What an unbelievable winter we’ve had along the Wasatch Front this year. It’s been record-breaking with totals reaching 900″! For many of us, that excitement has transitioned from powder skiing to mountaineering as warmer weather consolidates this incredible snowpack. Conditions couldn’t better right now for local objectives that involve an ice axe and crampons. A…
Tag: wasatch front
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…
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…
Water Weight and Snowpack
I read UAC avalanche reports every day for the areas I like to play in. The intent to follow what is going on in our mountains for better decision making around safe winter recreation. Yesterday’s forecast referenced the natural avalanche on Little Water Peak and mentioned something I found very interesting. The analysis part of…
Cold Fusion Couloir to North Timpanogos
I look forward to the season between winter snowshoeing and summer hiking…when avalanche risk is minimal, skies are blue, temps are mild and adventure is high! This spring brought some adventurous fun up Mt. Olympus from Neff’s Canyon and now Cold Fusion to North Timpanogos. Seeing Timp from my house every day, I’ve wanted to…
Mt. Olympus from Neff’s Canyon
Mt. Olympus is a Wasatch Front favorite, on par with Granduer Peak or Squaw Peak in this collection of challenges selected for Utah’s inaugural Six-Pack. As for me with all three of these peaks, I’ve already done each several times by now and wasn’t too interested in doing any of them again the “standard” way……
Rock Canyon Combo
Squaw Peak was #2 for me as I work through Utah’s first Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge in 2021. However, this peak wasn’t enough by itself, so we bushwhacked and broke trail up to Buffalo Peak to make this a Rock Canyon Combo! Friends from the Wasatch Peak Baggers were already talking about doing Squaw in…
Grandeur Peak Yo-Yo
I accepted the new Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge for Utah yesterday with a Grandeur Peak Double! There are several routes up Grandeur that I would categorize as Standard, Strenuous and Adventurous. The Standard route is up from the Church Fork trailhead out of Mill Creek Canyon. This eastern approach climbs 2,500′ in about 3 miles. …