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- Dec 23, 2013
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Lookout Peak here in the Wasatch is one of those that I had never summitted before. I had attempted to make twice before, once back in July of 2013 as I bushwhacked along the Black Mountain Ridge, but I had a family get together that I had to make that evening, so I had to turn around before reaching the peak. My second attempt was in April of 2017 with my daughter as we made our way along the Mount Wire Ridge, then along the upper part of Red Butte Canyon and up to the ridge west of Lookout. Unfortunately for us, the snow became to deep for us to break a trail through, so we turned around and headed home with our tails between our legs. 
Well, since we haven't received much snow so far this season, Katie and I decided to give it another go, though this time we decided we would take a trail to the top instead of majority off-trail hiking.
We began our hikes at the Little Mountain Trailhead at the top of Emigration Canyon at 8:30 in the morning. It had snowed a bit (maybe 1/2 inch) over night, but the forecast called for mostly sunny skies throughout the day. Our route was a touch over 11 miles roundtrip in length and we figured it might take us most of the day to complete.
The trail was snow covered and a bit icy on our way up. Once we gained the ridge that led to the summit, the snow became deep in places due to drifting snow. So many segments along the ridge, we had to posthole our way, anywhere from knee deep to crotch deep, other segments were ankle deep to being able to walk on top of the snow.
This last stretch wore me out, but we made it to the top. Once on top, some low level clouds started moving in and drove us off the summit. The return to the trailhead was uneventful and when we returned to our car it had taken us 7 hours and 58 minutes to complete our trip.
Here are some shots of our hike:
Little Del Reservoir below
Grandeur Peak to the southwest
A look down Emigration Canyon with Dale Peak on the left
Lookout Peak in the clouds to our north
Wikiup along the trail
We followed bobcat track for a good mile and a half along the trail
The trail
A look down into Killyon Canyon with Parley's Ridge on the left and the Mount Wire ridge on the right
Shhh..................... Be bery, bery quiet, I'm hunting wabbit.
The view to the north towards Swallow Rocks after gaining the ridge above Killyon Canyon
View to the east toward Big Mountain from the same position as the previous image
Aspens along the ridge
Katie, making her way up along the ridge
Making our way along the ridge through sometimes knee to waste deep snow
Another shot of Katie heading up the ridge
As we approached the summit, Grandview Peak comes into view to the northwest of us
Lookout Peak dead ahead
Grandview Peak again, across City Creek Canyon
Shot on top of Lookout Peak
Clouds started to move in on us so we had to skedaddle off the summit
Scatman down!
Clouds moving in on us
Coming back down the ridge
Mountain Mahogany on the ridge
Scatman says, "Every time you see scat along the trail, an Angel earns its wings."
Afternoon shot down Killyon Canyon
Little Mountain, with Mount Aire along the Millcreek Ridgeline beyond and Gobblers Knob and Mount Raymond in the far distance
A look back on Lookout Peak on our way down
Sun beginning to go behind the hill
A look back on Little Mountain
Another shot of Lookout Peak in the late afternoon sun from near the trailhead
Taking the micro spikes off at the parking lot
The End.
Well, since we haven't received much snow so far this season, Katie and I decided to give it another go, though this time we decided we would take a trail to the top instead of majority off-trail hiking.We began our hikes at the Little Mountain Trailhead at the top of Emigration Canyon at 8:30 in the morning. It had snowed a bit (maybe 1/2 inch) over night, but the forecast called for mostly sunny skies throughout the day. Our route was a touch over 11 miles roundtrip in length and we figured it might take us most of the day to complete.
The trail was snow covered and a bit icy on our way up. Once we gained the ridge that led to the summit, the snow became deep in places due to drifting snow. So many segments along the ridge, we had to posthole our way, anywhere from knee deep to crotch deep, other segments were ankle deep to being able to walk on top of the snow.
This last stretch wore me out, but we made it to the top.
Once on top, some low level clouds started moving in and drove us off the summit. The return to the trailhead was uneventful and when we returned to our car it had taken us 7 hours and 58 minutes to complete our trip.Here are some shots of our hike:
Little Del Reservoir below
Grandeur Peak to the southwest
A look down Emigration Canyon with Dale Peak on the left
Lookout Peak in the clouds to our north
Wikiup along the trail
We followed bobcat track for a good mile and a half along the trail
The trail
A look down into Killyon Canyon with Parley's Ridge on the left and the Mount Wire ridge on the right
Shhh..................... Be bery, bery quiet, I'm hunting wabbit.
The view to the north towards Swallow Rocks after gaining the ridge above Killyon Canyon
View to the east toward Big Mountain from the same position as the previous image
Aspens along the ridge
Katie, making her way up along the ridge
Making our way along the ridge through sometimes knee to waste deep snow
Another shot of Katie heading up the ridge
As we approached the summit, Grandview Peak comes into view to the northwest of us
Lookout Peak dead ahead
Grandview Peak again, across City Creek Canyon
Shot on top of Lookout Peak
Clouds started to move in on us so we had to skedaddle off the summit
Scatman down!
Clouds moving in on us
Coming back down the ridge
Mountain Mahogany on the ridge
Scatman says, "Every time you see scat along the trail, an Angel earns its wings."
Afternoon shot down Killyon Canyon
Little Mountain, with Mount Aire along the Millcreek Ridgeline beyond and Gobblers Knob and Mount Raymond in the far distance
A look back on Lookout Peak on our way down
Sun beginning to go behind the hill
A look back on Little Mountain
Another shot of Lookout Peak in the late afternoon sun from near the trailhead
Taking the micro spikes off at the parking lot
The End.
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