Willow Creek up and back. Great mountain with a mild climb, which was good because it was 100 degrees today. So pretty with all the water this year. Had a great time! Summit views were hazy but good--almost thought I could make out Nebo?? Maybe not.
Garfimi - Dec 31, 2007 12:21 am Date Climbed: Oct 5, 2002
The Loop
One of my favorite peaks outside of the Wasatch. Have been up there different times of the year. Climbed in the fall and was blown away by all the fall colors. Winter/Early Spring was great. Early Summer is very green. Great year a around peak to do.
lcarreau - Dec 8, 2007 10:07 pm Date Climbed: Jun 18, 1980
South Willow Trail
First asscent made with the boy scouts. If you begin
early, you can also visit South Willow Lake. Its at
the bottom of the cirque beneath South Willow Peak.
Always lots of wildflowers during the summer. An
exciting way down is a snow gully or couloir on
(Deseret Peak's) east side. The snow usually doesn't
melt until late June. Beautiful scenery!
TRR - Nov 13, 2007 9:43 am Date Climbed: Nov 10, 2007
Route Climbed: The Loop
Great easy climb up the South Willow Creek and some nice snow on the way down via Pocket Fork. Clear warm day with outstanding views.
Moogie737 - Oct 30, 2007 9:10 pm Date Climbed: Sep 5, 2022
Loop Campground TH
First ascent w/ good friend Greg Clark. 3+15 to reach the summit, beautiful views. I like the variety of scenery during the first 2,000' feet of climb. Bagged Deseret the 2nd time 10-3-08 with Brent, this time taking the Pockets Fork trail up and the "normal" trail down. Color-laden aspens and leaden skies made for terrific scenery. I prefer the summit approach from the north. This was the 4th Utah county highpoint within the last 11 days, and Deseret was the lowest of all four! 3rd time on 10-25-08 w/ Brooke. Made the "loop" up Mill Fork and down the Pockets Fork side. 5+10 r/t. First winter ascent 1-20-09 in honor of my mother's 91st birthday. With Brent & Dave. The locked Forest Service gate 4 miles below the Loop CG adds 8 miles & 1500' vertical gain to the effort. Still, we made the entire trip in just under 9 hours, taking a modified Mill Fork route. Since the west side of the summit ridge had been scoured by wind & sun, a ribbon of rocky mud was visible along the southwest edge of portions of the summer trail. (4+12 up, 3+25 down) 6th ascent 10-22-09 For Anne's b-day (w/ Brent & Anne) Lots of snow above 8,500'. 2+35 up 1+48 down. Gorgeous day but windy on top. #7 10-9-10 W/ Brent, JP & Ladd Brady. Loop CG and Pockets Fork return - side trip to South Willow Peak. Beautiful rime ice and snow on the evergreens above 10,000'. #8 10-21-10 W/ Anne. 2+20 up, Pockets Fork route down. #9 10-20-11 w/ Brent. Some snow. 2+31 up. Full sun. #10 10-18-12 Another climb to celebrate Anne's b'day. W/ Anne & Brent 2+11 up, 1+42 down. Crystal clear skies but 32 degrees on top with 15-20 mph winds. Brrr. #11 10-24-13 Solo but in commemoration of Anne's birthday. Lots of snow; microspikes were a lifesaver. 2+21 up. #12 10-21-14 W/ Brent for Anne's b'day. 2+25 up, 1+51 down. Biting cold NW wind. IVD #13 10-25-14 w/ Brent & Dave in gale-force winds. Tacked on South & North Willow for good measure. Bald bist zu wieder zu Hause aber trotzdem IVD. #14 10-14-15. With Anne & Brent for Anne's birthday 2+27 up. #15 10-18-16 With Anne to celebrate her birthday - again. Cold day, 3" to 4" of snow on the trail above Antelope Canyon saddle, all worth it for the Dunford donuts back at the TH car. 2+19 up, 1+40 down. #16 10-21-16 W/ Lana. DP first, then So. Willow Peak. A tad windy but all in all pleasant. "normal route" up, down from Pockets Fork. #17 9-8-17 W/ Brent & Lana. "Normal route" and on to tag So. Willow. Saw several deer. Falls colors beginning to overtake summer greens. 2+48 up #18 07-01-22 W/Lana. Normal route up & down. Up 3+19, down 2+42. #19 09-05-22 W/Lana. 3+19, down 2+26.
