- Joined
- Dec 23, 2013
- Messages
- 3,761
With all the snow Salt Lake was getting over the past three weeks, I was relegated to walks up City Creek, but today with sunny skies and highs in the fifties, it was time to hit the foothills again. Our route took us up the north side of Mount Van Cott, but about halfway up, we deviated off the trail to go check out an old quarry, and then off-trailed it from there to the summit. We returned by hiking down into Red Butte Canyon, and then looped back to our Subaru.
This hike is a favorite of magpies too.
Cutting up hill to the old Jeep road
Deer track on the way to the Jeep road
The only wildflower that was blooming at this point was the spring parsley. I though we might get to see some storksbill, but we
didn't.
On the old Jeep road that leads to the old quarry
The old quarry is located at the upper right of the image. Normally, you take a left here to gain the northern ridge, but we instead
followed the road to the east.
Elk track
Were there is track, there is bound to be scat
Making our way through some scrub oak
Following a game trail at this point
A look across to the ridge to our north, with a lady and her dog. That is the normal trail up the north side. Beyond that ridge is
the south summit of the Avenues Twin Peaks
Some scrub oak bushwhacking was inevitable.
Looking down on the quarry which was filled with snow
An old camp chair out in the sticks. How'd it get there?
On top of the ridge now, looking north towards the Avenues Twin Peaks. For some reason I had James Brown's Payback stuck in
my head on this hike.
Looking up towards the summit of Van Cott
These spiders were everywhere today. I literally couldn't take a step without seeing one.
First good view of Black Mountain Ridge to the north
Summit shot.
Our lunch view
Heading down the south side of Van Cott, with views up Red Butte Canyon
Enjoying the view
Look back up at the summit on the south side of Van Cott
A deer that didn't make it through the winter
Red Butte Creek was ripping. It will only get worse in the next couple of weeks
A painted lady on the dirt road up Red Butte Canyon
On the way home I stopped off at ARUP to donate a pint.
Saturday's pizza was a vegetarian. I added more to my side and Kalamata olives to the whole thing.
And to replace my depleted fluids from donating blood, we have a Pendejo Porter from Little Toad Creek Brewery in Silver City,
New Mexico. I bought a six pack last year after my Gila River Trip and this is my last one. Wow! I can't believe it has already been
a year since I did that trip. Man how time flies! @Rockskipper, I'm going to need you to talk to old man time and get him to
reverse the hands on the clock for me. Scat needs his youth back.
This hike is a favorite of magpies too.
Cutting up hill to the old Jeep road
Deer track on the way to the Jeep road
The only wildflower that was blooming at this point was the spring parsley. I though we might get to see some storksbill, but we
didn't.
On the old Jeep road that leads to the old quarry
The old quarry is located at the upper right of the image. Normally, you take a left here to gain the northern ridge, but we instead
followed the road to the east.
Elk track
Were there is track, there is bound to be scat
Making our way through some scrub oak
Following a game trail at this point
A look across to the ridge to our north, with a lady and her dog. That is the normal trail up the north side. Beyond that ridge is
the south summit of the Avenues Twin Peaks
Some scrub oak bushwhacking was inevitable.
Looking down on the quarry which was filled with snow
An old camp chair out in the sticks. How'd it get there?
On top of the ridge now, looking north towards the Avenues Twin Peaks. For some reason I had James Brown's Payback stuck in
my head on this hike.
Looking up towards the summit of Van Cott
These spiders were everywhere today. I literally couldn't take a step without seeing one.
First good view of Black Mountain Ridge to the north
Summit shot.
Our lunch view
Heading down the south side of Van Cott, with views up Red Butte Canyon
Enjoying the view
Look back up at the summit on the south side of Van Cott
A deer that didn't make it through the winter
Red Butte Creek was ripping. It will only get worse in the next couple of weeks
A painted lady on the dirt road up Red Butte Canyon
On the way home I stopped off at ARUP to donate a pint.
Saturday's pizza was a vegetarian. I added more to my side and Kalamata olives to the whole thing.
And to replace my depleted fluids from donating blood, we have a Pendejo Porter from Little Toad Creek Brewery in Silver City,
New Mexico. I bought a six pack last year after my Gila River Trip and this is my last one. Wow! I can't believe it has already been
a year since I did that trip. Man how time flies!
@Rockskipper, I'm going to need you to talk to old man time and get him toreverse the hands on the clock for me. Scat needs his youth back.
