Sugarloaf Peak 11,051

Sugarloaf Peak with Devils Castle in background.

We only intended to hike to Germania Pass today - just an easy hike above Cecret Lake in Little Cottonwood canyon.  Germania Pass is the saddle on Bullion Divide between Little Cottonwood canyon and American Fork canyon, smack dab in the middle of Alta ski resort.  When you reach Germania Pass at 10,500 feet, Mount Baldy is only a half mile to the west (already climbed that one this year) and Sugarloaf Peak is 1/3 mile to the east.  What the hey!  We decided to climb on up to the summit of Sugarloaf Peak (11,051).  It wasn't the greatest of trails, but we made it!  Bagged another mountain peak!  This adventure began at the Cecret Lake trailhead near Albion Basin campground, passing pretty Cecret Lake and following the ski lifts to Germania Pass.

The trail was very steep across loose rocks.  Thank goodness for a few cairns to mark the way.  This is the view climbing up.

We make it to the top!  And another hiker was just waiting there to take our picture.  He was impressed that a couple of grandmas made the climb. (I was kind of impressed too!)  Beautiful mountain views in all directions.  We are standing in front of Timpanogos.

Pictured below are Timpanogos, American Fork Twin Peaks, Mount Superior/Monte Cristo and Devil's Castle.  Great views from Sugarloaf!

Geological marker - proof we were at top!

Now the seriously hard part for me was getting down!  The other hiker we met at the top of Sugarloaf climbed down the west side towards Devil's Castle.  We could see him on the trail far below when we were ready to head down so we decided to try his way.  Not good!  Again not much of a trail and very, very steep with loose rock debris covering a greater majority of the trail.

Heading down towards Devil's Castle

Looking back up at the top of Sugarloaf.

We saw the most beautiful ferns growing from the rocks near the end of our hike.

A final look back at Sugarloaf Peak.  Climbing this one was a big accomplishment!

The map explains our journey!

But doesn't show any trails going up or coming down.

 

My best calculation is that we hiked a distance of 3.5 miles with an elevation gain of about 1600 feet.  We didn't have the GPS working today and my phone app isn't trust worthy.

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Peaks Bagged

1.  Grandeur Peak ♦♦ 8299 

2.  Reynolds Peak ♦♦ 9422

3.  South Guardsman Pass Peak ♦♦ 10,420

4.  Mount Baldy ♦♦ 11,068

5.  Mount Evergreen ♦♦ 9,840

6.  Mount Tuscarora ♦♦ 10,660

7. Mount Wolverine ♦♦ 10,795

8. Sugarloaf Peak ♦♦ 11,051

******Miles hiked tally     

beginning March 22, 2013

128