Blue sky with some lenticular and small cumulus clouds forming in the afternoon high above the peaks, but hazy in the distance due to summer smog and several wildfires in the North Willow area (including one fairly large one). I could still make out Timp and Nebo, but they were faint. Hot down low, pleasant and breezy on top (but swarms of insects, mostly nonbiting, joined us for lunch at the summit). This is a very pretty and impressive mountain, even in the usually harsh noonday sun, and the route was straightforward (we did the loop up the south side and down the north side). I like the desert touch in the environment.
On a critical note: many of the locals seem not to have good wilderness ethics, as there were numerous eroded switchback shortcuts and names carved in trees.
vanman798 - Jul 16, 2007 4:42 pm Date Climbed: May 7, 2022
Amazing
May 7, 2022 - On this outing Peter, Brooke and I used the summer trail to reach to top of the twin couloirs. Nearing the top of the saddle above Mill Fork I removed my skis to boot up the last 200 feet only to find the snow so soft that I sunk completely down to the rocks and up to my elbows. I had to dig a trench as I climbed up to the saddle. Turning north at the saddle, to reach the saddle at the top of the Twin Couloirs, the snow settled and whomped several times causing us to stick to the right side and not follow the summer trail. Ditching our skis and packs at the top of the twin couloirs we summited. After we skied down the east twin. The snow was too soft making the skiing no good.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
June 3,2017 - Peter, Mike and I hiked in then skinned up the twin couloirs. Mike and I reached the peak (in under 4 hours from the car). Rendezvousing with Peter at the top of the twin couloirs we all skied the west one. Mike and I skinned back up and also skied the east twin. We had awesome spring conditions.
On May 22, 2016, just two weeks earlier, Peter and I -- after getting a late start plus having to walk the extra 2 miles up the road (as the gate into Loop Campground was closed) -- had turned around at the base of the couloirs due to afternoon sluffs coming down. There had been plenty of snow allowing us to start skinning at the first creek crossing.
June 11, 2016, Peter and I skied just the west twin as a rainstorm left us to wet and cold to skin up again to do the east one. The storm also caused us to forgo reaching the summit of Deseret Peak. This outing was Peter's first time using skins.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
June 1,2013 - Hiked in then skinned up the twin couloirs, with Alex Rudd. After reaching the peak, we returned to the saddle and skied the west of the twins. Skinned back up and skied the east twin. Awesome spring conditions.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
July 22. 2006, nice easy to follow trail, and to not strenuous of a hike. Camped the night before in the Loop Campground.
Stansbury - Jun 23, 2007 10:32 pm Date Climbed: Jun 23, 2007
South Willow Creek
Beautiful day but the bugs stay with you from the parking lot to the top. Incredibly green through the canyon up to the saddle with wildflowers. Great breezes blowing on top kept the heat at bay.
mlbcard - May 12, 2007 10:16 pm Date Climbed: Jun 24, 2004
Great Hike
Great hike on a clear weekday. Saw no one else the whole way. Great views of the Great Salt Lake and Nevada Salt Flats from the peak.
weeds19 - Mar 21, 2007 12:55 am Date Climbed: Aug 4, 2002
Loop hike
This was the first peak we climbed after moving to Ogden, UT. The peak was wonderful, but the campground at the TH was marred by the incessant sound of numerous generators running.
renogurt - Jan 25, 2007 6:15 am Date Climbed: May 17, 2006
Got to do the loop
Lots of snow still. This peak was a lot more fun than I expected. The view is pleasantly different from the Wasatch.
highonpeaks - Nov 7, 2006 5:00 am Date Climbed: Aug 26, 2006
South Willow Creek Loop and the inebrirated children foundation
This was an awsome day hike loop with great camping at the bottom of the trail area. I ended up at a crazy party the night I stayed there. As I was walking through the camp area that night I heard all this music thumping and crazy kids all over the place obviously inebriated. Which was approprate because they were part of the ICF (Inebriate the Childern Foundation). They were a fun great group of kids that welcomed me off the trail to come party with them. I figured why the hell not. I could use a beer!
