DAY 3 – Tag the Top, Return to Camp 1 Midnight came quickly. The rain had stopped and the sky looked clear in those early morning hours. Headlamps bounced around in the dark as we each got ready to go, silently hoping for the kind of weather to safely summit today. 4ish miles each way,…
Author: Backcountry Fever
Getting to Gannett
Getting to Gannett is legit! We chose the standard route up from the southwest through Titcomb Basin. This is the “easiest” way to Wyoming’s tallest peak, which is still pretty tough considering how far in you have to go and how much gear you have to bring. Here are the overview stats from our trip…
Planning for Gannett
This was the year I wanted to get three highpoints that involve glacier travel: Hood, Rainier and Gannett. I shoulda just picked a week in May and drove out to climb Mt. Hood by myself. I coulda done Mt. Rainier too if other plans had solidified. And Gannett… Gannett woulda fallen through had I not…
Scaled the Dragon’s Tail to Grandeur
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…
Rolling Hills to Lookout Peak
There is nothing really too spectacular about this foothill behind Salt Lake. However, we took an afternoon to knock it off the list as part of this year’s Six Pack of Peak Challenge. I’ve known about this peak for a while. I remember first reading about it from GirlonaHike.com while searching out routes to Grandview…
Grand Canyon Double R2R: Second Leg, BA to NK
Everything was going according to plan as the group enjoyed an evening together on the South rim. While the majority felt excitement about tomorrow, a few were contemplating their readiness for this Grand Challenge. This is the opposite kind of hike in every way you can think of. It reminds me of what the Park…
Grand Canyon Double R2R: First Leg, NK to BA
Hiking the Grand Canyon is one of those experiences where once just isn’t enough. I’m not sure you can take it all in even after doing it twice. How many times does it take? Not sure yet. This past weekend, I hiked across for the 4th and 5th time and still loved every minute of…
My Favorite Route to Deseret Peak
May has been a busy month for me, all consumed by a garden project I’m working on for my wife. I volunteered to do it to save a few bucks but had no idea it would cost me a fortune in time! As a result, I’ve missed out on a lot of mountaineering adventures this…
Timp from Everest Ridge
This year’s Six Pack of Peaks Challenge for Utah wasn’t announced until late March. Before then, I honestly didn’t think this would continue for Utah again in 2022. I was sure it died a quick death after its inaugural year. From what I can tell, this challenge didn’t get much participation despite how many people…
Better Backcountry Communication
There have been a few situations in the mountains where I wish we all carried radios. The most recent was during our hike to South Lone Peak last month where our group got separated on the way up. A very qualified friend ventured off on his own. Which is fine, he totally knows what he’s…