Mighty Mount Olympus

From my bedroom window I have a perfect view of Mount Olympus.  Every morning when I open my blinds there it is bigger than life.  I tried climbing Olympus several years ago with Marc, Cory and Mike.  I couldn't make it.  I sent the boys on ahead and felt defeated.  I also lost both big toe nails on that climb and Mount Olympus has intimated me ever sense.  Well not any more!  Plus today I changed my goal.  I decided I didn't need to reach the summit to enjoy this hike.  My goal today was to make it to Tolcat Canyon stream crossing which is a distance of 1.7 miles with an elevation gain of 1,290 feet.  I was hiking alone today so I took my time and thoroughly enjoyed the hike.  It also helped that today was cool at 47 degrees. The views again were magnificent and the glacier lilies were a bloomin'!

Far above the freeway with Oquirrh mountains in background.

Salt Lake City downtown under the juniper tree.

Looking southeast at Twin Peaks

"For myself I hold no preferences among flowers so long as they are wild, free, spontaneous!"   Edward Abbey

Glacier Lily

I could hear the waterfall before I could see it.

Tolcat Canyon Stream.  I reached my goal and made a new friend.

Crazy Hiker Chicks Top 10 Reasons to Hike

#10 Hiking is an excellent cure for boredom.

#9 Hiking will strengthen your legs.  You may even notice calf muscles.

#8 On hiking trails you meet the most friendly people.  And even friendlier dogs.

April Snow Brings Out the Snowshoes!

I'm not putting my snowshoes away just yet!  Monday's storm brought over a foot of fresh snow to the Brighton area of Big Cottonwood.  Snow conditions yesterday afternoon were awesome!  This was my first experience with snowshoeing in April and I was treated to the most spectacular mountain vistas!

Guardsman Pass

The state road known as Guardsman Pass takes you from Big Cottonwood canyon over the mountain pass into either Heber Valley or Park City.  In winter this road is one of the few places where snowmobiles are allowed to traverse the roads.  But it is also a great snowshoe trail and the mountain is big enough for all to enjoy!  The snowshoe route is about 3 miles roundtrip and took slightly more than 3 hours total for us to snowshoe to the pass and back.  You will follow the snowmobile road for about 3/4 mile then veer to the right from the state road and head into the forest of lodge pole pines -- BEAUTIFUL!  At this point there is a sign warning snowmobilers to stay on the state road, but it is obvious that many ignore the sign.  The terrain gets pretty steep from here to the top of the pass and it is helpful to follow snowmobile tracks as much as possible.  This hike is challenging!  And my legs ached after 3 hours of hiking in the snow, but I love it!

At the top of Guardsman we found this amazing old tree.

The mountain vistas were gorgeous on this sunny afternoon.  We are looking back towards Gobblers Knob and Mount Raymond on the right.

I'm lucky to have a friend that loves the outdoors as much as I do!

I guess we can share the mountain if we have to!

Crazy Hiker Chicks Top 10 Reasons to Hike

# 10  Hiking is an excellent cure for boredom.

# 9   Hiking will strengthen your legs.  You may even notice calf muscles!

Mountain Goat Sighting

I hike for a lot of different reasons and sometimes like today when I have nothing else going on I'll plan a hike.  And quite often I break the cardinal rule of hiking and go alone.  The amazing thing about hiking for me is that I am always (99.9 percent of the time) treated to something special.  Today it was seeing mountain goats.  Two of them . . .  Mr. and Mrs.  Big, shaggy, beautiful mountain goats!  Wait!   I'm getting ahead of myself.  The mountain goats were spotted at the end of my hike so back to the beginning . . . . 

Giant Granite Boulders of Little Cottonwood

This hike begins at the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon from the UTA Park n Ride on the north side of the road.  This Park n Ride is well hidden from the main canyon road, but you will see a sign pointing the way.  It is on the opposite side of the road from the Temple Quarry and Little Cottonwood trail heads.  Park at the very far east end of the lot near the bathrooms.  You can see the beginning of a small trail, climb up and start exploring.  I followed the trail to some huge 1000 ft granite slabs that were geared for serious rock climbers.  I climbed over big granite boulders until I reach a place that looked back down into the Salt Lake Valley.  I had a lot of fun climbing boulders and I stopped to watch a pro climb up one of the granite slabs.  But the highlight was spotting the mountain goats.  Apparently, people see the goats on the mountainside all the time because very conveniently there is a telescope provided right at the parking lot to get an up close and personal view of these amazing goats.  

