Mount Wire a.k.a Big Beacon

Spring is a great time to hike in the foothills above Salt Lake City.  Most of the snow is gone by this time of year on the low elevation peaks such as Mount Wire (elevation 7143 feet).  This is an excellent hike to begin conditioning for those higher peaks to climb in the summer.  Mount Wire has been described as a brown mound; but what this trail lacks in vegetation it more than makes up for in awesome views.  From the summit of Mt. Wire you look down into Emigration Canyon on one side and Red Butte Canyon on the other.  And the entire Salt Lake Valley to the point of the mountain is visible as well as Antelope Island and the Great Salt Lake.  I did mention that the views on this little mound were spectacular!
The trailhead is found above Research Park near the University of Utah.  Drive towards Red Butte Gardens and the new Museum of Natural History turning right on Colorow Drive and park alongside the road just before you reach the Huntsman Corp. building.  The trail begins on the left and will cross the Bonneville Shoreline trail before continuing to the right of Georges Hollow.  The popular "Living Room" hike is on the same trail.  You will reach a junction just shy of the one mile mark and the trail to Mt. Wire continues straight while the living room hike curves to the left.  The goal is to reach the old airway beacon which sets directly on the summit of Mount Wire.  There used to be two microwave radio reflectors also on the top of Mount Wire but they were removed last November.  The hike is 4.5 miles roundtrip with an elevation gain of 2140 feet.

Not quite there yet - false summit.

American Fork Twin Peaks in the far distance.

Old airway beacon - now we know we have almost made it!

Geodetic Marker

Adding a few feet of elevation

Mountain snail graveyard

First peak bagged of the year - Mount Wire!

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 Wildflower of the Week

This delicate little wildflower is a Wasatch Bluebell.  They are found scattered in the foothills this time of year and usher in the beginning of wildflower season.  Look close to the ground under the oaks or you may miss them.

"For myself I hold no preferences among flowers

so long as they are wild, free, spontaneous!"

Ed Abbey

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******Miles hiked tally

beginning March 22, 2013
Beginning of this Blog

248.8