Mormon Pioneer Trail Snowshoe

A sure fire way for me to overcome the wintertime blues is to get outdoors and snowshoe or winter hike.  Even though the temperatures are in single digits if the sun is shining it's a wonderful time to be in the mountains.  I joined up with a great group from the Wasatch Mountain Club recently and discovered a really marvelous, scenic, not to difficult trail to add to my favorite snowshoe hikes.  This hike begins at historic Mormon Flats and follows the Mormon Pioneer / Pony Express trail into Little Emigration Canyon.  This is a nice tranquil path which begins by following East Canyon creek, crosses a foot bridge and enters a very gentle canyon (no big climbs here).  Snowshoe for as long as you like then turn around and return.  Our group hike for a total of 3.6 miles.  There was abundant evidence of wildlife traversing the hills in this area.  The landscape was covered with hoar frost giving a white coating of ice crystals to all shrubs especially near the small creek creating a beautiful winter wonderland. Perfect for a scenic snowshoe!

To find Mormon Flat trailhead take I-80 east from Salt Lake City to the Jeremy Ranch exit 141.  Turn left at the off-ramp and cross under the freeway.  Turn left again and pass by the Jeremy Ranch park and ride turning right onto Jeremy Ranch Road which passes the golf course on your left.  Continue about 3.5 miles and find parking along the side of the road.  The last stretch of road is unpaved but has been plowed for winter recreation.  We walked about .5 miles from where we left the cars to reach the trailhead.  Here is a small glimpse of this wonderful trail.

Foot bridge crossing East Canyon creek.

Frost clinging to the Teasel plant.

This is an example of hoar frost.

An animal left it's stash in this tree then dashed away!

Happy to be outdoors!

Members of the Wasatch Mountain Club spent about 30 minutes helping this young man get his Ford truck unstuck.  What a great group!  Here is a small map of the area of our hike.

I would also like to share an awesome resource for snowshoeing with excellent trail information, tips on gear, how to dress in layers and just about everything you need to know to get started enjoying this wonderful winter sport. 
 http://www.snowshoeutah.com/

Happy Hiking

Mount Millicent

Mount Millicent has been on my radar to climb for quite a while.  Millicent is that stunning mountain peak that rises high above the west end of Brighton ski resort, overlooking Silver Lake nature trail and towering above Lake Mary - elevation 10,452.  Little did I know what climbing this peak involved - namely boulder scrambling the entire way to the top.  I'm talking about scrambling boulders for about a quarter of a mile gaining approximately 600 feet in elevation. That's steep folks! (At least in my book!) I have to say, however, that the climb wasn't as frightening as it looked from the bottom.  It was a worthy challenge and a bit of an adrenaline rush.  WHAT FUN!  Mount Millicent is reached by first climbing to Twin Lakes Dam following the well traveled trail from the right side of the Silver Lake, a distance to the dam of 1 1/4 miles.  This piece of trail is absolutely beautiful during the autumn season. 

Make your way to the left side of Twin Lakes dam and connect with the ski service road which winds it's way up to the Milly Express Lift and ski patrol station.  Here the boulder scramble begins so put the trekking poles away and start to climb on all fours. 

Following the ski service road.

This lone pine caught my eye.

Milly Express ski lift and ski patrol cabin.

Here the fun begins.  We didn't see a designated trail so we just started climbing up.  We found a cable line and followed it up to the first piece of equipment.

If any of you readers know what this equipment is used for, please leave me a comment.  I would love to learn the purpose of the equipment on top of Mount Millicent.

This really neat looking slab of rock jutted out from the boulders.  Had to have a picture.  Next we came to an equipment shed.  There were two shovels attached to a rope on top of the shed.  Nifty system for snow removal.

From the shed it is just a little more climbing to the very top.  By now I'm really tired and have had my fill of boulder scrambling, but we are so close I will not give up!!

Navigating the last of the boulders at the top!

Martha still smiling!  Mount Wolverine in the background.

We made it!  Time to relax, have a snack to refuel and soak up the views - they were spectacular!

Found the perfect rock chair.

Enjoying the view of Mount Tuscarora

Here are a few photos of the fantastic views from high atop Mount Millicent.  We also had great views of Lake Mary, Martha and Catherine.

Honeycomb Cliffs

Looking down on Twin Lakes

Mount Superior

Patsy Marley and the Wolverine cirque.

One word of caution - Climbing this peak is a totally different type of hike.  I had some mighty sore muscles for a couple of days afterward.  It felt like I had done an hours worth of leg squats, push ups and bicep curls without setting foot in a gym.  Maybe I should go climb boulders every week! 

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 Happy Hiking!

Murdock Peak

Patriots Day 9-11-15

Murdock Peak is a 9602 foot mountain peak overlooking and adjacent to The Canyons Ski Resort.  Murdock Peak is located almost right on the border of Salt Lake County and Summit County but outside the Wasatch National Forest boundary.  Our hike begins at the very top of Millcreek Canyon where the road ends into a large parking area.  Here you will find the trailheads for Big Water to the right and Little Water straight ahead. Take the Little Water trail for a short distance until it branches left onto the Old Red Pine Road trail. (This is a short cut, I promise)  IMPORTANT REMINDER  For a more peaceful and enjoyable hike make sure you are hiking on an odd numbered day to avoid the many mountain bikers that zip down these trails on even numbered days. Also this area is only accessible from July 1 until November 1.  Follow the Old Red Pine Road trail as it crosses the bridge and gradually makes its way up to and connects with the Great Western Trail.  After about 2 miles you will arrive at the junction for the Big Water trail which is part of the Great Western trail system.

