- Joined
- Dec 23, 2013
- Messages
- 3,715
It's been four years since I last hiked the north summit of Mount Olympus, so Saturday morning, I thought I'd give it a go and see if I could still make it to the top.
![01.jpg 01.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92893-0a0ff349f2ef67613530be8b1c7f7a52.jpg)
Got to the trailhead just before 7:00 am. Silhouette of the north side of Mount Olympus
![02.jpg 02.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92894-58a8096e11daa53db0b7b9f5e0c6cc2b.jpg)
My friend Jeff (aka Circles) met me at the trailhead and hiked with me to just beyond the Mount
Olympus Spring. He took the next shot.
![NSMO_05.jpg NSMO_05.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92896-9dff0563bff6ac1e7c659034a20c1f89.jpg)
On my own from this point.
![03.jpg 03.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92897-3df09833b4f7ef0767f879633033133c.jpg)
Making my way up the drainage
![04.jpg 04.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92898-dda362c8872fb51d9a52a4cfe859b35f.jpg)
The route ahead.
![05.jpg 05.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92899-945cd95be71d6b54c95ee5f0d13b6a60.jpg)
Looking north towards the University of Utah with the sun beginning to hit the foothills.
![06.jpg 06.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92900-97fd005e812592db5c904102d954b972.jpg)
Steep going up the couloir
![07.jpg 07.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92901-b1ff5823e584bac78ab2fb990f88040f.jpg)
More stair stepping ahead
![08.jpg 08.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92902-e782715c58ca1acd99342f20e40d8313.jpg)
Frost in the couloir
![09.jpg 09.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92903-54e039537e4b1b462281d6aed39ae012.jpg)
First good view to the north
![10.jpg 10.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92904-2d9b3c6591671e71cb5bcc19693c12ca.jpg)
Steep gully that leads to the ridge west of the north summit
![11.jpg 11.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92905-c5c08c261f12a57a645477ef85dea878.jpg)
View slightly northeast, from the top of the gully
![12.jpg 12.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92906-4f4b4960ad80506744d47c4a06f518de.jpg)
A shark's fin, located on the ridge that leads to the southern summit of Olympus. Broads Fork Twin Peaks in the distance
![12b.jpg 12b.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92907-1497a4fdd8d6f3e1e6685d0e6ba3d2f8.jpg)
Downclimbing from the ridge. I'll have to squeeze under the logs ahead.
![13.jpg 13.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92909-e5bdb6b607add361c4ce0cd7c040c33e.jpg)
Scooting on my back beneath the logs
![14.jpg 14.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92910-7a35bde3eaf6d39fc44fc2c0c897dc5c.jpg)
Rattlesnake Alley. I've seen more rattlesnakes here in this little stretch than any other place in the Wasatch
![15.jpg 15.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92911-4bb7f8857a98b0ef3568caa5a51196fd.jpg)
Steep chute that leads to the north summit. When I was near the top of the chute, one
of my Nalgene bottles tore through the netting on my day pack and careened down
to the bottom. I picked it up on my way out - surprised that it didn't break or crack.
