- Joined
- Dec 23, 2013
- Messages
- 3,761
If you are going to give me a three day weekend then hopefully I will be out hiking on two of those days. I decided to hit Mount Olympus today since I didn't get to do it on Saturday. Once again, it was a beautiful day above the inversion layer even though it did cloud over during the day.
![01.jpg 01.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106470-6fa3e0c0c0cee80655af9ce322414abc.jpg)
25 degrees at the trailhead
![02.jpg 02.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106471-60bf26836ded4b6864230771c3674c8f.jpg)
Part of the new segment of trail just off the trailhead - human stairs now instead ones built for a
giant.
![03.jpg 03.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106472-f77d8a8e927b0fd7168631f2bb725c80.jpg)
And some nice stone steps on the new section
![04.jpg 04.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106473-851eda2e00ceadfc1232f1e99778e042.jpg)
Lone Peak
![05.jpg 05.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106474-e0cebacc48896b960300c637336fb2d2.jpg)
I call this Glove in a Shrub.
![06.jpg 06.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106475-00834d030159d08ed1b0feb79bc53822.jpg)
Sunrise on the northern Oquirrhs across the inversion
![07.jpg 07.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106476-f75325b3d0baaac565554a7878ce3df7.jpg)
Lots of funky clouds today
![08.jpg 08.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106477-009fbe13d8741779e900acf1440974f7.jpg)
West ridge of Olympus above and to the left
![09.jpg 09.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106478-652d9175a9a1fc1b6df216adf5331fb3.jpg)
Tolcats Canyon
![10.jpg 10.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106479-be36ae492c318702533b131a3b5a6eda.jpg)
The southern Oquirrhs
![11.jpg 11.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106480-34fbf563d52965d96bcf79dcdca10145.jpg)
This is a first, elk scat on the Mount Olympus Trail near the stream in Tolcats
![12.jpg 12.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106481-83f1f69fa380266c237854ebd5a53e1f.jpg)
Snow packed trail now
![13.jpg 13.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106482-036d129808db59457c5a09e66ca9673b.jpg)
Aargh! My left knee wasn't liking this.
![14.jpg 14.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106483-861f4e149bc51d6ce17720ac21151cba.jpg)
The guy who just passed me, did the trail to the top twice.
![15.jpg 15.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106484-f09b6166bda10e531971027bae54821d.jpg)
Ridge on the south side of the trail.
![16.jpg 16.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106485-272c5f968a89cf43744d53cddc800b7d.jpg)
My old friend the shark fin
![17.jpg 17.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106486-098ceb0b7abe25b0cdb79d7b59ed0d0e.jpg)
More Oquirrhs. They looked beautiful across the valley
![18.jpg 18.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106487-545e3fc7c6b80b397b4f17b27f39966a.jpg)
The south summit of Mount Olympus
![19.jpg 19.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106488-b337bd84cdc22d055c90acb917ab8fb9.jpg)
Snowshoe Rabbit at the saddle.![Big Grin :D :D](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
![20.jpg 20.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106489-55f8e1830e4b26c5517af0b1472ac426.jpg)
Looking across Heugh's Canyon
![21.jpg 21.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106490-f55c10474363fb4cc0b58052493527d9.jpg)
Southern end of the valley
![22.jpg 22.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106491-682e521732c6d5c3b4929462dd539a57.jpg)
Scramble time
![23.jpg 23.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106492-10b7ec64627323d77d2cb2eee13b9918.jpg)
Lone Peak again
![24.jpg 24.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106493-83fa3028c8e5fde48e563f0c6e563ed2.jpg)
View to the northwest with Fray Peak just sticking out of the haze in the upper right
![25.jpg 25.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106494-fcaf067fb0135eac57f4c9aa387800a3.jpg)
The summit
![26.jpg 26.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106495-9bdc01996f4083b0efee6d7cf3610eef.jpg)
Broads Fork Twin Peaks along with many others
![27.jpg 27.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106496-0852e5db7134763d73f751a111cad6aa.jpg)
Grandeur, where Katie and I were two days ago
![28.jpg 28.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106497-23727b9b2a6cbf49df6f4ca2dd909f49.jpg)
Closeup of Grandeur Peak
![29.jpg 29.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106498-44ec02f221b9adb4594b3152e3b43f89.jpg)
View to the northeast
![30.jpg 30.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106499-210ef773925a9bb9b9a69768e6363ba6.jpg)
These two were shooting a promotional video on the summit. The lady was filming and the guy was reading from a script. The first
two times he said while reading, "10,000 foot Mount Olympus!" Before he did his third take, I told him that Mount Olympus was only
9,000 feet above sea level. He looked at me and said 10,000, 9,000, 8,000 and then shrugged his shoulders. Hmm....................