grunt - Oct 22, 2006 10:05 pm Date Climbed: May 31, 1999
Almost, but not quite
Great hike, but didn't summit due to deep snow (on Memorial Day!) It would be safe to say I got lazy.
apachedino - Oct 7, 2006 5:08 pm Date Climbed: May 17, 2006
Nice loop
Still lots of snow when I went which made for some real fun head first glissading down. Pretty area in contrast to the proving grounds. Amazing views, from Ben Lammond to Nebo to Swasy to Ibapah. You can really tsee the geography of Utah from here
Outdoorpartner - Oct 5, 2006 5:59 am Date Climbed: Oct 5, 2004
Nice loop hike
One of the few summits where you can take a different trail down and end up at the same place. Have done this 5 times.
JFields - Oct 5, 2006 1:01 am Date Climbed: Jun 20, 2003
via Mill Fork
Fun hike.
surgent - Sep 12, 2006 10:51 pm Date Climbed: Aug 12, 2003
Still sore from Borah
Three days after a hike up Borah in Idaho. My legs were in good shape... I almost jogged up the peak! Still some good snow banks even in August. Made it in good spirits. Saw an eagle!
John Styrnol - Aug 13, 2006 12:35 am Date Climbed: Aug 12, 2006
South Willow Creek
A friend and I climbed Deseret Peak today and came down the north trail (loop hike). Awesome views of cliffs and other mountain ranges in the distance. Very nice day weather wise, cool with a nice little breeze.
Climbed in September 2005 with Susan. Extremely windy at the saddle, but the wind died down at the summit. Beautiful sunny day with extraordinary views towards the Great Salt Lake and the west desert.
Dennis Poulin - Jul 25, 2006 4:56 pm Date Climbed: Jul 5, 2006
Loop CG
One of the most beautiful hikes I have ever done. Lots of wildflowers.
JDrake - Jul 3, 2008 9:56 pm Date Climbed: Jul 3, 2008
BeautifulWillow Creek up and back. Great mountain with a mild climb, which was good because it was 100 degrees today. So pretty with all the water this year. Had a great time! Summit views were hazy but good--almost thought I could make out Nebo?? Maybe not.
Garfimi - Dec 31, 2007 12:21 am Date Climbed: Oct 5, 2002
The LoopOne of my favorite peaks outside of the Wasatch. Have been up there different times of the year. Climbed in the fall and was blown away by all the fall colors. Winter/Early Spring was great. Early Summer is very green. Great year a around peak to do.
lcarreau - Dec 8, 2007 10:07 pm Date Climbed: Jun 18, 1980
South Willow TrailFirst asscent made with the boy scouts. If you begin
early, you can also visit South Willow Lake. Its at
the bottom of the cirque beneath South Willow Peak.
Always lots of wildflowers during the summer. An
exciting way down is a snow gully or couloir on
(Deseret Peak's) east side. The snow usually doesn't
melt until late June. Beautiful scenery!
TRR - Nov 13, 2007 9:43 am Date Climbed: Nov 10, 2007
Route Climbed: The LoopGreat easy climb up the South Willow Creek and some nice snow on the way down via Pocket Fork. Clear warm day with outstanding views.