Arriving at GWT junction

Nice wide trail

Now you have a nice wide trail for approximately one mile until you come to the last junction of the hike which connects this trail to the Wasatch Crest trail.  Along this section of trail you have your first glimpse of the destination - Murdock Peak.

First look at the summit of Murdock Peak

At this huge triangle junction you find trails leading to the Wasatch Crest trail towards Desolation Lake and Mill D in Big Cottonwood and also down towards the Canyons Ski Resort. (Not a very good picture I'm afraid)  This is a ridge that looks down into the Park City area.
 

From this point the really fun bushwhacking begins.  There were several packed down game trails on the left side of the junction so pick one and start bushwhacking up to a higher ridge that will traverse towards the summit of Murdock Peak.  I dislike bushwhacking and avoid it unless absolutely necessary, but this wasn't horrible.  You mainly follow game trails through low-lying shrubs, but be prepared by wearing long hiking pants to avoid scratching up your pretty legs.

There are great views of the surrounding mountains!  Be sure to take time to appreciate the sights.

 

Once you reach this ridge you will come to the fenced ski resort boundary.  Most of the land in this area including Murdock Peak is privately owned.  

Another half mile or so and you will reach the summit of Murdock Peak.  There was a geocache container at the top with a hikers log inside.  Be sure to record your hike and leave some words of wisdom.

                       We climbed Murdock Peak on Patriots Day, 9-11-15.

We chose to take the Big Water then Little Water trail back to the parking area for a hike of about 9.6 miles.  Here is a map!

You might notice that some of the aspens in our area look sick.  There is a complex of fungal leaf diseases causing damage to the aspens.  The leaves turn spotted dark brown and then drop off.  I saw evidence of this at the beginning of the Little Water trail, but higher up near Murdock Peak the aspens were turning the normal beautiful gold.

Fungal disease on the aspen leaves.

 

These aspens are healthy and beautiful.

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Happy Hiking!

Bald Mountain - High Unitas

Summit of Bald Mountain

Bald Mountain in the High Unita wilderness is the highest elevation peak I have ever climbed in Utah so far.  A towering 11,943 foot summit!  And it is one of the easiest peaks I have ever climbed.  Inexperienced hikers and younger children can make this climb - no problem!  The views from atop Bald Mountain are spectacular!  The Unita mountains are well known for the hundreds of small lakes scattered all over the area and you get a great view of many lakes from the summit of Bald Mountain - in every direction!  I highly recommend this hike even though it is an hour plus drive from Salt Lake City.  I did notice the air a bit thinner at this high elevation especially on the climb up.  It is normal to have a little trouble catching your breath, but it is important to be aware of the more serious signs of altitude sickness such as headaches, nausea, vomiting, and dizziness.  Another note of warning, afternoon thunderstorms with lightning are very common in the High Unita mountains so plan your hike accordingly and turn around and head back to your car quickly if a storm brews while you are hiking.  The trail for Bald Mountain is really enjoyable.  It is 1.5 miles to the summit (although the trail sign says 2 miles) with an elevation gain of 1,180 feet.  The trail cuts through natural ledges in the rocks and small stands of subalpine firs.  Breathe in the fragrant scent of these firs.  There is one false summit before you tackle the rocky staircase to the true summit.  The summit of Bald Mountain is flat with awesome unobstructed panorama views of the surrounding mountain peaks and valley lakes.  MUY MAGNIFICO!!

Beginning of the Bald Mountain trail.

It's really only 1.5 miles to summit.

Trail begins climbing right away.

First view of Notch Mountain and lakes to the west.

More climbing! UP UP UP!

Reids Peak

Not many trees on this hike so enjoy these fragrant pines!

The trail follows natural rock ledges.

False summit

Hayden Peak

Cliffs looking up at the summit

Dog friendly trail, but remember there is no poop fairy!

Land of many lakes.

Looking down on Mirror Lake to the northeast.

Final staircase climb to the summit of Bald Mountain

At the top of Bald Mountain with Hayden Peak and others in the background.

A cairn on the very edge of the cliff.

Found a Geocache.

Heading down after a nice picnic at the top.

Wildflowers still in bloom include Unita groundsel, asters, and roundleaf harebells.

I'm assuming everyone knows how to find Kamas, Utah.  From Kamas turn right on Center Street which is Utah Highway 150 also know as the Mirror Lake Highway.  Continue 29 miles on UT 150 to the Bald Mountain trailhead where you will find a large parking area on the left.  Here you will also find the trailhead for Notch Mountain, a much longer hike.  If you get to Mirror Lake, you have gone too far.  Here's a small map of the area.

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Enjoy!  And Happy Hiking!!