Mount Wire - January 10, 2016

[scatman]

My first hike of 2016 takes me back up Mount Wire today. It is only 2.3 miles to the top but it took me about fifteen minutes longer in the snow than it does to hike up on a dry trail. The highlights of the hike were: one hawk on my way up, approximately thirty deer along the way and the Mountain Mahogany with snow on them.

Mountain top in a cloud

Just beyond the intersection with the Shoreline Trail


The trail


More trail


Looking back down the drainage towards the Salt Lake Valley


A deer laying down in the center of the photo. I saw about twenty deer along the south facing slope of Red Butte Ridge


Looking up towards the false summit

Looking down into Red Butte Canyon


Small patch of light lightens the Black Mountain Ridge towards Lookout Peak

Gorgeous snow covered Mountain Mahogany

More Mountain Mahogany

Barely make out the old beacon in the cloud

Getting close to the top

Made it! The old airplane beacon on top of Mount Wire

View of Parley's Ridge. Grandeur Peak on the Millcreek Ridge can be seen through the clouds in the upper right. You couldn't see down into the Salt lake Valley from the top due to cloud cover.

More Mountain Mahogany on the way down



The sun peeked out just a bit for this Mountain Mahogany shot.

Shot of the ridge to the south of Red Butte Canyon on my way down, getting close to the end.

 

[Jackson]

I love the look of the mountain mahogany. Such a pretty, solitary looking tree.

 

[chandlerwest]

Great captures of mood.

 

[Vegan.Hiker]

This has me missing the cold winters I'm accustomed to out here. Those mountain mahogany trees look like giant bonsai trees.

 

[scatman]

This has me missing the cold winters I'm accustomed to out here. Those mountain mahogany trees look like giant bonsai trees.

They do have a bonsai look to them.

 

[Ben]

you're hard core, Hugh.

 

[TannerT]

Nice hike Hugh! I'll have to do this hike soon!

 

[scatman]

you're hard core, Hugh.

I wish! I was getting a little stir crazy and needed a change in my winter exercise routine for a day and since the trailhead is so close to my house, I can get up and back down relatively quickly which allows me to get other things I need to have done for the rest of the day. It was nice that I only saw one other person and his pooch along the way. Being the hermit that I am, everything was quiet and still which I really enjoy.

 

[scatman]

Nice hike Hugh! I'll have to do this hike soon!

Thanks Tanner. It's a nice short hike to get your heart beating a little bit. Best time to get it done is in the spring before it gets too hot, or the fall after it cools done a bit. During the summer, the sun just bakes the entire route.

 

[regehr]

How long does it take you when it's dry? Just curious! I used to time myself on this one and managed about 0:55 a few times. Felt fast to me but I'm sure the trail runners do it in less than half that...

 

[scatman]

@regehr - According to the Scatman Book of Definitions, 55 minutes is trail running! It took me an hour and forty minutes this trip, so I'm guessing it probably takes me an hour and twenty give or take on a dry trail. I do take a lot of pictures along the way though, which means I have to take the camera out of its case, take the lens cap off and shoot the shot. I took seventy pictures on this last trip and I also took some time to observe the deer on the way up too. I also usually take a few minutes and head down into Red Butte Canyon a little ways to get some shots.

I'm giving some thought to attempting Grandeur this weekend.

 

[TannerT]

@regehr - According to the Scatman Book of Definitions, 55 minutes is trail running! It took me an hour and forty minutes this trip, so I'm guessing it probably takes me an hour and twenty give or take on a dry trail. I do take a lot of pictures along the way though, which means I have to take the camera out of its case, take the lens cap off and shoot the shot. I took seventy pictures on this last trip and I also took some time to observe the deer on the way up too. I also usually take a few minutes and head down into Red Butte Canyon a little ways to get some shots.

I'm giving some thought to attempting Grandeur this weekend.

My wife and I plan to do Grandeur this Saturday. It's our 10 year anniversary. Crazy how time flies!

sent from an undisclosed location

 

[regehr]

@regehr - According to the Scatman Book of Definitions, 55 minutes is trail running! It took me an hour and forty minutes this trip, so I'm guessing it probably takes me an hour and twenty give or take on a dry trail. I do take a lot of pictures along the way though, which means I have to take the camera out of its case, take the lens cap off and shoot the shot. I took seventy pictures on this last trip and I also took some time to observe the deer on the way up too. I also usually take a few minutes and head down into Red Butte Canyon a little ways to get some shots.

I'm giving some thought to attempting Grandeur this weekend.

I should have added "55 minutes one way"-- 55 minutes total would definitely be a run.

Anyway, great pics, I haven't done Grandeur in winter and need to do that.

 

[Wyatt Carson]

What wonderful winter scenes! The tunnel through the trees, the lone bonsai in the deep snow...

Makes me want to go into the high country. I can see the snow from my house but have stayed down in the warmer deserts this season so far. Your fine journey makes me want to think about it getting into some deep snow...

 

[scatman]

My wife and I plan to do Grandeur this Saturday. It's our 10 year anniversary. Crazy how time flies!

Congratulations on your upcoming anniversary Tanner. Be sure and pack the trail down well so that I can make it to the top on Sunday or Monday.

 

[TannerT]

Congratulations on your upcoming anniversary Tanner. Be sure and pack the trail down well so that I can make it to the top on Sunday or Monday.

Thanks and will do!

sent from an undisclosed location