![16.jpg 16.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92912-bc757345c5b24d81aa5e71a1022de9d6.jpg)
On the north summit, checking out the view to the north
![17.jpg 17.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92913-7a9cad168e3c57722603224c4f0b7106.jpg)
Mount Aire to the northeast
![18.jpg 18.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92914-068c1ba6c7756a0260e23ec05c9d479b.jpg)
Dead tree on the route down
![19.jpg 19.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92915-171252883d3bb1a1659b799e49fcedec.jpg)
A little scramble back up to Rattlesnake Alley
ga
Another scramble to gain the ridge again
![21.jpg 21.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92917-b7fc93691015daa8426dc5e9668c179c.jpg)
A look over at the south summit with a few hikers on top
![22.jpg 22.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92918-7339ec3e3ea997f616dfa133aaf14a5f.jpg)
Another dead tree on the ridgeline, with the Salt Lake Valley below
![23.jpg 23.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92919-4e31c2b94d0f327fe2ed75f51faf0bcd.jpg)
Once you're in the gully that leads off the ridge, you can take the upper route or the lower route to
leave the gully. Heading up I took the low route, on the way out I chose the upper route which
essentially goes along a narrow ledge up against the northern slabs. This old man should have
returned to lower option.![Oops! :oops: :oops:](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
![24.jpg 24.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92920-1996ef02d0c3e07eda830db958ea53e5.jpg)
Looking down at Neff's Knob
![25.jpg 25.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92921-e673f2f5ed2c8e3ceb13967a1ddfb8b6.jpg)
Good view of Grandeur Peak to the north and Grandview Peak along the most distant ridgeline
![26.jpg 26.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92922-a45049cee722205583000ee30cbb657f.jpg)
Neff's Ridge that I hiked earlier in the year with @regehr
![27.jpg 27.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92923-6fef8b8b2dec4d06e56367d06a81ab67.jpg)
Some fading colors still left in the couloir on my way down
![28.jpg 28.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92924-0db82a9066addee269e7f11ae5e742c2.jpg)
Some yellows left
![29.jpg 29.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92925-caae4dbcfff6ff76abfbaff495f7f4b3.jpg)
More yellow
![30.jpg 30.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92926-1a682fae016e7a83a25cff3afd5bd489.jpg)
View of Neff's Knob at the bottom of the couloir
![31.jpg 31.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92927-d6f3fb432af7ef997eb32b1c21fc6e42.jpg)
View back at Olympus from the trailhead upon returning to my car.
Thoughts - Someone needs to turn back the hands of time! Someone needs to shift the universal shifter into reverse! I want my youth back.
I'm still pretty sore today from this hike, but here is hoping I can make it again in another four years.
And last but not least - Final Score: Tree 1 Scatman 0![Scatman :scatman: :scatman:](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
![32.jpg 32.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92928-c6d569d7d40148e1692433de763e01f5.jpg)
![01.jpg 01.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92893-0a0ff349f2ef67613530be8b1c7f7a52.jpg)
Got to the trailhead just before 7:00 am. Silhouette of the north side of Mount Olympus
![02.jpg 02.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92894-58a8096e11daa53db0b7b9f5e0c6cc2b.jpg)
My friend Jeff (aka Circles) met me at the trailhead and hiked with me to just beyond the Mount
Olympus Spring. He took the next shot.
![NSMO_05.jpg NSMO_05.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92896-9dff0563bff6ac1e7c659034a20c1f89.jpg)
On my own from this point.
![03.jpg 03.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92897-3df09833b4f7ef0767f879633033133c.jpg)
Making my way up the drainage
![04.jpg 04.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92898-dda362c8872fb51d9a52a4cfe859b35f.jpg)
The route ahead.
![05.jpg 05.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92899-945cd95be71d6b54c95ee5f0d13b6a60.jpg)
Looking north towards the University of Utah with the sun beginning to hit the foothills.
![06.jpg 06.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92900-97fd005e812592db5c904102d954b972.jpg)
Steep going up the couloir
![07.jpg 07.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92901-b1ff5823e584bac78ab2fb990f88040f.jpg)
More stair stepping ahead
![08.jpg 08.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92902-e782715c58ca1acd99342f20e40d8313.jpg)
Frost in the couloir
![09.jpg 09.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92903-54e039537e4b1b462281d6aed39ae012.jpg)
First good view to the north
![10.jpg 10.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92904-2d9b3c6591671e71cb5bcc19693c12ca.jpg)
Steep gully that leads to the ridge west of the north summit
![11.jpg 11.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92905-c5c08c261f12a57a645477ef85dea878.jpg)
View slightly northeast, from the top of the gully
![12.jpg 12.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92906-4f4b4960ad80506744d47c4a06f518de.jpg)
A shark's fin, located on the ridge that leads to the southern summit of Olympus. Broads Fork Twin Peaks in the distance
![12b.jpg 12b.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92907-1497a4fdd8d6f3e1e6685d0e6ba3d2f8.jpg)
Downclimbing from the ridge. I'll have to squeeze under the logs ahead.