Trail goes right through this wall.  Looks like a pipe did to at one time.

Rock climbers paradise.

Huge slabs of granite and nice views across the canyon.

Granite boulder up close.  I need this piece for my kitchen counter tops!

Very fun time climbing on the boulders.

I brought home a piece of granite.  It's very beautiful!

  Rock Garden

Again, what is this plant???

  The mountain goats are right on the edge of these rocks . . . really!

Disclaimer:  I borrowed the photo of the mountain goat from the internet.  My little Olympus Tough Shot couldn't zoom in close enough, but this is what the goats looked like through the telescope provided at the Park n Ride.

    

Crazy Hiker Chick's Top 10 Reasons to Hike

# 10    Hiking is an excellent cure for boredom!

"The Living Room"

Come on up and sit a spell!

The "living room" hike begins in the foothills just above Research Park near the University of Utah.  Very clever people have arranged flat slabs of sandstone into arm chairs, sofas and foot rests.  There are different arrangements every time I hike up there.  So head on up take a seat and enjoy great views of the Salt Lake Valley. 

Room with a view!

Just chillin'

Where's the big screen TV?

 Today we discovered "the kitchen"

Further up the mountain behind the living room less than a quarter mile we found this rock wall and called it the kitchen.  The wall was probably built by some crazy college kids.  It was really quite impressive.

 

Fire pit in the kitchen

Heading down the trail we found what appeared to be a science experiment.  There was something big, scary looking and dead in the bottle.

Another great view of the city.  See if you can find the state capital building.

The hike is about 2.5 miles roundtrip with an additional little bit to see the kitchen.  The elevation gain is about 1010 feet.  To find the trail head drive towards Red Butte Gardens and the new Museum of Natural History turn right on Colorow Drive and just before you reach the Huntsman Corp building you will see the trail head on the left.  The "living room" is a very popular hike!

 

Trail Head

 

 "Get outdoors!  Get into nature and make your own discoveries".  Scott, the paleontologist (PBS)

Spring Break = Road Trip

There are so many great places to explore in Utah.  Hidden treasures in our own backyard!  Here's a real gem!

Little Wild Horse Canyon

 

Little Wild Horse is a slot canyon in the San Rafael Swell of Emery County. (Place of my birth)  It is a bit challenging to get to but is well worth the effort.  From Price, Utah take US 6 eastbound to I-70 (about 60 miles), then travel west on I-70 for about 8 miles until you reach the Hanksville/SR-24 exit 147.  Take exit 147 and travel south for 24 miles.  Follow signs leading to Goblin Valley State Park.  Just before you reach the entrance to Goblin Valley you will see the sign for Little Wild Horse Canyon on your right.   Turn right and follow the road another 5.3 miles before coming to the parking lot and trail head.  The hiking trail follows a wash lined with very old cottonwood trees for about half mile before you arrive at a trail  junction.  Left begins the Bell Canyon trail and right is Little Wild Horse Canyon.  Little Wild Horse is family friendly and kids love it!  It is possible to hike Bell Canyon and Little Wild Horse as an 8 mile loop.  (Don't take the little kiddos on that one).  The best time of year to hike Little Wild Horse is spring and fall.  Summer is too hot in the desert.  Also take plenty of water and food and don't hike during a rain storm.  Flood waters can make this canyon very dangerous!  The textures in the walls of this canyon are amazing!  Love, Love, Love this desert hike!  Oh, and don't forget to visit Goblin Valley while you're in the neighborhood!  The state park entrance fee is $7.00.  Take a picnic and spend some time playing hide and seek or steal the flag among the goblins.

 So many different textures in the walls of the canyon.

Grandson Eric leads us through the slot.  Kids love this hike!

 The entire group thanks to a kind hiker!

 Entrance to one of several slots.

 Home, home on the range where the deer and the antelope play!

 Three sisters stand guard.

   Did you know that the original name was Mushroom Valley?

"Not all those who wander are lost."      JRR Tolkien