![31.jpg 31.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106500-15538065a381c29435b55f0ce5b2c974.jpg)
The sun through the clouds
![32.jpg 32.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106501-b95efc42ec7620988121a691281ede06.jpg)
45 degrees on the summit. The north summit of Mount Olympus beyond my daypack.
![33.jpg 33.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106502-7234067763061957b274029047d81a30.jpg)
Pretty treacherous heading off the summit because the snow had softened up a bit and it is steep
![34.jpg 34.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106503-f540ac4cf2e7ae56b59eccced904fe52.jpg)
A flying insect back at the saddle
![35.jpg 35.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106504-9783b4b9f46d058bc39ec8f13b9868ed.jpg)
More elk scat!![Thumbs Up :thumbsup: :thumbsup:](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
![36.jpg 36.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106505-8a203e1faeb3cd1d62b25b26002f9295.jpg)
And some hair?
![37.jpg 37.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106506-f8a0e88e36c418a146d31f07ba1769c5.jpg)
The small stream in Tolcats Canyon
![38.jpg 38.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106507-b1e7b4d1c864e1d5b848c901c113834f.jpg)
About to hit the inversion layer.![Frown :( :(](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
![39.jpg 39.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106508-93cd9c8e2ad490ec36dc24082107b501.jpg)
Last of the snow
![40.jpg 40.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106509-fcfd345bcc3604fad596d795f5faa8e6.jpg)
More neat clouds and juniper trees.
![39b.jpg 39b.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106510-3e17e9d8566bea2f4efe3b6edc6af664.jpg)
Definitely back in it now.
![41.jpg 41.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106511-3d98b1ee44d173dce552c038ee51dfaa.jpg)
Back at the trailhead.
So as I was making my way down on Suicide Hill (the hill where you climb out of Tolcats Canyon) I ran into three college aged kids, I think. I asked them how they were doing as they approached me, and the first guy said, "I could be doing better if I had some spikes." I noticed that they all three were wearing sneakers, and the last one was wearing a pair of Converse. You know the kind that they used to play basketball in 60 years ago. And also none of them were carrying any water.
I asked, "Are you going to the summit?"
They said, "Yes." And then they started asking me questions about what lay ahead of them. I told them a steep trail that is icy, and an 800 foot scramble after you get to the saddle. They replied that this was going to be "Epic." I wished them luck and continued down.
Now if ever there was a search and rescue waiting to happen, it was these three. Unbelievable!
Oh, and I let them know that if they were successful in their attempt, @Ugly would have a home cooked meal ready for them at his house. So if three desperados show up at your place, you can blame me for it.![Big Grin :D :D](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
The End.
![01.jpg 01.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106470-6fa3e0c0c0cee80655af9ce322414abc.jpg)
25 degrees at the trailhead
![02.jpg 02.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106471-60bf26836ded4b6864230771c3674c8f.jpg)
Part of the new segment of trail just off the trailhead - human stairs now instead ones built for a
giant.
![03.jpg 03.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106472-f77d8a8e927b0fd7168631f2bb725c80.jpg)
And some nice stone steps on the new section
![04.jpg 04.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106473-851eda2e00ceadfc1232f1e99778e042.jpg)
Lone Peak
![05.jpg 05.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106474-e0cebacc48896b960300c637336fb2d2.jpg)
I call this Glove in a Shrub.
![06.jpg 06.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106475-00834d030159d08ed1b0feb79bc53822.jpg)
Sunrise on the northern Oquirrhs across the inversion
![07.jpg 07.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106476-f75325b3d0baaac565554a7878ce3df7.jpg)
Lots of funky clouds today
![08.jpg 08.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106477-009fbe13d8741779e900acf1440974f7.jpg)
West ridge of Olympus above and to the left
![09.jpg 09.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106478-652d9175a9a1fc1b6df216adf5331fb3.jpg)
Tolcats Canyon
![10.jpg 10.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106479-be36ae492c318702533b131a3b5a6eda.jpg)
The southern Oquirrhs
![11.jpg 11.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106480-34fbf563d52965d96bcf79dcdca10145.jpg)
This is a first, elk scat on the Mount Olympus Trail near the stream in Tolcats
![12.jpg 12.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106481-83f1f69fa380266c237854ebd5a53e1f.jpg)
Snow packed trail now
![13.jpg 13.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106482-036d129808db59457c5a09e66ca9673b.jpg)
Aargh! My left knee wasn't liking this.
![14.jpg 14.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106483-861f4e149bc51d6ce17720ac21151cba.jpg)
The guy who just passed me, did the trail to the top twice.
![15.jpg 15.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106484-f09b6166bda10e531971027bae54821d.jpg)
Ridge on the south side of the trail.