![13.jpg 13.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92909-e5bdb6b607add361c4ce0cd7c040c33e.jpg)
Scooting on my back beneath the logs
![14.jpg 14.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92910-7a35bde3eaf6d39fc44fc2c0c897dc5c.jpg)
Rattlesnake Alley. I've seen more rattlesnakes here in this little stretch than any other place in the Wasatch
![15.jpg 15.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92911-4bb7f8857a98b0ef3568caa5a51196fd.jpg)
Steep chute that leads to the north summit. When I was near the top of the chute, one
of my Nalgene bottles tore through the netting on my day pack and careened down
to the bottom. I picked it up on my way out - surprised that it didn't break or crack.
![16.jpg 16.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92912-bc757345c5b24d81aa5e71a1022de9d6.jpg)
On the north summit, checking out the view to the north
![17.jpg 17.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92913-7a9cad168e3c57722603224c4f0b7106.jpg)
Mount Aire to the northeast
![18.jpg 18.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92914-068c1ba6c7756a0260e23ec05c9d479b.jpg)
Dead tree on the route down
![19.jpg 19.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92915-171252883d3bb1a1659b799e49fcedec.jpg)
A little scramble back up to Rattlesnake Alley
![20.jpg 20.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92916-36130d7d7d670d9be1f7bc6b151168f0.jpg)
Another scramble to gain the ridge again
![21.jpg 21.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92917-b7fc93691015daa8426dc5e9668c179c.jpg)
A look over at the south summit with a few hikers on top
![22.jpg 22.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92918-7339ec3e3ea997f616dfa133aaf14a5f.jpg)
Another dead tree on the ridgeline, with the Salt Lake Valley below
![23.jpg 23.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92919-4e31c2b94d0f327fe2ed75f51faf0bcd.jpg)
Once you're in the gully that leads off the ridge, you can take the upper route or the lower route to
leave the gully. Heading up I took the low route, on the way out I chose the upper route which
essentially goes along a narrow ledge up against the northern slabs. This old man should have
returned to lower option.
![24.jpg 24.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92920-1996ef02d0c3e07eda830db958ea53e5.jpg)
Looking down at Neff's Knob
![25.jpg 25.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92921-e673f2f5ed2c8e3ceb13967a1ddfb8b6.jpg)
Good view of Grandeur Peak to the north and Grandview Peak along the most distant ridgeline
![26.jpg 26.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92922-a45049cee722205583000ee30cbb657f.jpg)
Neff's Ridge that I hiked earlier in the year with @regehr
![27.jpg 27.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92923-6fef8b8b2dec4d06e56367d06a81ab67.jpg)
Some fading colors still left in the couloir on my way down
![28.jpg 28.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92924-0db82a9066addee269e7f11ae5e742c2.jpg)
Some yellows left
![29.jpg 29.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92925-caae4dbcfff6ff76abfbaff495f7f4b3.jpg)
More yellow
![30.jpg 30.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92926-1a682fae016e7a83a25cff3afd5bd489.jpg)
View of Neff's Knob at the bottom of the couloir
![31.jpg 31.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92927-d6f3fb432af7ef997eb32b1c21fc6e42.jpg)
View back at Olympus from the trailhead upon returning to my car.
Thoughts - Someone needs to turn back the hands of time! Someone needs to shift the universal shifter into reverse! I want my youth back.
And last but not least - Final Score: Tree 1 Scatman 0
![32.jpg 32.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92928-c6d569d7d40148e1692433de763e01f5.jpg)
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