EXPLORING WASATCH WILDERNESS

PART TWO OF A TEN PART SERIES

MOUNT OLYMPUS WILDERNESS AREA

(Source: USFS)The Mount Olympus Wilderness was established by Congress in 1984 with the passage of the Utah Wilderness Act. Located within the central Wasatch range, the area consists of approximately 15,856 acres and is generally bounded on the north by Mill Creek Canyon, on the south by Big Cottonwood Canyon, on the west by the Salt Lake Valley, and on the east by Gobbler's Knob, Alexander Basin, and Dog Lake. The portion in Big Cottonwood Canyon falls under Salt Lake City watershed restrictions.
There are several entry points in each canyon and along the Front as well. They include the following: Mount Olympus Trail and Neff's Canyon from the benches along the front; Thayne's Canyon, Porter Fork (private road), Bowman Fork, and Alexander Basin on the northern or Mill Creek Canyon side; and Mill B North Fork and Butler Fork on the south side from Big Cottonwood Canyon. You can also enter the Wilderness about a quarter of a mile west of Dog Lake.

The Dog Lake entry receives most of the mountain bicycle violations. Bicyclist like to ride the Desolation Trail to the Mill A Basin Trail and out or exit the forest by way of Butler Fork. You will also see a little less use here in general except for the increasing problem with mountain bikes (mountain bikes are not allowed in wilderness areas).

The Mount Olympus Wilderness provides a spectacular backdrop for the Salt Lake Valley and is dominated by rugged terrain, narrow canyons, and high peaks, including Mount Olympus, Mount Raymond, and Gobbler's Knob. Much of the higher elevation is alpine, characterized by large, open cirque basins, and exposed rocky ridges.  Snow remains in some areas until mid-summer.

Broads let's help educate the public! To preserve and protect the physical and aesthetic environment, National Forest wilderness areas are closed to motor vehicles, mechanized equipment, hang gliders, and bicycles. 

Full disclosure - we are not wilderness experts! Part of our mission as volunteer GOBFW leaders is to educate ourselves and others about wilderness, wild places and public lands. Our 2023 theme is Walking the Wilderness and we encourage all Broads and Bros to get to know your Utah (and especially Wasatch Front and Back) wilderness areas better. The more educated we are about these wild places, the better prepared we will be to rally against wilderness mistreatment.  Many of us are probably not going to hoist our ancient, heavy backpack onto our broken and creaky backs anymore, but we can get a peak at these special places and learn more about their unique features.

WALKING THE WILDERNESS - PART I

 EXPLORING WASATCH WILDERNESS - PART ONE OF A TEN PART SERIES

Full disclosure - we are not wilderness experts! Part of our mission as volunteer GOBFW leaders is to educate ourselves and others about wilderness, wild places and public lands. Our 2023 theme is Walking the Wilderness and we encourage all Broads and Bros to get to know your Utah (and especially Wasatch Front and Back) wilderness areas better. The more educated we are about these wild places, the better prepared we will be to rally against wilderness mistreatment.  Many of us are probably not going to hoist our ancient, heavy backpack onto our broken and creaky backs anymore, but we can get a peak at these special places and learn more about their unique features.

MOUNT NEBO WILDERNESS AREA

The Mt. Nebo Scenic Byway (located between Payson and Nephi) is the primary access to Mount Nebo Wilderness Area, which was designated by the United States Congress in 1984. The wilderness area encompasses 28,022 acres and is managed by the U.S. Forest Service. The centerpiece of the southern portion of the wilderness is Mount Nebo, which looms above the wilderness area between Interstate 15 on the west side of the area, and the Byway to the east. Wilderness elevation begins at approximately 5,400 feet elevation, climbing through mountain valleys and meadows broken by moderate to steep ridges. The Wilderness Area encompasses four USFS maintained trails, totaling approximately 21 miles within the wilderness area. The trail system provides access to sites and is linked with other trails that border the wilderness area.

Twenty-seven trails are located along the Byway, seven of which lead into the Mount Nebo Wilderness Area. Mount Nebo is the highest peak of the Wasatch Mountain range. The mountain is crowned by three peaks, with the northern peak reaching 11,928 feet . Parts of the mountain are covered in snow from mid-October until July and it is a popular, although strenuous, destination for hikers and equestrians.

The extensive winter snow melt caused damage along the Byway as well as Santaquin Canyon Road. Make sure to check road conditions before exploring the area. Some areas are expected to open by June 16, others not until the end of July.

Sources: Nebo Loop Scenic Byway Corridor Management Plan Update, Wilderness Connect, USFS Spanish Fork District

 ANTELOPE ISLAND HIKE

Beautiful day, fun friends, great conversation

 WE TOUCHED OUR FIRST WILDERNESS OF 2023

Our Broadband theme for 2023 is Walking the Wilderness and our intent is to become better educated about the wilderness we are passionate about protecting. According to the USFS description, "the Mount Olympus Wilderness was established by Congress in 1984 with the passage of the Utah Wilderness Act. Located within the central Wasatch range, the Mount Olympus Wilderness consists of approximately 15,856 acres and is generally bounded on the north by Mill Creek Canyon, on the south by Big Cottonwood Canyon, on the west by the Salt Lake Valley, and on the east by Gobbler's Knob, Alexander Basin, and Dog Lake. The portion in Big Cottonwood Canyon falls under Salt Lake City watershed restrictions."

On February 15, seven Broads and Bros and one dog, wandered 4.25 miles up the Burch Creek trail and back around to Millcreek. On occasion the clouds parted and we were able to see a stunning view of the surrounding peaks. The day was crispy cool, but the company warm. We were honored to have the leader of the new Broadband in Flagstaff, Cuyler, and her husband Tom, along for the outing.  