Moogie737 - Oct 30, 2007 9:10 pm Date Climbed: Sep 5, 2022
Loop Campground THFirst ascent w/ good friend Greg Clark. 3+15 to reach the summit, beautiful views. I like the variety of scenery during the first 2,000' feet of climb. Bagged Deseret the 2nd time 10-3-08 with Brent, this time taking the Pockets Fork trail up and the "normal" trail down. Color-laden aspens and leaden skies made for terrific scenery. I prefer the summit approach from the north. This was the 4th Utah county highpoint within the last 11 days, and Deseret was the lowest of all four! 3rd time on 10-25-08 w/ Brooke. Made the "loop" up Mill Fork and down the Pockets Fork side. 5+10 r/t. First winter ascent 1-20-09 in honor of my mother's 91st birthday. With Brent & Dave. The locked Forest Service gate 4 miles below the Loop CG adds 8 miles & 1500' vertical gain to the effort. Still, we made the entire trip in just under 9 hours, taking a modified Mill Fork route. Since the west side of the summit ridge had been scoured by wind & sun, a ribbon of rocky mud was visible along the southwest edge of portions of the summer trail. (4+12 up, 3+25 down) 6th ascent 10-22-09 For Anne's b-day (w/ Brent & Anne) Lots of snow above 8,500'. 2+35 up 1+48 down. Gorgeous day but windy on top. #7 10-9-10 W/ Brent, JP & Ladd Brady. Loop CG and Pockets Fork return - side trip to South Willow Peak. Beautiful rime ice and snow on the evergreens above 10,000'. #8 10-21-10 W/ Anne. 2+20 up, Pockets Fork route down. #9 10-20-11 w/ Brent. Some snow. 2+31 up. Full sun. #10 10-18-12 Another climb to celebrate Anne's b'day. W/ Anne & Brent 2+11 up, 1+42 down. Crystal clear skies but 32 degrees on top with 15-20 mph winds. Brrr. #11 10-24-13 Solo but in commemoration of Anne's birthday. Lots of snow; microspikes were a lifesaver. 2+21 up. #12 10-21-14 W/ Brent for Anne's b'day. 2+25 up, 1+51 down. Biting cold NW wind. IVD #13 10-25-14 w/ Brent & Dave in gale-force winds. Tacked on South & North Willow for good measure. Bald bist zu wieder zu Hause aber trotzdem IVD. #14 10-14-15. With Anne & Brent for Anne's birthday 2+27 up. #15 10-18-16 With Anne to celebrate her birthday - again. Cold day, 3" to 4" of snow on the trail above Antelope Canyon saddle, all worth it for the Dunford donuts back at the TH car. 2+19 up, 1+40 down. #16 10-21-16 W/ Lana. DP first, then So. Willow Peak. A tad windy but all in all pleasant. "normal route" up, down from Pockets Fork. #17 9-8-17 W/ Brent & Lana. "Normal route" and on to tag So. Willow. Saw several deer. Falls colors beginning to overtake summer greens. 2+48 up #18 07-01-22 W/Lana. Normal route up & down. Up 3+19, down 2+42. #19 09-05-22 W/Lana. 3+19, down 2+26.
seanpeckham - Jul 21, 2007 11:32 pm Date Climbed: Jul 21, 2007
Very niceBlue sky with some lenticular and small cumulus clouds forming in the afternoon high above the peaks, but hazy in the distance due to summer smog and several wildfires in the North Willow area (including one fairly large one). I could still make out Timp and Nebo, but they were faint. Hot down low, pleasant and breezy on top (but swarms of insects, mostly nonbiting, joined us for lunch at the summit). This is a very pretty and impressive mountain, even in the usually harsh noonday sun, and the route was straightforward (we did the loop up the south side and down the north side). I like the desert touch in the environment.
On a critical note: many of the locals seem not to have good wilderness ethics, as there were numerous eroded switchback shortcuts and names carved in trees.
vanman798 - Jul 16, 2007 4:42 pm Date Climbed: May 7, 2022
AmazingMay 7, 2022 - On this outing Peter, Brooke and I used the summer trail to reach to top of the twin couloirs. Nearing the top of the saddle above Mill Fork I removed my skis to boot up the last 200 feet only to find the snow so soft that I sunk completely down to the rocks and up to my elbows. I had to dig a trench as I climbed up to the saddle. Turning north at the saddle, to reach the saddle at the top of the Twin Couloirs, the snow settled and whomped several times causing us to stick to the right side and not follow the summer trail. Ditching our skis and packs at the top of the twin couloirs we summited. After we skied down the east twin. The snow was too soft making the skiing no good.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
June 3,2017 - Peter, Mike and I hiked in then skinned up the twin couloirs. Mike and I reached the peak (in under 4 hours from the car). Rendezvousing with Peter at the top of the twin couloirs we all skied the west one. Mike and I skinned back up and also skied the east twin. We had awesome spring conditions.
