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- Dec 23, 2013
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Every few years, I get a hankering to leave the more popular and well traveled trail to the south summit of Olympus and head up to the north summit instead. My daughter, who had never been to the north summit before decided to join me. Since we are having such great fall weather here in Salt Lake City we decided to give it a try.
The route we chose begins at the Neff's Canyon Trailhead and follows the dirt road past the water tank and on to the North's Fork where you turn up the old service road to reach the Mount Olympus Spring. After the spring, continue on up the trail until you have just passed Neff's Knob. At this point, look for a not so obvious trail off to the right. This trail eventually drops down into a rocky drainage which leads you up the second couloir from the north. If you continue up the main trail instead of turning off, this will lead you into a different couloir and a much more difficult (exposure) hike. Follow the drainage up to the head of the couloir where at this point you will contour around the slope until you reach a very steep wash. Once in the wash, you can scramble up to the ridge. After reaching the ridge, head east along it until you reach a cliff where you then have to down climb. At the end of the down climb, you will find yourself at the bottom of a chute that leads directly to the north summit.
The trip ended up taking us most of the day. We left the trailhead at 8:15 am and returned to our car at 5:45 pm as it was getting dark. The hike up was all in the shadow of the north summit. Once we hit the ridge, it was sunny and a spectacular day. We enjoyed lunch on top before heading back the way we had come.
![01.jpg 01.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/50/50278-6268b8f375df811c65c53e388518d6dc.jpg)
Looking up at the north summit of Mount Olympus
![03.jpg 03.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/50/50280-ea157255fd4bc8a6f14e8f3d423d83c9.jpg)
Old service road heading towards Mount Olympus Spring
![04.jpg 04.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/50/50279-741146b8475773998922235c1e863384.jpg)
Katie making her way along the main trial
![05.jpg 05.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/50/50281-11edd79490476e52584edb0e4fac44e8.jpg)
Dropped down into the drainage that will take us to the top of the couloir
![06.jpg 06.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/50/50282-f51c5ae29c7eae26bf9f8f3840689792.jpg)
The route
![07.jpg 07.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/50/50283-a3edae3419439a72492de2a6a1c5eecf.jpg)
The route
![08.jpg 08.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/50/50284-f145ec75e311ba6e6ee7037176450511.jpg)
Looking down at Neff's Knob with Grandeur Peak off in the distance at the upper left
![09.jpg 09.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/50/50285-d35b6b1a2d4262863736ee7e951bdc18.jpg)
The route up the couloir
![10.jpg 10.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/50/50286-ff8786d2cc3416bd60676e7727e21a2a.jpg)
The route
![11.jpg 11.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/50/50287-915956bb069dcdcf65702475e3c5f3ef.jpg)
The route
![12.jpg 12.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/50/50288-3e8f61a9db4f5c637f419adb2ed9c8e9.jpg)
The route - nearing the top of the couloir
![13.jpg 13.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/50/50289-f914a78737555cf0386420732c45c82b.jpg)
Grandeur Peak from the top of the couloir
![14.jpg 14.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/50/50290-634c6b619d0bfff3831ce19ebe2b8797.jpg)
A plaque in remembrance of a woman who slipped and slid down a wash 1000 feet to her death back in 2009. My daughter spotted this along the way
Katie, contouring across the slope - heading towards the wash that leads to the ridge
![16.jpg 16.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/50/50292-b7733478223191cf7e7485f2bf331733.jpg)
Approaching the wash
![17.jpg 17.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/50/50293-c4f09c78e38c7701d8abbcc39c80d8e4.jpg)
Heading up the wash to the ridge
![18.jpg 18.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/50/50294-723848965b0fdb0c090a4bd89488aadf.jpg)
On the ridge
![19.jpg 19.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/50/50295-e5631624f0c61e7a6419d86510e05a6b.jpg)
Looking east along the ridge
![20.jpg 20.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/50/50296-8ef18ba8eacea0b01ad59b9fce2590a9.jpg)
Nice view of the Salt Lake Valley
![21.jpg 21.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/50/50297-70409a48b1fb5b41d1f0e42f1c7d9cb3.jpg)
Katie having some trouble with the trees as she makes her way along the ridge
![22.jpg 22.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/50/50298-78184e059914d48ca6ca705d8a41adda.jpg)
Looking up the chute after the down climb
![23.jpg 23.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/50/50299-881106ef651fd98487487e4616b89a3d.jpg)
About halfway up the chute
![24.jpg 24.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/50/50300-7c36076313a0f44468fa3b7bc8819491.jpg)
Katie making her way up the chute
![25.jpg 25.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/50/50301-a45f29abd7e8049e8b598b5e16b3118f.jpg)
Mountain goats looking down on us from the top of the chute. "You shall not pass!"
