- Joined
- Dec 23, 2013
- Messages
- 3,821
One of the best springtime hikes along the Wasatch Front is Dale Peak, which is located on the eastern side of Parley's Ridge, which is the ridge on the north side of Parley's Canyon. Normally, Dale doesn't get a lot of traffic, and we probably saw seven or eight people along the way - three of which were trail runners.
Usually by mid May, the wildflowers are in bloom along the entire route. While the lupine and the mule's ear weren't quite there yet, the balsamroot, larkspur, phlox, groundsel, various types of vetch, mountain dandelions, Oregon grape, cryptantha, ball-head waterleaf, death camas, and spotted stickseed were all abundant and beautiful along the entire route. Throw in some Utah serviceberry shrub, and it made for quite the hike
The temperature was in the low sixties yesterday which made for pleasant hiking along the ridge, though there was some wind blowing throughout the day.
View down into Parley's Canyon with Mount Aire at the center of the image.
Zoomed in shot of Mount Wire. You can jus make out the old airplane beacon.
The gate is open! Someone ought to notify the home owners association.
Dale Peak is to the right of center
Western groundsel and sage
American vetch
Grandeur Peak
Death camas
Lookout Peak
A couple of ridges in the distance. The furthest ridge, which still has snow, is Wildcat Ridge, while the nearest is Millcreek Ridge.
I'm giving some thought to when upper Millcreek Canyon opens up on July 1st, I'd give Millcreek Ridge a try on July the 2nd. I
attempted this hike seven years ago and ended up about thirty minutes short of finishing due to my hiking partner running out of
gas at the end. Not finishing has always kind of stuck in my craw. I'm not sure that I can pull it off being seven years older, but if i
don't give it a go this year, I'm afraid it won't happen.
Balsamroot and larkspur
Milk-vetch
Just following the ridge
Arrowleaf balsamroot
All roads lead to Grandeur.
My hiking companion for the day
Old grumpy!
A ladybug
Hmm....... I wonder if Evil Knievel could make the jump from Parley's Ridge to the Mount Wire Ridge over Emigration Canyon?
Care to weigh in @Rockskipper?
A hill awaits.
Larkspur
Spotted stickseed and some spring parsley
Ball-head waterleaf in amongst the yet to bloom mule's ear
Groundsel
Biscuitroot
More larkspur
Sweetvetch
Don't know my insects very well. Does anyone know what this is? I thought maybe a type of cicada?
A spider has a mosquito hawk in it's death grip
A portion of snow covered Wildcat Ridge to the south with Triangle Peak on the left of the ridge
More groundsel
Mountain dandelion
Old wasp's nest
Cicada exoskeleton?
A single track at this point
Low cryptantha and some vetch
A pollen ladened bee on a balsamroot flower
Mount Aire to the left and snow covered Gobbler's Knob in the far distance
A lizard was nice enough to pose for me.
As a wise man named @Artemus once said, "The crux of the route!"
Grandview Peak to the north
The last glacier lily left on our route. All the others were dried up.
Katie getting closer to the summit
Oregon grape
Summit shot with Gobbler's Knob and Mount Raymond to my right, with Church Fork Peak just below the saddle between those
two, and Grandeur Peak to Katie's left, and Triangle Peak beyond.
A wide angle shot to the northeast from the summit, with Grandview and Lookout Peaks, and Little Dell Reservoir to the right of
center
Scatman with Perkins Peak in the distance (the high bump along the ridge)
Utah serviceberry
A chopper flying down Emigration Canyon. Probably the H.O.A. getting after me.
A horny toad
Hitchhiker! Hitchhiker! Stop the presses!
Scat blood from the hitchhiking cactus.
I believe this is stoneseed
More balsamroot
Shifting into mosey gear.
A swallowtail on a western wallflower
The Sube has a lot more company than it did when we began our hike.
After our hike we made our way down to the Living Traditions Festival in downtown Salt Lake for dinner.