On May 22, 2016, just two weeks earlier, Peter and I -- after getting a late start plus having to walk the extra 2 miles up the road (as the gate into Loop Campground was closed) -- had turned around at the base of the couloirs due to afternoon sluffs coming down. There had been plenty of snow allowing us to start skinning at the first creek crossing.
June 11, 2016, Peter and I skied just the west twin as a rainstorm left us to wet and cold to skin up again to do the east one. The storm also caused us to forgo reaching the summit of Deseret Peak. This outing was Peter's first time using skins.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
June 1,2013 - Hiked in then skinned up the twin couloirs, with Alex Rudd. After reaching the peak, we returned to the saddle and skied the west of the twins. Skinned back up and skied the east twin. Awesome spring conditions.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
July 22. 2006, nice easy to follow trail, and to not strenuous of a hike. Camped the night before in the Loop Campground.
Stansbury - Jun 23, 2007 10:32 pm Date Climbed: Jun 23, 2007
South Willow CreekBeautiful day but the bugs stay with you from the parking lot to the top. Incredibly green through the canyon up to the saddle with wildflowers. Great breezes blowing on top kept the heat at bay.
mlbcard - May 12, 2007 10:16 pm Date Climbed: Jun 24, 2004
Great HikeGreat hike on a clear weekday. Saw no one else the whole way. Great views of the Great Salt Lake and Nevada Salt Flats from the peak.
weeds19 - Mar 21, 2007 12:55 am Date Climbed: Aug 4, 2002
Loop hikeThis was the first peak we climbed after moving to Ogden, UT. The peak was wonderful, but the campground at the TH was marred by the incessant sound of numerous generators running.
renogurt - Jan 25, 2007 6:15 am Date Climbed: May 17, 2006
Got to do the loopLots of snow still. This peak was a lot more fun than I expected. The view is pleasantly different from the Wasatch.
highonpeaks - Nov 7, 2006 5:00 am Date Climbed: Aug 26, 2006
South Willow Creek Loop and the inebrirated children foundationThis was an awsome day hike loop with great camping at the bottom of the trail area. I ended up at a crazy party the night I stayed there. As I was walking through the camp area that night I heard all this music thumping and crazy kids all over the place obviously inebriated. Which was approprate because they were part of the ICF (Inebriate the Childern Foundation). They were a fun great group of kids that welcomed me off the trail to come party with them. I figured why the hell not. I could use a beer!
grunt - Oct 22, 2006 10:05 pm Date Climbed: May 31, 1999
Almost, but not quiteGreat hike, but didn't summit due to deep snow (on Memorial Day!) It would be safe to say I got lazy.
apachedino - Oct 7, 2006 5:08 pm Date Climbed: May 17, 2006
Nice loopStill lots of snow when I went which made for some real fun head first glissading down. Pretty area in contrast to the proving grounds. Amazing views, from Ben Lammond to Nebo to Swasy to Ibapah. You can really tsee the geography of Utah from here
Outdoorpartner - Oct 5, 2006 5:59 am Date Climbed: Oct 5, 2004
Nice loop hikeOne of the few summits where you can take a different trail down and end up at the same place. Have done this 5 times.
JFields - Oct 5, 2006 1:01 am Date Climbed: Jun 20, 2003
via Mill ForkFun hike.
surgent - Sep 12, 2006 10:51 pm Date Climbed: Aug 12, 2003
Still sore from BorahThree days after a hike up Borah in Idaho. My legs were in good shape... I almost jogged up the peak! Still some good snow banks even in August. Made it in good spirits. Saw an eagle!
John Styrnol - Aug 13, 2006 12:35 am Date Climbed: Aug 12, 2006
South Willow CreekA friend and I climbed Deseret Peak today and came down the north trail (loop hike). Awesome views of cliffs and other mountain ranges in the distance. Very nice day weather wise, cool with a nice little breeze.
mtn_pika - Aug 4, 2006 10:18 pm
Awesome viewsClimbed in September 2005 with Susan. Extremely windy at the saddle, but the wind died down at the summit. Beautiful sunny day with extraordinary views towards the Great Salt Lake and the west desert.
Dennis Poulin - Jul 25, 2006 4:56 pm Date Climbed: Jul 5, 2006
Loop CGOne of the most beautiful hikes I have ever done. Lots of wildflowers.