![26.jpg 26.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/50/50302-f94cb31c5d5d65507da8d1a1d4c44fa2.jpg)
North summit of Mount Olympus
![27.jpg 27.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/50/50303-5f43fee63aeca64bacc3a66abd87b6fe.jpg)
On top
![28.jpg 28.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/50/50304-a77e6a975f1615f4cf78002046843cf9.jpg)
Enjoying lunch
![29.jpg 29.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/50/50305-4b5b2d95c3ca8cca95a6e571d2046311.jpg)
Triangle Peak
![30.jpg 30.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/50/50306-f0dbfef44d186f4c6d68409f32b266e1.jpg)
Looking over at the south summit of Mount Olympus
![31.jpg 31.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/50/50307-af2738d9ce0035709020437e3a4c96d2.jpg)
Wildcat Ridge
![32.jpg 32.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/50/50308-b4c82cd947f1906e29d2cca13ca23976.jpg)
On our way down - I'm getting ready to climb up what we had down climbed to reach the chute
![33.jpg 33.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/50/50309-682cdaf19a81b3d9ed67eb6f24af1118.jpg)
On my way up
![34.jpg 34.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/50/50310-66c903a145caa8e10a623a7d5a10bed3.jpg)
Dead tree on the ridge
The route we chose begins at the Neff's Canyon Trailhead and follows the dirt road past the water tank and on to the North's Fork where you turn up the old service road to reach the Mount Olympus Spring. After the spring, continue on up the trail until you have just passed Neff's Knob. At this point, look for a not so obvious trail off to the right. This trail eventually drops down into a rocky drainage which leads you up the second couloir from the north. If you continue up the main trail instead of turning off, this will lead you into a different couloir and a much more difficult (exposure) hike. Follow the drainage up to the head of the couloir where at this point you will contour around the slope until you reach a very steep wash. Once in the wash, you can scramble up to the ridge. After reaching the ridge, head east along it until you reach a cliff where you then have to down climb. At the end of the down climb, you will find yourself at the bottom of a chute that leads directly to the north summit.
The trip ended up taking us most of the day. We left the trailhead at 8:15 am and returned to our car at 5:45 pm as it was getting dark. The hike up was all in the shadow of the north summit. Once we hit the ridge, it was sunny and a spectacular day. We enjoyed lunch on top before heading back the way we had come.