![16.jpg 16.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106485-272c5f968a89cf43744d53cddc800b7d.jpg)
My old friend the shark fin
![17.jpg 17.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106486-098ceb0b7abe25b0cdb79d7b59ed0d0e.jpg)
More Oquirrhs. They looked beautiful across the valley
![18.jpg 18.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106487-545e3fc7c6b80b397b4f17b27f39966a.jpg)
The south summit of Mount Olympus
![19.jpg 19.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106488-b337bd84cdc22d055c90acb917ab8fb9.jpg)
Snowshoe Rabbit at the saddle.
![20.jpg 20.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106489-55f8e1830e4b26c5517af0b1472ac426.jpg)
Looking across Heugh's Canyon
![21.jpg 21.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106490-f55c10474363fb4cc0b58052493527d9.jpg)
Southern end of the valley
![22.jpg 22.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106491-682e521732c6d5c3b4929462dd539a57.jpg)
Scramble time
![23.jpg 23.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106492-10b7ec64627323d77d2cb2eee13b9918.jpg)
Lone Peak again
![24.jpg 24.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106493-83fa3028c8e5fde48e563f0c6e563ed2.jpg)
View to the northwest with Fray Peak just sticking out of the haze in the upper right
![25.jpg 25.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106494-fcaf067fb0135eac57f4c9aa387800a3.jpg)
The summit
![26.jpg 26.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106495-9bdc01996f4083b0efee6d7cf3610eef.jpg)
Broads Fork Twin Peaks along with many others
![27.jpg 27.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106496-0852e5db7134763d73f751a111cad6aa.jpg)
Grandeur, where Katie and I were two days ago
![28.jpg 28.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106497-23727b9b2a6cbf49df6f4ca2dd909f49.jpg)
Closeup of Grandeur Peak
![29.jpg 29.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106498-44ec02f221b9adb4594b3152e3b43f89.jpg)
View to the northeast
![30.jpg 30.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106499-210ef773925a9bb9b9a69768e6363ba6.jpg)
These two were shooting a promotional video on the summit. The lady was filming and the guy was reading from a script. The first
two times he said while reading, "10,000 foot Mount Olympus!" Before he did his third take, I told him that Mount Olympus was only
9,000 feet above sea level. He looked at me and said 10,000, 9,000, 8,000 and then shrugged his shoulders. Hmm....................
![31.jpg 31.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106500-15538065a381c29435b55f0ce5b2c974.jpg)
The sun through the clouds
![32.jpg 32.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106501-b95efc42ec7620988121a691281ede06.jpg)
45 degrees on the summit. The north summit of Mount Olympus beyond my daypack.
![33.jpg 33.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106502-7234067763061957b274029047d81a30.jpg)
Pretty treacherous heading off the summit because the snow had softened up a bit and it is steep
![34.jpg 34.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106503-f540ac4cf2e7ae56b59eccced904fe52.jpg)
A flying insect back at the saddle
![35.jpg 35.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106504-9783b4b9f46d058bc39ec8f13b9868ed.jpg)
More elk scat!
![36.jpg 36.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106505-8a203e1faeb3cd1d62b25b26002f9295.jpg)
And some hair?
![37.jpg 37.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106506-f8a0e88e36c418a146d31f07ba1769c5.jpg)
The small stream in Tolcats Canyon
![38.jpg 38.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106507-b1e7b4d1c864e1d5b848c901c113834f.jpg)
About to hit the inversion layer.
![39.jpg 39.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106508-93cd9c8e2ad490ec36dc24082107b501.jpg)
Last of the snow
![40.jpg 40.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106509-fcfd345bcc3604fad596d795f5faa8e6.jpg)
More neat clouds and juniper trees.
![39b.jpg 39b.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106510-3e17e9d8566bea2f4efe3b6edc6af664.jpg)
Definitely back in it now.
![41.jpg 41.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/106/106511-3d98b1ee44d173dce552c038ee51dfaa.jpg)
Back at the trailhead.
So as I was making my way down on Suicide Hill (the hill where you climb out of Tolcats Canyon) I ran into three college aged kids, I think. I asked them how they were doing as they approached me, and the first guy said, "I could be doing better if I had some spikes." I noticed that they all three were wearing sneakers, and the last one was wearing a pair of Converse. You know the kind that they used to play basketball in 60 years ago. And also none of them were carrying any water.
I asked, "Are you going to the summit?"
They said, "Yes." And then they started asking me questions about what lay ahead of them. I told them a steep trail that is icy, and an 800 foot scramble after you get to the saddle. They replied that this was going to be "Epic." I wished them luck and continued down.
Now if ever there was a search and rescue waiting to happen, it was these three. Unbelievable!
Oh, and I let them know that if they were successful in their attempt, @Ugly would have a home cooked meal ready for them at his house. So if three desperados show up at your place, you can blame me for it.
The End.
Last edited: