- Joined
- Dec 23, 2013
- Messages
- 3,652
I hiked up to Dale Peak on the eastern side of Parleys Ridge back in October, so I thought I'd hit Perkins Peak on the west side of the ridge today. I started off on the valley side at the Benchmark Drive Trailhead at around 7:45 in the morning. My car's thermometer said it was 24 degrees and when I stepped out of the car there was some fairly substantial winds blowing our of Parleys Canyon that made things extra nippy. I was pretty sure that by the time I gained the ridge, the wind was blowing so hard that the windchill had to be in the single digits. It didn't take long before my face was numb. I was grateful when the sunlight finally caught up to me and gave me a touch of added warmth.
The hike is pretty straightforward, as you make your way up onto the ridge and then just follow it east to Perkins Peak. There is a small bit of scrambling along the ridge and the occasional bushwhack through scrub oak that always brings a smile to my face (joking of course).
Trailhead at the end of Benchmark Drive. Looks kinda cold to me.
Sunlight is barely hitting one of the unnamed minor peaks on the ridge left of center. The trail heads up the ridge on the right and follows it along.
Sunlight at last! Lots of beautiful Juniper trees along the way
Hiking up along the ridge
A glimpse of the University of Utah Hospital, Primary Children's' Hospital and the Huntsman Cancer Center
First view of Perkins Peak off in the distance
A look back along what I had traversed.
Making some headway towards the peak
Perkins Peak
On Perkins Peak - ready for my early lunch
Dale Peak off to the east along Parleys Ridge and Little Dell Reservoir in the distance
I-80 winding its way up Parleys Canyon
Scat tracks and an unknown small animal's tracks - help @Artemus !
Plenty of signs of elk along the ridge, @Rockskipper , I was also looking for signs of some rogue rangers and maybe one or two out of sorts Grizzlies, but alas none were to be found.
Scrub oak is your friend!
Looking down into Parleys Canyon with Mount Aire at the upper right of the image
Mount Aire to Grandeur Peak along the Millcreek Ridge and Gobblers Knob and Mount Raymond beyond
Grandeur Peak with Mount Olympus further south
And now for some nice shots of Junipers on my way down
Same unnamed canyon as my second image, but this time with some afternoon sun shining on it. Up to a balmy 39 degrees at this point.
My ride home.
The End.
The hike is pretty straightforward, as you make your way up onto the ridge and then just follow it east to Perkins Peak. There is a small bit of scrambling along the ridge and the occasional bushwhack through scrub oak that always brings a smile to my face (joking of course).
Trailhead at the end of Benchmark Drive. Looks kinda cold to me.
Sunlight is barely hitting one of the unnamed minor peaks on the ridge left of center. The trail heads up the ridge on the right and follows it along.
Sunlight at last! Lots of beautiful Juniper trees along the way
Hiking up along the ridge
A glimpse of the University of Utah Hospital, Primary Children's' Hospital and the Huntsman Cancer Center
First view of Perkins Peak off in the distance
A look back along what I had traversed.
Making some headway towards the peak
Perkins Peak
On Perkins Peak - ready for my early lunch
Dale Peak off to the east along Parleys Ridge and Little Dell Reservoir in the distance
I-80 winding its way up Parleys Canyon
Scat tracks and an unknown small animal's tracks - help @Artemus !
Plenty of signs of elk along the ridge, @Rockskipper , I was also looking for signs of some rogue rangers and maybe one or two out of sorts Grizzlies, but alas none were to be found.
Scrub oak is your friend!
Looking down into Parleys Canyon with Mount Aire at the upper right of the image
Mount Aire to Grandeur Peak along the Millcreek Ridge and Gobblers Knob and Mount Raymond beyond
Grandeur Peak with Mount Olympus further south
And now for some nice shots of Junipers on my way down
Same unnamed canyon as my second image, but this time with some afternoon sun shining on it. Up to a balmy 39 degrees at this point.
My ride home.
The End.
