Ensign Peak to Grandview Peak Attempt

scatman

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Dec 23, 2013
Messages
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On Sunday, I headed out with the intent of hiking from Ensign Peak, along the north ridge of City Creek Canyon, to Grandview Peak at the head of City Creek. This route is about 22.3 miles round trip as I would return back the same way that I hiked in. I've been contemplating this hike for a few years, but snow a couple of years ago, and a very wet spring last year, kept me home. I really wasn't interested in doing the hike after it becomes too hot, knowing that the heat would wear me out.

So I began the hike at 4:55 am at the Ensign Peak Trailhead and made my way east along the ridge. Along the way, I stopped for a quick break at Dude Benchmark, passed through Rudy's Flat, and eventually made my way up to the ridge between Burro and Grandview Peaks. This is where my outing would have to end though as a nasty storm drove me off the ridge before reaching Grandview. I hadn't prepared for bad weather, so to be safe, I turned around and headed back down. I ended up hiking 20 miles, but just fell short of my goal. :(

Other than a couple of tents that I saw set up in the trees at Rudy's Flat (never saw the inhabitants), I didn't see anybody else along the way, until on my return, as I got fairly close to Ensign Peak again.

The wildflowers were plentiful all along the way, up until I hit consistent snow heading up into the mountains after Rudy's Flat. I also saw eight deer, a couple of chukars, and six hawks throughout the day.

I guess I'll have to muster up the energy to give it another go next spring. :thumbsup:

Here are some images of my hike along the ridge.

01.jpg

Downtown Salt Lake City, just after 5:00 am

02.jpg

Evening Primrose in the dark

03.jpg

Can you make out a couple of deer silhouettes along the ridge?

04.jpg

Sunrise on the Wasatch

05.jpg

Mules Ear were plentiful along the ridge

06.jpg

A mix of Mules Ear and Arrowleaf Balsamroot

07.jpg

The sun beginning to hit the mouth of City Creek Canyon

08.jpg

Looking west towards Antelope Island

09.jpg

Typical of the trail (old Jeep road) up to Dude Benchmark

10.jpg

About 2.5 hours in at this point, looking back the way I had hiked in

11.jpg

Looking north into Davis County

12.jpg

First snow of the hike

13.jpg

Looking down City Creek Canyon and towards the Salt Lake Valley

14.jpg

Some interesting formations in City Creek

15.jpg

The Dude Benchmark

16.jpg

The Dude abides! On Dude Benchmark

17.jpg

The way forward. The old Jeep road ends at Dude Benchmark and a single track proceeds east.

18.jpg

Looking down into City Creek, with a touch of snow on the slope

19.jpg

Very hilly along the foothill ridge before reaching the mountains proper

20.jpg

Another hill

20b.jpg

Coyote or cougar? My shoe is a size 11. @Outdoor_Fool

21.jpg

Trails turns north at this point

22.jpg

Starting to see more snow before Rudy's Flat

23.jpg

Rudy's Flat

24.jpg

Snowy trail as I start to head up into the mountains east of Rudy's Flat

25.jpg

Looking back west, along the ridge

26.jpg

Clouds look threatening?

27.jpg

Coyote track

28.jpg

Looking down City Creek Canyon

29.jpg

Still some elevation to tackle

30.jpg

Still some snow drifts on the north side of the ridge

31.jpg

Looking back along the ridge once again

32.jpg

Almost to the Grandview ridge, starting to snow at this point though I continued on up to the ridge.

33.jpg

Making my way to the top of the ridge

34.jpg

Looking towards Grandview, but it can no longer be seen due to cloud cover. Once on the ridge, the cloud had engulfed me too
and the snow and wind had picked up, so I decided to call it a day as I was beginning to get cold. I reversed course and made my
way down to find a spot to eat some lunch. Scatman was getting hungry!
:)

35.jpg

Earthquake! :D I didn't make it to my spot before the self timer went off.

36.jpg

Much better! Where I stopped for lunch. The tongue is out because I didn't reach the peak. :p

38.jpg

My lunchtime view of the Sessions Mountains

39.jpg

Heading back down

40.jpg

Back at Rudy's Flat - the snow has melted some.

41.jpg

I thought this helicopter was there to rescue me. ;)

42.jpg

Black Mountain Ridge across City Creek Canyon

43.jpg

Hills! They wore me out on my return to the trailhead.

44.jpg

Back at Dude Benchmark for a quick break and an energy bar. Hey @Rockskipper? Remember the ant nest I sat in while getting
ready to ford Chipmunk Creek in Yellowstone? Well, I did it again. :eek: I sat my day pack right on top of this nest without realizing it.
The next thing I knew, ants were biting me up my pant legs and had covered my day pack. I guess I need a chapter in my guide book
about ants. :)


45.jpg

Paintbrush was plentiful along the trail

46.jpg

The Long and Winding Road that leads to your door. Will never disappear, I've seen that road before. :scatman:

47.jpg

Arrowleaf Balsamroot in abundance

48.jpg

A look up City Creek Canyon, where I was about six hours before

49.jpg

Back at Ensign Peak

49b.jpg

The monument on Ensign

50.jpg

Nice to know the Jeep is still at the trailhead upon my return.

The End
 

SteveR

Member
Joined
Sep 22, 2016
Messages
797
Nice! Too bad the weather turned on you. Looks like it got better again once you retreated- isn't that the way it usually works?
Bonus points for the Beatles quote.
 

scatman

Member
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Joined
Dec 23, 2013
Messages
3,425
Looks like it got better again once you retreated- isn't that the way it usually works?
Bonus points for the Beatles quote.

Isn't that the truth! I needed bonus points since I didn't finish the assignment. :)
 

Miya

Because I am able.
Joined
Dec 31, 2017
Messages
1,404
Beautiful shots! Minus the coyote scat...sorry, not my THANG! haha

Looks like it was a fun outing! Stop crushing ants...
 

scatman

Member
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Joined
Dec 23, 2013
Messages
3,425
Beautiful shots! Minus the coyote scat...sorry, not my THANG! haha

Looks like it was a fun outing! Stop crushing ants...

Ants have been my nemesis since I was a child, but you're right, I need to pay more attention to where I deposit my big derriere. :D
 
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