![01.jpg 01.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/50/50278-6268b8f375df811c65c53e388518d6dc.jpg)
Looking up at the north summit of Mount Olympus
![03.jpg 03.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/50/50280-ea157255fd4bc8a6f14e8f3d423d83c9.jpg)
Old service road heading towards Mount Olympus Spring
![04.jpg 04.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/50/50279-741146b8475773998922235c1e863384.jpg)
Katie making her way along the main trial
![05.jpg 05.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/50/50281-11edd79490476e52584edb0e4fac44e8.jpg)
Dropped down into the drainage that will take us to the top of the couloir
![06.jpg 06.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/50/50282-f51c5ae29c7eae26bf9f8f3840689792.jpg)
The route
![07.jpg 07.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/50/50283-a3edae3419439a72492de2a6a1c5eecf.jpg)
The route
![08.jpg 08.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/50/50284-f145ec75e311ba6e6ee7037176450511.jpg)
Looking down at Neff's Knob with Grandeur Peak off in the distance at the upper left
![09.jpg 09.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/50/50285-d35b6b1a2d4262863736ee7e951bdc18.jpg)
The route up the couloir
![10.jpg 10.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/50/50286-ff8786d2cc3416bd60676e7727e21a2a.jpg)
The route
![11.jpg 11.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/50/50287-915956bb069dcdcf65702475e3c5f3ef.jpg)
The route
![12.jpg 12.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/50/50288-3e8f61a9db4f5c637f419adb2ed9c8e9.jpg)
The route - nearing the top of the couloir
![13.jpg 13.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/50/50289-f914a78737555cf0386420732c45c82b.jpg)
Grandeur Peak from the top of the couloir
![14.jpg 14.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/50/50290-634c6b619d0bfff3831ce19ebe2b8797.jpg)
A plaque in remembrance of a woman who slipped and slid down a wash 1000 feet to her death back in 2009. My daughter spotted this along the way
![15.jpg 15.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/50/50291-2b3964047d55c70506f51d331fcb4013.jpg)
![16.jpg 16.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/50/50292-b7733478223191cf7e7485f2bf331733.jpg)
Approaching the wash
![17.jpg 17.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/50/50293-c4f09c78e38c7701d8abbcc39c80d8e4.jpg)
Heading up the wash to the ridge
![18.jpg 18.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/50/50294-723848965b0fdb0c090a4bd89488aadf.jpg)
On the ridge
![19.jpg 19.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/50/50295-e5631624f0c61e7a6419d86510e05a6b.jpg)
Looking east along the ridge
![20.jpg 20.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/50/50296-8ef18ba8eacea0b01ad59b9fce2590a9.jpg)
Nice view of the Salt Lake Valley
![21.jpg 21.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/50/50297-70409a48b1fb5b41d1f0e42f1c7d9cb3.jpg)
Katie having some trouble with the trees as she makes her way along the ridge
![22.jpg 22.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/50/50298-78184e059914d48ca6ca705d8a41adda.jpg)
Looking up the chute after the down climb
![23.jpg 23.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/50/50299-881106ef651fd98487487e4616b89a3d.jpg)
About halfway up the chute
![24.jpg 24.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/50/50300-7c36076313a0f44468fa3b7bc8819491.jpg)
Katie making her way up the chute
![25.jpg 25.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/50/50301-a45f29abd7e8049e8b598b5e16b3118f.jpg)
Mountain goats looking down on us from the top of the chute. "You shall not pass!"
![26.jpg 26.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/50/50302-f94cb31c5d5d65507da8d1a1d4c44fa2.jpg)
North summit of Mount Olympus
![27.jpg 27.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/50/50303-5f43fee63aeca64bacc3a66abd87b6fe.jpg)
On top
![28.jpg 28.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/50/50304-a77e6a975f1615f4cf78002046843cf9.jpg)
Enjoying lunch
![29.jpg 29.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/50/50305-4b5b2d95c3ca8cca95a6e571d2046311.jpg)
Triangle Peak
![30.jpg 30.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/50/50306-f0dbfef44d186f4c6d68409f32b266e1.jpg)
Looking over at the south summit of Mount Olympus
![31.jpg 31.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/50/50307-af2738d9ce0035709020437e3a4c96d2.jpg)
Wildcat Ridge
![32.jpg 32.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/50/50308-b4c82cd947f1906e29d2cca13ca23976.jpg)
On our way down - I'm getting ready to climb up what we had down climbed to reach the chute
![33.jpg 33.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/50/50309-682cdaf19a81b3d9ed67eb6f24af1118.jpg)
On my way up
![34.jpg 34.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/50/50310-66c903a145caa8e10a623a7d5a10bed3.jpg)
Dead tree on the ridge
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