Ben Lomond Spring Break

Sam's spring break marks the winding down of the winter hiking season. This year was quite mild up in the mountains, but there was still plenty of snow along the ridge of Ben Lomond above North Ogden. We climbed out of the car at 6:15am and the first sound we heard was a pack of coyotes howling to the south of us. We then heard a lone coyote howl to the north of us. We started up the skyline trail that runs north along the ridge up to Ben Lomond summit. We only had about 4 hours to get as far as possible before we had to turn around. After the initial climb up the south edge from the road, we reached a good amount of snow at about 7000'. We put on the snowshoes and they made all the difference going forward. The snow was quite hard, so the crampons on the shoes were extremely helpful in getting up the steeper inclines. We then walked along th eridge for another few miles before turning around. All told, we covered 5.12 miles and gained 2100 feet before turning back. The windblown ridge was absolutely beautiful to look at and hike along, as the snowcap dropped off on the leeward side into small, clifflike structures.

Sam at about 7300' feet, going up a 45 degree incline.

Sam with Ben Lomond summit in the background.

Steve going up the same 45 degree incline.

Heading North along the ridge.

Yup.

Cool view of the leeward side of the ridge.

We weren't the only creatures up there.

Longer view of the ridge, heading back down (south).

Breaking in the snowshoes

After debating all winter on whether or not we should get snowshoes this year, we finally bought some. We each got a pair of 30" Tubbs Journey shoes and they were certainly worth the $130 we paid for them. Right when we were ready to go backpack up to the Outlaw cabin up on Lone Peak in the snow, Steve came down with a really crappy cold that lasted two weeks. So, after he got better, we were finally able to break in the new snoeshoes. We decided that we'd go on a Friday night up East Milcreek canyon, where we spend a handful of Friday nights back in high school... we even went to Godfathers pizza afterwards for old times sake. We decided to take the Bowman trail to Goblers knob, but due to many of the signs still being covered by snow, we were unable to find it. So, after walking past the locked gate up the road for 3 miles, we finally found the trailhead for the Alexander basin trail to Goblers Knobb. We broke out the snowshoes and gators and walked about 3/4 of a mile up the drainage, only to turn back as the light was starting to dwindle. Overall, we walked 7.92 miles, and ascended 1600 feet. We'll certainly take another stab at Gobblers this spring.

The Alexander basin sign that is supposed to be at eye level.


This noble log is holding up a wall of snow.

Sam decending. Decending in snowshoes was new to us, as you are forced to walk sideways, or downhill on your toes.

Sam climbing. This snow was still about 3 feet deep underneath him.

Sam putting on his gators, cause apparantly he doesn't like soaking wet feet.

Sam marching up the drainage... while Steve falls behind.

Olympus

This is the second time we climbed Olympus in the winter. Last year we did it in April and Sam sprained his ankle trying to ski without skis, while sitting on his feet at the same time. Nevertheless, we loved the hike in the winter and quickly added it to our annual schedule. So far we have done it without crampons or other snow gear, minus a rope to tie ourselves off on the steeper more dangerous descents. On this trip we summited in a little more than 2 1/2 hours. About an hour more than our best summer ascent time. The snow is a big factor, but we took it easy as well, we weren't necessarily in a hurry. On the way down we saw more dogs than people. It sure is annoying maneuvering around dogs, when their masters don't respect us as non-dog lovers. Although, there was one guy who held his dog down and actually covered its eyes too. It was nice to see a dog owner with respect.

This was a new addition to the trail.
It reads: Paul M Butterworth, Home at Last, Birth & Death Date
Maybe when we die we'll get some of these for eachother:
Steve and Sam, still hiking the trails...

Steve starting up the rock scramble, minus the rocks 

Looking south at the Wasatch Mtns.

Looking southwest at the Salt Lake Valley

Steve's better side, just about to summit

Steve's last steps to the summit

Sam's last steps to the summit

Steve on the summit

Sam on the summit

Sam starting the descent. We descend by tying ourselves to each other,
that way if one person dies the other can too :)

Steve's descent

Sam took a leap of faith and leaped a little farther than his faith did.

Winter camping

The route.

The Stansbury Mountain Range just south-west of Grantsville in Tooele County.
We hiked 5 miles from the base up to the North Willow Lake cirque.

We decided to go all out on this camping trip and grow the beards.

After about 4 miles of hiking on the road we decided to bush-wack it.

At 4 1/2 miles the sun went down.

Steve decided to take the hard way up.

