wasatch Blvd up by Parley’s Canyon.  Follow the trail as if you were going to the West Ridge trail.

I found the GPS coordinates from SummitPost useful in getting me to the correct spine.

Views of the valley from here were pretty cool.

It really wasn’t hard to follow once you got up on the ridgeline.

Even after it got a bit scrubby.  Either a lot of people help keep it clear, or it’s a path frequently used by wildlife, or both.

This is about as “exposed” as it gets.  It’s a rocky spine, but not like I thought/hoped it would be.

Looking back at another scrubby section about two-thirds of the way up.

It took me exactly 2 hours to hit the top from this route, which ended up being 2.64 miles with 3,252 feet of elevation.

This is what I meant when I said the Dragon’s Tail looks a lot more impressive when you see it from the West Ridge.

Final stats were 4.8 miles in 3 hours with 3,282 feet of elevation gain.  Only two peaks left to complete this year’s Six-Pack.

← Rolling Hills to Lookout Peak
Planning for Gannett →

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Awesome views from the top of Y Mountain. Looking north into Rock Canyon, where I started, and across towards the old Squaw Peak, Cascade Mountain, and Mount Timpanogos further off in the distance.

Pretty fun loop hike 👇

- Up 1.8 miles from the Rock Canyon trailhead
- Up 1.8 miles on First Right Fork to Slide Canyon
- Down Slide Canyon Trail .5 miles to Y Mountain Trail
- Up 1 mile to Y Mountain West Peak
- Down .25 and over .25 miles to Y Mountain East Peak
- Down 1 mile back to Slide Canyon Trail
- Down 1.5 miles to Y Trail (top of the BYU Y)
- Down 1 mile to the Y Trail trailhead
- Across 1.75 miles on the Bonneville Shoreline Trail

For a total of 10.75 miles with 4,137 feet of elevation gain.

#ymountain #rockcanyon #rockcanyontrail #firstrightfork #slidecanyon #ytrail #ytrailhead #bst #bonnevilleshorelinetrail #bonnevilleshoreline #connector #loophike #wasatchfront #hikethewasatch #wasatchmountains #wasatch #hike #hikemore

31 1
Open post by backcountryfever with ID 17900152413305912
Awesome views from the top of Y Mountain.  Looking north into Rock Canyon, where I started, and across towards the old Squaw Peak, Cascade Mountain, and Mount Timpanogos further off in the distance. 

Pretty fun loop hike 👇

- Up 1.8 miles from the Rock Canyon trailhead
- Up 1.8 miles on First Right Fork to Slide Canyon
- Down Slide Canyon Trail .5 miles to Y Mountain Trail
- Up 1 mile to Y Mountain West Peak 
- Down .25 and over .25 miles to Y Mountain East Peak
- Down 1 mile back to Slide Canyon Trail
- Down 1.5 miles to Y Trail (top of the BYU Y)
- Down 1 mile to the Y Trail trailhead
- Across 1.75 miles on the Bonneville Shoreline Trail

For a total of 10.75 miles with 4,137 feet of elevation gain.

#ymountain #rockcanyon #rockcanyontrail #firstrightfork #slidecanyon #ytrail #ytrailhead #bst #bonnevilleshorelinetrail #bonnevilleshoreline #connector #loophike #wasatchfront #hikethewasatch #wasatchmountains #wasatch #hike #hikemore

As the seasons change, each quiet mile through these trees feels like an invitation to let go of what was and move toward all that`s yet to come...

#seasonschange #lettinggo #movingon #pressingforward #lookingahead #newbeginnings #natureishealing #healingenergy #goodvibes #autumnvibes #autumnmountains #hiking #hikerlife #mountainlife #mountains

25 0
Open post by backcountryfever with ID 17902202193279047
As the seasons change, each quiet mile through these trees feels like an invitation to let go of what was and move toward all that's yet to come...

#seasonschange #lettinggo #movingon #pressingforward #lookingahead #newbeginnings #natureishealing #healingenergy #goodvibes #autumnvibes #autumnmountains #hiking #hikerlife #mountainlife #mountains

Fall colors are fading fast, losing the battle with winter.

#fallcolors #fadingfast #autumn #hikingtrails #hiking #hike #hiker #getreadyforwinter

14 0
Open post by backcountryfever with ID 17913756879229216
Fall colors are fading fast, losing the battle with winter.

#fallcolors #fadingfast #autumn #hikingtrails #hiking #hike #hiker #getreadyforwinter

I had high hopes of doing some hiking during a recent trip to O`ahu.  Unfortunately, a lower leg injury from a Summer Hockey League playoff game last month left me hobbling around just enough to make the trip, but not much else.  

This is what I was hoping to explore while spending 10 days on O`ahu for the first time.  I also knew I wouldn`t get to all of them in one trip — especially with other things we wanted to do — so here they are in order of priority:

- Backway for the Stairway to Heaven (Haiku Stairs)
- Three Peaks (Mt. Olomana)
- Reverse Olomana Trail
- Makapu`u Lighthouse Trail
- Koko Crater Stairs
- Koko Crater Rim Trail
- Diamond Head Crater Trail
- Old Pali Highway
- Mt. Ka`ala (tallest peak on O`ahu)
- Pūpūkea to La`ie
 
Maybe next time...

#hikehawaii #hawaiihiking #oahu #stairwaytoheaven #haikustairs #threepeaks #olomana #kokocrater #rimtrail #oldpalihighway #mtkaala #lowerleginjury #musclestrain #tibialisanterior #hockey

24 4
Open post by backcountryfever with ID 18403849120137976
I had high hopes of doing some hiking during a recent trip to O'ahu.  Unfortunately, a lower leg injury from a Summer Hockey League playoff game last month left me hobbling around just enough to make the trip, but not much else.   