 Best Laid Plans……

Three-hundred ninety miles and feeling great! Back issues resolved with Barnacle the tennis ball, heel blisters no longer a problem, strong mind, strong body and then the knee pain began. Mild at first, then searing. SAVED was midway through segment 23 from Carson Saddle to Stony Pass. She had done some big pushes the day before the pain started. A rest overnight was not helpful, and she awoke in the morning with big time swelling and stiffness.

The first few morning miles were painful. Her hiking mates took some of her weight. It was only getting worse. One of the hardest decisions a thru-hiker must make is when to stop. A quick look at the GPS showed a way off the trail at mile 10.6. It was a four-mile dirt road that joined the Alpine Loop about four miles from Silverton.

SAVED texted her resupply team. When we received the distress call, we were eating lunch at the top of Wolf Creek Pass near Pagosa Springs after breaking camp that morning near Creede. “I am having some major knee issues. I’m going to need to bailout on a dirt road coming up.” We were three hours away! Many thoughts raced through our hearts and minds, but we keep our cool, found her approximate location on the map and headed toward Silverton where we were scheduled to camp that evening.

She found the dirt road that was void of traffic and limped the four miles to the loop road. It was the slowest hiking she has ever done she reported later. At the loop, a couple with a dog offered her a ride apologizing for the dog who was now resting on her lap in the back seat. Little did they know how healing that was for her. Timing was perfect as we were checking in at the Silverton Lakes RV Park when she arrived.

Little was said that evening about the end of her journey. She showered, loved on Tallus and we had a nice meal in town. Ice and elevation helped and by next morning she saw some improvement but was still stiff and swollen. She plans to stick around and welcome her hiking buddies, Pages and Breaker, when they finish in Durango in a few days.

It appears her injury is due to overuse and will hopefully recover in time for her to return to where she ended her journey and finish the final five and a half segments this fall. If not, she will be back next year to complete her journey. Bravo for the nearly 400 miles hiked, the new friendships formed, and the incredible strength gained from this experience. We love you Colleen, Coco, Cocoleeno, SAVED. You certainly SAVED yourself!

TRAIL NOTES: The best laid plans, a proverbial expression used to signify the futility of making detailed plans when the ability to fully, or even partially, execute them is uncertain, might best describe this situation.

 Rain, Rain Go Away!

Three-hundred fifty miles and counting as SAVED completed segments 18-21 on August 16 and was greeted by her dad at Spring Creek Pass, 17 miles from Lake City. After three hours of rain, and many miles across the sheep filled Snow Mesa she and her hiking companions Pages and Breaker were ready for warm, dry clothes, a hot shower, hearty food, and a soft bed. They booked a quiet hotel in Creede and Mike gave all three a ride down the mountain.

Creede is a historic mining town that now claims it’s riches from the many tourists who visit both summer and winter. Countless miles of 4-wheel drive roads radiate from the town center. The Rio Grande snakes its way through the lowlands and the scenic drive from Creede to Lake City (the Silver Thread) provides a sampling of Colorado’s best vistas and valleys.

Drying wet gear is one of the challenges for thru hikers. A little cooperation from Mother Nature helps, and she came through for them on Wednesday morning. Tents, sleeping pads, bags, and ground covers all got a good drying, the rest of the soaked clothing went to the laundromat across from the hotel. Good thing they started early as storm rolled back in during the afternoon.

Luck was with them as the sky cleared overnight and Thursday morning was dry and clear. The support truck picked them up at 9:00 a.m. and they departed from the trailhead about 9:30 a.m. on August 18. We will see them again in Silverton on August 21. The route ahead is filled with lots of up and down and is also some of the most spectacular they have seen so far.

TRAIL NOTES: Team Coco SAVED has been busy relaxing in between shuttle jobs. Our campground is 11 miles off the main road but it’s worth the extra drive. We have a river on one side and a stream on the other. The fishing isn’t great, but the hiking makes up for it. We saw a majestic 5-point buck one evening complete with velvet and an elegant buckskin coat. The next morning there was a doe in the same spot. Tallus has been entertaining himself with multiple squirrel and chipmunk encounters and they have both been getting lots of water time.

 

 Rocky Road and 300 Miles Down

 

SAVED finished segment 17 at 9:15 on Sunday, August 14 where her resupply team met her on Highway 114. She was at mile 302 and ready for some snacks. The team was ready with fresh fruit, cold water, pastries, and cookies. In fact, we brought enough for a few other hikers who were ready for a break. Segments 15-17 have limited water resources and lots of grazing activity so it’s tough to find good water. All together she hiked about 40 miles topping out at 12,515 feet and dropping to 9606 feet.

The trail is also multi-use and is shared with motorcycles creating some rather rocky conditions. In fact, we offered food and snacks to a thru biker who had a miserable experience on this section. He was from the UK and had to push his 95-pound bike up several steep hills and the rocky downhill sections were nearly impossible to ride. He started an hour behind SAVED at Monarch Pass and came out 30 minutes ahead of her. That indicates what a difficult time he had.

We learned much about his many travels and how he plans to finish in Durango and then ride several trails around Moab, Bryce, and Grand Staircase. He then heads south to bike the Arizona trail and when he’s finished with that on to San Diego and south to Baja. He has no car. This is all on his mountain bike! Doesn’t need to be back in the UK until March.

We also discovered the greatest gift you can give a thru hiker (other than a ride to the nearest resupply town) is to take their trash. We came across one such woman from Ashville, NC.,who had been praying for someone to come along and do just that, so we did.

And now our Coco is off to finish segments 18-21 and we will see her at Spring Creek Pass near Lake City. We leave Salida on August 15 for a campground near Creede and may not have Internet for five or six days so we will catch you up in a few days.