Parents  Loading... Albums
| My Wasatch Photos   | 
| Page Type: Album Image Type(s): Scenery | Page By: Rocky Alps Created/Edited: Aug 20, 2007 / Oct 26, 2009 Object ID: 326341 Hits: 2245 Loading... Page Score: 88.45% - 12 Votes Loading... Vote: Log in to vote |
The Wasatch RangeThese are some pictures I've taken in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah. Most of them were taken in the short stretch of mountains extending from Salt Lake City in the north to Provo in the south, which has the highest concentration of rugged peaks in the Wasatch, rising up to 7,000 feet above the valley floors. No other place in the United States offers as many hiking and climbing opportunities so close to a major city, and the scenery is comparable to what you'd find in the Tetons, Sierra, or Colorado Rockies. The best views require hiking longer distances to escape the crowds, but there are also some nice places you can drive right up to, such as Albion Basin in Little Cottonwood Canyon and Silver Flat Reservoir in American Fork Canyon. Despite a large network of well-maintained trails, most of the Wasatch 11ers (mountains with summits above 11,000 feet) require some form of scrambling (climbing using your hands) and all involve a little off-trail hiking. It's great being able to live next to such beautiful peaks!
I put together a slideshow of my pictures: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, & Part 4.Ten Favorite PeaksIt was hard to come up with a definitive order for which Wasatch mountains I liked the most, so I just decided to sort my ten favorites by elevation, listing the highlights of each one (as found on each mountain's standard route). For a more in-depth explanation of each mountain's difficulty, and to compare these hikes with others nearby, visit the Wasatch Mountain Club's Hike Listing & Ratings Table (compiled by Kip Yost). A couch potato would find all these hikes to be extremely difficult, while a hardcore mountaineer would probably find all of them easy, so it's all relative. Other people's lists may vary slightly, but of these ten mountains there is not a stinker in the bunch, and getting to the top of all of them presents you with the best scenery that the Wasatch has to offer.
Mount Nebo - 11,928 ft.
Standard Route: North Ridge
Roundtrip Mileage: 9 mi.
Elevation Gain: 3,330 ft.
Technical Difficulty: Class 2
Overall Difficulty: Moderate
The highest mountain in the range is actually one of the easiest to summit. There aren't many other large mountains nearby, so there are expansive views in every direction from the top.
=> Trip Report
Mount Timpanogos - 11,750 ft.
Standard Route: Timpooneke Trail
Roundtrip Mileage: 14 mi.
Elevation Gain: 4,437 ft.
Technical Difficulty: Class 2
Overall Difficulty: Strenuous
The most popular mountain in the entire state of Utah has a little bit of everything. The trail is long, but it offers waterfalls, meadows, and wildflowers along the way. The mountain can get quite crowded in the summer, so weekday hikes are generally more enjoyable.
Twin Peaks - 11,330 ft.
Standard Route: Broads Fork
Roundtrip Mileage: 10 mi.
Elevation Gain: 5,120 ft.
Technical Difficulty: Class 3+
Overall Difficulty: Very Strenuous
This is the highest peak on the Cottonwood Ridge, where the most difficult scrambling and some of the most rugged terrain in the Wasatch is found. The loose scree field leading up to the ridge requires considerable effort to ascend, but the views looking down on Big and Little Cottonwood Canyon are well worth it, and even the the lower meadow offers a rewarding destination for the casual hiker.
=> Trip Report
Pfeifferhorn - 11,326 ft.
Standard Route: Red Pine Trail
Roundtrip Mileage: 10 mi.
Elevation Gain: 3,700 ft.
Technical Difficulty: Class 3
Overall Difficulty: Strenuous
Located in the heart of the Wasatch, this trail goes past Red Pine Lake, with some boulder-hopping needed to reach the Alpine Ridge above and a short section of scrambling before the final ascent to the summit. There are great views to the south towards Box Elder Peak and Mount Timpanogos, to the west towards the rest of the Alpine Ridge, and north towards Cottonwood Ridge.
