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- Dec 23, 2013
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I had the opportunity on Saturday to hike with two BCP icons, @Artemus and @Jammer, as we hiked up Devils Castle above Albion Basin in Little Cottonwood Canyon. We began our hike at the parking lot at Alta, due to the fact that the dirt road to the Forest Service Campground and the official trailhead had yet to open for the season. We began by hiking up the Forest Service road, then leaving the road when we arrived at the campground. At this point, we made our way up a steep grade to the west side of the ridge. After stopping for a snack once on the ridge, we traversed the ridge to the east, then made our way down a gully and the rest of the mountain; cut across the ski resort and back to our vehicle. Essentially, it was a figure eight loop hike. The traverse across the ridge had some exposure in a couple of places and I think I may have had a butt pucker moment somewhere up top too. It was a perfect day for a hike, along with great company to boot. The route took us six hours and nineteen minutes to complete. I might add that the wildflowers are starting to come into their own in the basin. Forget-me-nots, Bluebells, Paintbrush, Western Wallflower and Alpine Buttercups were showing off their colors along our route. We also spotted a moose, a deer, a couple of marmots, ground squirrels and a lot of birds, which made the hike that much better. Here are some images:
A look along the Cottonwood Ridge
Devils Castle
Sugarloaf Mountain
Western Wallflower
Desretparsley
Hiking up the Forest Service Road
Field of Forget-me-nots
Artemus, eyeballing Devils Castle
Jammer and Artemus off-trailing for a bit
Alpine Buttercups
Cecret Lake
Some snow still left - looking west.
Getting closer to Devils Castle
The views are getting better the higher we go - Cottonwood Ridge in the distance.
Parry Primrose
First view of Mount Timpanogos to the south
Snack time!
Graylocks four-nerve daisy, on the ridge
Two legends and one want-to-be.
Pittsburg Lake
Beginning our traverse to the east, along the ridge
Atremus, giving us the thumbs up
Slightly out of focus Jammer making his way along the ridge
Artemus in his element
I love this shot! Artemus - thinking "Piece of cake!"
Now we are starting to get into the thick of it.
Jammer, with Albion Basin below
Artemus with Cecret Lake below
Looking at what lies ahead of us.
Jammer on one of the high points along the ridge
Atremus and Jammer discussing route options with a lady who was doing our route in reverse.
Still some butt puckering ahead.
This way.
Jammer and Artemus contemplating our next move.
Another shot of Pittsburg Lake with Timpanogos in the distance
A steep section along the ridge
Looking back the way we had come.
More looking back on our route
Jammer and Artemus approaching the top
On top!
On top of Devils Castle
Scatman, still alive at this point, on top
Beginning our descent.
Tricky part here
View to the east
A look back at the east side of Devils Castle
Artemus, heading down the gully
Showing us how it is done. I fell and slid on this stretch and got a ton of snow up my kilt.
Artemus amid the Alpine Buttercups
Devils Castle form the east and a sea of Alpine Buttercups.
The End.
A look along the Cottonwood Ridge
Devils Castle
Sugarloaf Mountain
Western Wallflower
Desretparsley
Hiking up the Forest Service Road
Field of Forget-me-nots
Artemus, eyeballing Devils Castle
Jammer and Artemus off-trailing for a bit
Alpine Buttercups
Cecret Lake
Some snow still left - looking west.
Getting closer to Devils Castle
The views are getting better the higher we go - Cottonwood Ridge in the distance.
Parry Primrose
First view of Mount Timpanogos to the south
Snack time!
Graylocks four-nerve daisy, on the ridge
Two legends and one want-to-be.
Pittsburg Lake
Beginning our traverse to the east, along the ridge
Atremus, giving us the thumbs up
Slightly out of focus Jammer making his way along the ridge
Artemus in his element
I love this shot! Artemus - thinking "Piece of cake!"
Now we are starting to get into the thick of it.
Jammer, with Albion Basin below
Artemus with Cecret Lake below
Looking at what lies ahead of us.
Jammer on one of the high points along the ridge
Atremus and Jammer discussing route options with a lady who was doing our route in reverse.
Still some butt puckering ahead.
This way.
Jammer and Artemus contemplating our next move.
Another shot of Pittsburg Lake with Timpanogos in the distance
A steep section along the ridge
Looking back the way we had come.
More looking back on our route
Jammer and Artemus approaching the top
On top!
On top of Devils Castle
Scatman, still alive at this point, on top
Beginning our descent.
Tricky part here
View to the east
A look back at the east side of Devils Castle
Artemus, heading down the gully
Showing us how it is done. I fell and slid on this stretch and got a ton of snow up my kilt.
Artemus amid the Alpine Buttercups
Devils Castle form the east and a sea of Alpine Buttercups.
The End.
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