Southern Utah Routes with a lot of Elevation Gain?

[Ninag]

Hi there, I am training for a fast packing trip this summer that will feature a ton of daily elevation gain/loss including scrambles. I am looking to practice with my gear before the big trip. Seems most mountains are still snow covered. Any recommendations on some routes I can string together to amass close to 10k of vertical gain? 8k? Just looking for a challenging push. Thinking 30-50 miles.

I have done R2R2R recently so would like to explore a new area. Considering BMT + Death Hollow & Mamie Creek which wracks up around 6k of vert, but I'd like to push myself a bit further with that.

Any insight is helpful - thank you!

 

[fossana]

Aside from the less popular Grand Canyon routes (e.g. Nankoweap):

• Zion S Entrance Visitor Center to Lee Pass (link-up to the E part of the Zion Traverse is indefinitely closed) - ~42M, 7.6K' gain
• From the E Entrance of Zion E Fork of the Virgin from Mt Carmel Junction to Checkerboard Mesa to E Rim to Observation Pt and back to the E Entrance - 41M, ~8.5K' gain
  • I bike shuttled from the E Entrance last I hiked the E Fork, but not sure it's still allowed officially.
  • The river section is BLM land for most of the way.
• Steve Allen's Dark Canyon route (Sundance TH to Midway Canyon to Bowdie Canyon (optional) to Lean-To Canyon to Sundance - ~9K, just under 30 miles

I tried to do Brown's to Whipple this weekend, but opted for a lower elevation route b/c there is still considerable snow in the Pine Valley Mtns.

 

[Ninag]

Aside from the less popular Grand Canyon routes (e.g. Nankoweap):

• Zion S Entrance Visitor Center to Lee Pass (link-up to the E part of the Zion Traverse is indefinitely closed) - ~42M, 7.6K' gain
• From the E Entrance of Zion E Fork of the Virgin from Mt Carmel Junction to Checkerboard Mesa to E Rim to Observation Pt and back to the E Entrance - 41M, ~8.5K' gain
  • I bike shuttled from the E Entrance last I hiked the E Fork, but not sure it's still allowed officially.
  • The river section is BLM land for most of the way.
• Steve Allen's Dark Canyon route (Sundance TH to Midway Canyon to Bowdie Canyon (optional) to Lean-To Canyon to Sundance - ~9K, just under 30 miles

I tried to do Brown's to Whipple this weekend, but opted for a lower elevation route b/c there is still considerable snow in the Pine Valley Mtns.

Thank you!! These are great suggestions. I have had Allen's DC loop in mind for a while now. I am going to opt for Lee Pass to the Grotto and back for 70M. Will keep the other Zion one in mind for next time!

 

[fossana]

Not sure when your trip is, but the remaining snow in the Pine Valley Mtns was patchy in the trees above ~9400' as of last weekend. It would be reasonable to do something like the Summit Trail (~29.7M, 7.8K' gain) without too much postholing. The Tushars should be good soon as well. The E side of the range tends to hold snowbanks longer than the W side. The area around Bullion Creek is burn scarred from the Silver King Fire, although I haven't seen any closures on the USFS website (call to be certain).