=> Trip Report
Lone Peak - 11,253 ft.
Standard Route: Jacobs Ladder
Roundtrip Mileage: 12.6 mi.
Elevation Gain: 5,643 ft.
Technical Difficulty: Class 3+
Overall Difficulty: Very Strenuous
Considered by many to be the most difficult mountain to climb in the Wasatch, this monarch's high, exposed summit is a very worthwhile goal. The spectacular granite cirque offers some of the best rock-climbing around, and standing on top of the tiny summit block with sheer drop-offs on three sides provides quite a rush. Many people use the Bear/Cherry Canyon trail instead (longer, more elevation gain) since it's less steep and passes by a stream that can be used to obtain water.
=> Trip Report
Mount Superior - 11,132 ft.
Standard Route: Cardiff Pass
Roundtrip Mileage: 5.6 mi.
Elevation Gain: 3,420 ft.
Technical Difficulty: Class 3
Overall Difficulty: Strenuous
Rising abruptly above Alta at the back of Little Cottonwood Canyon, this impressive mountain (Monte Cristo is actually the name of the highest summit but I like calling the whole thing Mount Superior) has the most sustained scrambling on its standard route of any Wasatch mountain. The views of Albion Basin below and the jagged mountains all around are top-notch.
=> Trip Report
Devil's Castle - 10,920 ft.
Standard Route: Cecret Lake Trail
Roundtrip Mileage: 3.6 mi.
Elevation Gain: 1,520 ft.
Technical Difficulty: Class 3+
Overall Difficulty: Moderate
This peak provides the best bang for your buck of any peak in the Wasatch. Getting to the top and back can be done relatively quickly, but the scramble over the three main summits is among the most technically-demanding of any of the Wasatch peaks. Albion Basin is heavily-visited in late summer, when the bright wildflowers offer a stark contrast to the intimidating north face above.
Cascade Mountain - 10,908 ft.
Standard Route: South Ridge (via Dry Creek Trail)
Roundtrip Mileage: 12 mi.
Elevation Gain:4,000 ft.
Technical Difficulty: Class 3
Overall Difficulty: Very Strenuous
This seldom-visited peak offers the best views of Utah Valley and the mountains surrounding it. Though none of the scrambling moves are that difficult, much of the south ridge is covered with thick bushes and trees, and the constant bushwhacking and route-finding can be tiring.
=> Trip Report
Sundial Peak - 10,320 ft.
Standard Route: Lake Blanche Trail
Roundtrip Mileage: 9 mi.
Elevation Gain: 4,000 ft.
Technical Difficulty: Class 3
Overall Difficulty: Strenuous
Lake Blanche has the best views of any lake in the Wasatch, with Sundial towering above and Monte Cristo looming in the the background. Sundial Peak is actually just the highpoint of a ridge extending north from Cottonwood Ridge. Some exposed scrambling is required to get to the top.
Mount Olympus - 9,026 ft.
Standard Route: Tolcat Canyon
Roundtrip Mileage: 7.5 mi.
Elevation Gain: 4,200 ft.
Technical Difficulty: Class 3
Overall Difficulty: Strenuous
Rising straight up above the east side of the Salt Lake Valley, this popular mountain is the most easily accessible of any of the other mountains on this list (which is saying something, considering how close the mountains are to the cities on the Wasatch Front). The trail is quite steep, but offers the best summit views of any peak in the range, with many of the centrally located Wasatch 11ers visible to the south.
Other Favorite AreasThese are my favorite non-summit areas that I've enjoyed hiking to in the Central Wasatch, which contains the highest concentration of quality hikes around (mostly in Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons). They're listed by ease of access (left to right => easiest to hardest), with practically anyone being able to make it to Cecret Lake and only fit hikers likely to make it to the Lone Peak Cirque.
I haven't done as much hiking in the Southern Wasatch, but there are some great mountains down there too, including several scenic roads that don't even require you to step out of the car.
Images
|
|