We had about a 1/2 mile of snow to trudge through. It ranged 1 - 3 feet deep.
 Maybe next year we'll get snowshoes.

View of the Tooele Valley looking east. On the left is The Great Salt Lake.

In the morning we found that our tent had moved about 5 feet from its
original position. It was unearthly quiet during our entire stay.

Sunrise.

We couldn't find the lake, but my best guess was this spot. Later, with
the help of Google Earth, I found that the lake was located just a few
more hills over at thebase of the pines in the right of this photo.

Steve, prepping the stove for breakfast.

Our famous Sausage Egg McBacon breakfast, minus the bacon and
English muffins. Thanks to Steve for packing it up.

The sunrise was beautiful to watch as the colors changed on the rocks.

Starting back down, with one last look at the beautiful mountains.

We couldn't have asked for a better weekend to winter camp. 

It was a wonderful trip that we plan to make an annual event.

Mt. Ogden Wanderings Photos

Our Path along (mostly) the needles trail.

Below the Mt. Ogden summit.

Sunrise

Snow Basin Wanderings

In the early summer, we decided to try our luck at Mt. Ogden via the Bues Canyon trail. After getting soaked walking through "Fern Valley," we resolved we would try again another time. On Friday we decided to give it another try via the snow basin trailhead.

Neither of us has done this trail before, so when we arrived at 6:00, it was quite dark. We stumbled our way towards where we expected the trail head to be, and then started out. We only had a couple hours to make it to the summit, and since Steve was just getting back into it after resting his leg for 5 weeks, so we didn't summit. However, we did learn that the snowbasin trail system looks pretty much like a pile of spaghetti strewn all over the mountain. After wandering the trails for 2 hours, we ended up at the upper lodge, which sits about 200ft below the summit.

Going down, we decided the trails weren't worth it, and just followed the Gondola straight down the mountain. It only took us 30 minutes to get down that way. Overall, not too bad of a Friday morning.

Next up... Deseret Peak over Grantsville - 11,031 ft

Steve's Top of Utah Marathon

I ran in the Top of Utah marathon on Saturday, September 17th. My training hasn't been very good since the Kings Peak hike, due to an injury in my right leg that I picked up in late summer. But I figured overall, I could still get a new PR. The weather didn't seem that it was going to cooperate, and there was a slight rainfall right up until two minutes before the starting gun sounded. At that point, a groan went out over the croud as the skys dumped rain, soaking everyone to the bone before the race even started. For the first two hours of the race, at best it drizzled, and at worst, poured in buckets up to and including hail.

I kept a 3:40:00 pace for the first 21 miles, but at that point, my injured leg started getting the best of me. I dropped down to a much slower pace and finished the race with a total time of 3 hours 47 minutes. So, in spite of the rain, hail, and injury, I still set a PR by 2 minutes.

Now, I'm taking 6 weeks off from running to heal up, then we'll start again for next year.

Labor day - Lone Peak

Lone Peak is situated in between the Salt Lake and Utah Valleys, with an elevation of 11,253'. With the Orson Smith trailhead sitting about 4,800', the Cherry Canyon trail gains significant elevation for a long time. In fact, if you compare this to Kings Peak, you gain/lose nearly an additional 3,000' in a much shorter span. Kings averages about 400' per mile, while Lone Peak averages about 1000' per mile. This trail, from the granite walls, wildflowers, meadows, and cliffs of the Lone Peak cirque are hard to beat in terms of beauty.

On Labor Day, we went up the Cheery Canyon trail, looping around to the North of the main ridge in order to pass through some of the most beautiful scenery in the wasatch mountains. The trail winds past granite walls that surround fields of wild flowers, all covered by gigantic pine trees. This area of the trail is finished by going past the "outlaw cabin" on the way towards the summit. At this point, it's a scramble up and across countless granite boulders to reach the summit ridge. From there, the moving gets slow, as you carefully climb the last 300' to the summit along the exposed ridge.

Our overall time was 3 hours 45 minutes to the summit, and 2 hours 20 minutes to descend.

Lone Peak Photos

Steve running so fast you can barely see him.


Sam running through our favorite section of trail.

Carins are cool.... but somewhat futile on this hike.

Steve working his way up the granite boulder field. Lone peak summit is in the background.

On the days where your balance isn't quite up to par, dude, wear a helmet.

Summiting

Sam on the summit.

Somene chained a flag to the summit. We don't remember it being there last year.

Sam running down Jacobs ladder.