Reynold's Peak

(Reynold's Peak, from Dog Lake)

So, once again, I convinced Nina that we'd just do a "long hike" and somehow we ended up on the top of something ... this time, Reynold's Peak. To the best of my knowledge it is the highest point along the ridge that divides Butler Fork from Big Cottonwood Canyon.

We accessed the peak from Dog Lake, getting to Dog Lake from the Mill D trail, although I'm excited to access it via Mill Creek Canyon and you could get there from the Butler Fork trailhead as well. From the trail we went up - it wasn't obvious how to find the trail to the summit. On the southwest ridge above Dog Lake, there is a faint track through Aspen towards the summit. If you take the trail towards Butler Fork, the track is on your left about 100 yards past Dog Lake. However, if you don't find that track, just head into the Aspen woods and start climbing - you'll eventually come to a clear trail up to the summit.

I am pretty excited, because it is my first 9k summit (9422 at the top) ... which isn't all that high considering I'm surrounded by something like 30 summits at over 10,000 feet in Salt Lake County alone ... but ya know, gotta start somewhere. =)



And Nina is as adorable on the top of a mountain as she is at the bottom. =)



Here is a set of shots that make my poor attempt at a Panorama. (They start out facing East-ish - and move to the South and around)


Pretty sure that this little guy above is Little Water Peak





The Brighton and Solitude Ski Areas are down in that Canyon with Clayton Peak in the distance.





I think the pointy Peak in the foreground on the right is Kessler Peak...





Through the sun and the unfocused camera you can see Mount Raymond (to the left) and Gobbler's Knob (to the right).





So yea - I really should get a good topo map and become a bit more confident with the naming of these things I take pictures of.... =)

March Hikes - Mill Creek Pipeline

The third week of March provided us with a bit of a warm spell - so we took advantage of it and did some hiking.

The trail itself is a good place to get some exercise. Rattlesnake Gulch is a small (quarter or half mile-ish?) gulch that leads to the Mill Creek pipeline trail. It is moderately steep as it ascends a few hundred feet to the pipeline trail. The Mill Creek pipeline trail extends from the Elbow Fork trailhead parallel with the road all the way to a nice overlook. There are a number of small trails that give access to the pipeline - making for a ton of variations in distance along the route.


These are some photos from Rattlesnake Gulch and the Mill Creek Pipeline.



As you can see - our trail was clear but some of the others had some snow. ;)



The view from the overlook on the Pipeline isn't so bad:




We hiked the same trail a few times that week....we even brought our friend Renee out.

Twin Peaks (Aves) - 19 April 2009

Avenues Twin Peaks!

Well, on April 19th I told Nina we'd go out for a stroll --- and we ended up heading to Twin Peaks. I swear it was an accident. We found it fairly challenging for our fitness level - but when we came back six weeks later we had a much easier time of it.

We start from Perry's Hollow: and this route is a beautiful strolling hike that climbs moderately over some open exposed meadow/grasslands. There are two points on the trail where it climbs steeply, once near the start and again towards the final ascent. Don't be discouraged by either - the rest of the hike is nice and calm. There was almost no shade along the trail, so I'd be hesitant to do this in the hot summer sun. I'm tempted to do this hike again for a sunset and star gazing trek on a clear night.

Here are a few of the photos from the hike:



Me with my back to the Valley



Nina looking adorable!



Nina with 'Little Black Mountain' in the background.