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This weekend's hike took Katie and I to the north summit of Mount Olympus. We began at the Neff's Canyon Trailhead at around 6:45 in the morning. We made our way up the Neff's Canyon road until we reached Norths Fork, and at this point followed a trail along the west side of the fork, to reach the bottom of the coulior that would take us up the mountain. This time of year, the bottom half of the ascent has a lot of bushwhacking while the upper half is stair-stepping up rocks for the most part. At the top of the coulior, you have to work your way west until you reach a steep gully that leads to the western ridge of the north summit. Once on the ridge, we worked our way back east to the north summit, which includes some scrambling, downclimbing and rattlesnake alley. We ended up seeing six rattlesnakes on this hike. When all was said and done, I was pretty scratched up from the bushwhacking sections, but somehow Katie managed to avoid any scrapes and bruises.
Here is our hike:

Hiking up Neff's Canyon Road with Olympus above

Crossing the Mount Olympus Wilderness Boundary, near the entrance to Norths Fork

Norths Fork
Here are some shots from the bottom to the top of the coulior

Near the entrance of the coulior

Rocky going amidst all the shrubs

Stonecrop

Buckwheat

Butterfly

Back to the coulior

Bushwhacking heaven.

More rocks

More bushwhacking

Out of the bushwhacking portion

Just rock stepping to the top

Working my way up

Getting close to the top of the coulior

Still some scrambling to be done to reach the top

Katie, on a scramble section

Fleabane

Once at the top of the coulior, we made our way west towards the steep gulley - the way ahead

Arriving at the gully

Looking up the gully

Working our way up the gully

Views to the south from the ridge at the top of the gulley. (L-R) Broads Fork Twin Peaks, Pfeifferhorn, North and South Thunder
Mountains, and Lone Peak

Snack time!
You better think (think)
Think about what you're trying to do to me
Think (think, think)
Let your mind go, let yourself be free

Working our way east along the ridge

Rattlesnake #1

Rattlesnake #2

Some obstacles you just have to go under.

Rattlesnake #3

Scat blood - a little bit out of focus, but the valley looks nice.

Making our way up the chute that leads directly to the north summit

Giving me some photography lessons - an orange-legged drone fly

Views from the summit - Wildcat Ridge to the east

Views from the summit - Grandeur Peak, Church Fork Peak, and Mount Aire to the north along the Millcreek Ridgeline

South Summit of Mount Olympus - the popular one

Summit shot

Zoomed in and looking down on the Jeep in the parking lot

Beginning the scramble back up to rattlesnake alley

Wasatch Beardtongue

Sego Lilly in rattlesnake alley

Rattlesnake #4

And #5 - I didn't get a chance to take a shot of #6, by the time I got my camera out, it had slithered under a rock.

Scrambling back up to the ridge

Mount Olympus spring water

Jeep and Olympus - like a hand in glove.
Back at the Neff's Canyon Trailhead
The End
Here is our hike:

Hiking up Neff's Canyon Road with Olympus above

Crossing the Mount Olympus Wilderness Boundary, near the entrance to Norths Fork

Norths Fork
Here are some shots from the bottom to the top of the coulior

Near the entrance of the coulior

Rocky going amidst all the shrubs

Stonecrop

Buckwheat

Butterfly

Back to the coulior

Bushwhacking heaven.

More rocks

More bushwhacking

Out of the bushwhacking portion

Just rock stepping to the top

Working my way up

Getting close to the top of the coulior

Still some scrambling to be done to reach the top

Katie, on a scramble section

Fleabane

Once at the top of the coulior, we made our way west towards the steep gulley - the way ahead

Arriving at the gully

Looking up the gully

Working our way up the gully

Views to the south from the ridge at the top of the gulley. (L-R) Broads Fork Twin Peaks, Pfeifferhorn, North and South Thunder
Mountains, and Lone Peak

Snack time!
You better think (think)
Think about what you're trying to do to me
Think (think, think)
Let your mind go, let yourself be free

Working our way east along the ridge

Rattlesnake #1

Rattlesnake #2

Some obstacles you just have to go under.

Rattlesnake #3

Scat blood - a little bit out of focus, but the valley looks nice.

Making our way up the chute that leads directly to the north summit

Giving me some photography lessons - an orange-legged drone fly

Views from the summit - Wildcat Ridge to the east

Views from the summit - Grandeur Peak, Church Fork Peak, and Mount Aire to the north along the Millcreek Ridgeline

South Summit of Mount Olympus - the popular one

Summit shot

Zoomed in and looking down on the Jeep in the parking lot

Beginning the scramble back up to rattlesnake alley

Wasatch Beardtongue

Sego Lilly in rattlesnake alley

Rattlesnake #4

And #5 - I didn't get a chance to take a shot of #6, by the time I got my camera out, it had slithered under a rock.

Scrambling back up to the ridge

Mount Olympus spring water

Jeep and Olympus - like a hand in glove.
The End
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