This is what I was hoping to explore while spending 10 days on O'ahu for the first time.  I also knew I wouldn't get to all of them in one trip — especially with other things we wanted to do — so here they are in order of priority:

- Backway for the Stairway to Heaven (Haiku Stairs)
- Three Peaks (Mt. Olomana)
- Reverse Olomana Trail
- Makapu'u Lighthouse Trail
- Koko Crater Stairs
- Koko Crater Rim Trail
- Diamond Head Crater Trail
- Old Pali Highway
- Mt. Ka'ala (tallest peak on O'ahu)
- Pūpūkea to La'ie
 
Maybe next time...

#hikehawaii #hawaiihiking #oahu #stairwaytoheaven #haikustairs #threepeaks #olomana #kokocrater #rimtrail #oldpalihighway #mtkaala #lowerleginjury #musclestrain #tibialisanterior #hockey

Six months ago today, I stood on top of the tallest peak in the Americas — Aconcagua, Argentina — and it has taken me that long to finish a series of posts about my epic adventure!

This day-by-day trip report is packed with photos, route descriptions, and insights from my own experience.  You’ll find everything from what to pack, to what the camps are really like, to why I think the 360° Traverse is the ideal choice.

👉 Lnk in bio!

Whether it’s your first high-altitude climb or you’re adding Aconcagua to your mountaineering resume, the 360° Traverse offers one of the most satisfying ways to stand on the highest point in South America.

#aconcagua #climbaconcagua #aconcagua360 #360traverse #highpoint #highpointing #highestpoint #tallestpeak #andes #andesmountains #argentina #sevensummits #7summits #highaltitude #6961 #trekking #mountaineering #inka #inkaexpediciones #expedition #adventure #adventuretime #adventuretravel #adventures #climbhigh #climbhigher #peakbagging #peakbagger

40 4
Open post by backcountryfever with ID 18058499771589212
Six months ago today, I stood on top of the tallest peak in the Americas — Aconcagua, Argentina — and it has taken me that long to finish a series of posts about my epic adventure!

This day-by-day trip report is packed with photos, route descriptions, and insights from my own experience.  You’ll find everything from what to pack, to what the camps are really like, to why I think the 360° Traverse is the ideal choice.

👉 Lnk in bio!

Whether it’s your first high-altitude climb or you’re adding Aconcagua to your mountaineering resume, the 360° Traverse offers one of the most satisfying ways to stand on the highest point in South America.

#aconcagua #climbaconcagua #aconcagua360 #360traverse #highpoint #highpointing #highestpoint #tallestpeak #andes #andesmountains #argentina #sevensummits #7summits  #highaltitude #6961 #trekking #mountaineering #inka #inkaexpediciones #expedition #adventure #adventuretime #adventuretravel #adventures #climbhigh #climbhigher #peakbagging #peakbagger

My 13th time on this summit, but 1st to enjoy some watermelon at the top 🍉 Thanks to Jocelyn, the "Watermelon Girl", who lugged that all the way up and was gracious enough to share it 😁

#mounttimpanogos #mttimpanogos #mounttimp #timpanogos #timp #11er #goatchallenge #hikethewasatch #summitshot #peakbagger #summervibes #watermelon #watermelongirl #goodvibrations

39 3
Open post by backcountryfever with ID 18494366443068269
My 13th time on this summit, but 1st to enjoy some watermelon at the top 🍉 Thanks to Jocelyn, the "Watermelon Girl", who lugged that all the way up and was gracious enough to share it 😁

#mounttimpanogos #mttimpanogos #mounttimp #timpanogos #timp #11er #goatchallenge #hikethewasatch #summitshot #peakbagger #summervibes #watermelon #watermelongirl #goodvibrations

Summit Shack in Sight!

#mounttimpanogos #mttimpanogos #mttimp #timp #wasatchfront #wasatchmountains #11er #summitshack #mountainlife #hikemore #hikerlife

27 0
Open post by backcountryfever with ID 18350512492156368
Summit Shack in Sight!

#mounttimpanogos #mttimpanogos #mttimp #timp #wasatchfront #wasatchmountains #11er #summitshack #mountainlife #hikemore #hikerlife

Veered right a bit of the South saddle (red line) for a more adventurous route up to Timp... but once we got up on the ridge, we saw we could have done an even more interesting way (yellow line) cutting into that cliff band and zigzagging along the shelves as seen in the 4th picture (taken from South Timp).

#mounttimpanogos #mttimpanogos #mttimp #timp #timpanogos #mountaineering

37 1
Open post by backcountryfever with ID 18083925961775519
Veered right a bit of the South saddle (red line) for a more adventurous route up to Timp... but once we got up on the ridge, we saw we could have done an even more interesting way (yellow line) cutting into that cliff band and zigzagging along the shelves as seen in the 4th picture (taken from South Timp).

#mounttimpanogos #mttimpanogos #mttimp #timp #timpanogos #mountaineering

Only a few patches of snow remain between Aspen Grove and Emerald Lake.

#mounttimpanogos #mttimpanogos #timpanogos #timp #aspengrove #emeraldlake #snowfun #springhiking #wasatchmountains #goatworthy

39 1
Open post by backcountryfever with ID 18330819139163410
Only a few patches of snow remain between Aspen Grove and Emerald Lake.

#mounttimpanogos #mttimpanogos #timpanogos #timp #aspengrove #emeraldlake #snowfun #springhiking #wasatchmountains #goatworthy
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