Where I partook of some Pakistani food while listening to a Gospel Group called Men of Valor, and they were followed by a dance group fro the Utah Punjabi Arts Academy .
The End.
Usually by mid May, the wildflowers are in bloom along the entire route. While the lupine and the mule's ear weren't quite there yet, the balsamroot, larkspur, phlox, groundsel, various types of vetch, mountain dandelions, Oregon grape, cryptantha, ball-head waterleaf, death camas, and spotted stickseed were all abundant and beautiful along the entire route. Throw in some Utah serviceberry shrub, and it made for quite the hike
The temperature was in the low sixties yesterday which made for pleasant hiking along the ridge, though there was some wind blowing throughout the day.
View down into Parley's Canyon with Mount Aire at the center of the image.
Zoomed in shot of Mount Wire. You can jus make out the old airplane beacon.
The gate is open! Someone ought to notify the home owners association.
Dale Peak is to the right of centerWestern groundsel and sage
American vetch
Grandeur Peak
Death camas
Lookout Peak
A couple of ridges in the distance. The furthest ridge, which still has snow, is Wildcat Ridge, while the nearest is Millcreek Ridge.
I'm giving some thought to when upper Millcreek Canyon opens up on July 1st, I'd give Millcreek Ridge a try on July the 2nd. I
attempted this hike seven years ago and ended up about thirty minutes short of finishing due to my hiking partner running out of
gas at the end. Not finishing has always kind of stuck in my craw. I'm not sure that I can pull it off being seven years older, but if i
don't give it a go this year, I'm afraid it won't happen.
Balsamroot and larkspur
Milk-vetch
Just following the ridge
Arrowleaf balsamroot
All roads lead to Grandeur.
My hiking companion for the day
Old grumpy!
A ladybug
Hmm....... I wonder if Evil Knievel could make the jump from Parley's Ridge to the Mount Wire Ridge over Emigration Canyon?
Care to weigh in @Rockskipper?
A hill awaits.
Larkspur
Spotted stickseed and some spring parsley
Ball-head waterleaf in amongst the yet to bloom mule's ear
Groundsel
Biscuitroot
More larkspur
Sweetvetch
Don't know my insects very well. Does anyone know what this is? I thought maybe a type of cicada?
A spider has a mosquito hawk in it's death grip
A portion of snow covered Wildcat Ridge to the south with Triangle Peak on the left of the ridge
More groundsel
Mountain dandelion
Old wasp's nest
Cicada exoskeleton?
A single track at this point
Low cryptantha and some vetch
A pollen ladened bee on a balsamroot flower
Mount Aire to the left and snow covered Gobbler's Knob in the far distance
A lizard was nice enough to pose for me.
As a wise man named @Artemus once said, "The crux of the route!"
Grandview Peak to the north
The last glacier lily left on our route. All the others were dried up.
Katie getting closer to the summit
Oregon grape
Summit shot with Gobbler's Knob and Mount Raymond to my right, with Church Fork Peak just below the saddle between those
two, and Grandeur Peak to Katie's left, and Triangle Peak beyond.
A wide angle shot to the northeast from the summit, with Grandview and Lookout Peaks, and Little Dell Reservoir to the right of
center
Scatman with Perkins Peak in the distance (the high bump along the ridge)
Utah serviceberry
A chopper flying down Emigration Canyon. Probably the H.O.A. getting after me.
A horny toad
Hitchhiker! Hitchhiker! Stop the presses!
Scat blood from the hitchhiking cactus.
I believe this is stoneseed
More balsamroot
Shifting into mosey gear.
A swallowtail on a western wallflower
The Sube has a lot more company than it did when we began our hike.
After our hike we made our way down to the Living Traditions Festival in downtown Salt Lake for dinner.
Where I partook of some Pakistani food while listening to a Gospel Group called Men of Valor, and they were followed by a dance group fro the Utah Punjabi Arts Academy .
The End.
Last edited:
