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Show MOUNTAIN TIMES Hiking the Big Four Peaks Overlooking Salt Lake Valley By Steve Lewis route rises nearly 4,000 feet. The trail begins at about 5800 South Wasatch Blvd. and rises through foothills, a steep forested section and then finishes with an off-trail rock scramble. In 3-to-5 hours of tough hiking, you can wander up Tolcat Canyon, sit atop the south summit and have a most splendid view of the Twin Peak and Peak Lone Wilderness areas and the valley below A finely tempered nature longs to escape from his noisy cramped surroundings into the silence of the high mountains where the eye ranges freely through the still pure air and fondly traces out the restful contours apparently built for eternity : — Albert Einstein iking or walking in the woods and mountains is the exercise that needs no gym. It is the prescription without medicine, the weight control without diet. Being in nature is the tranquilizer without a pill, the therapy without psychoanalyst, the fountain of youth that is no legend, the vacation that doesn’t cost a cent. If you live or travel along the west central flank of the Wasatch and daily gaze at the majestic ridgelines and peaks to the east, transcend your visible link to those marvelous mountains and formally connect by visiting the trails and ridgelines leading to Salt Lake Valley’s four principal eastern skyline summits — Grandeur, Mt. Olympus, Big Cottonwood Twins and Lone Peak. Grandeur Peak — 8,299 feet via Church Fork.’ Grandeur’s summit forms the western border of the Millcreek Ridge between Parleys and Millereek Canyons. It is the easiest and most accessible of the major peaks overlooking Salt Lake Valley and is a Hil Big Cottonwood Twin Peaks —11,300 feet via Broads Fork. The summits of these peaks — not to be confused with the American Fork ai LN Photo by Steve Lewis twin peaks — form the west A mountain goat enjoys the view from Mount ridgeline separating Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons. Olympus wilderness looking toward Twin Peaks. The primary trail starts near the lower loop “S” Turn, some 4.5 miles up wonderful 2-to-3 hour walk for hikers Big Cottonwood Canyon, winds up of most ages and abilities. The primary 5,130 feet through timbered slopes, trailhead is southeast of the main peak stands of aspen, a majestic meadow, and begins at the far north end of the steep scree slopes and some scrambling Church Fork picnic area, some 3 miles on a 4to-6 hour demanding venture to up Millcreek Canyon. the east peak. Take a trial run visit to the meadow before you venture to the high Mt. Olympus, South Summit — ridgelines of Twin Peaks to keep it from 9,026 feet via Tolcat Canyon. The becoming one grand misadventure. north face of Mt. Olympus dominates the sky line from Salt Lake Valley’s east bench, and yet it’s sister peak to the south is the highest of the two and is the crest to which the popular valley Lone Peak — 11,243 feet via Jacob’s Ladder. This peak is a huge granite massif with several routes to the north and south summits, its highest points forming one of the most photogenic high granite cirques in the Wasatch. The traditional western route is up Jacobs Ladder (also known as the Movie Road) from Draper’s Corner Canyon. With an elevation gain of over 5,500 feet, this 5-to-7 hour trek to the top is long and demanding - yet highly rewarding. Access is also available up Big Willow Canyon east of Sandy, via the Draper Ridge, by scrambling in the upper reaches of Bells Canyon or from northeast Alpine — a route that rises through the first and second hammongogs (meadows), up the south face and finally to the south summit. The Wasatch Mountain Club has published a good hiking map guide that covers routes to all these peaks and regularly sponsors a multitude of walks, hikes, climbs and mountaineering ventures in the Central Wasatch. Whether you are a novice or a serious mountaineer, instant access to a myriad of hikes and climbs beckon. Before starting out on hikes in the mountains or in the woods, plan and prepare — take extra water, food, and clothing. Protect and preserve natural plants, animals, waterways and landscapes. Hike and recreate in small, quiet groups that never litter. And somewhere, sometime don’t forget to smile and shout, “Yo hallelujah, aye carumba. I’m alive in the woods of the Wasatch.” @ PROTECTION js an environmental responsibility with a long history ie Company biologists, together with local agencies and community groups, have UTA to insure effective protection of native wildlife from dangers associated s M, with utility operations. — — — was made for ea a significant contributions to wildlife protection. f UTAH POWER THE RIGHT KIND OF ENERGY A Division of PacifiCorp PAGE 7 |