After the wide crack the first 'piece' is a bolt without the hanger or head The head was replaced by climbing tape Also, to make matters worse it flexed under body weight Not sure this was always the caseI used a nut but if you pull on the wire in the wrong direction plan on taking a really bad fall Additionally, if you are under 5'10" I would say plan on bringing a stick clip for this section I was top stepping on my ladders and barely reached the bolt above This was pretty scary due to the sketchy piece! After t...

Old School is one of those canyons you do when you have an hour or two at the end of the day and aren't ready to settle down in camp or head back to civilization Though a 1 rappel wonder, it makes a pleasant outing and a nice way to round out a day It would also be beginner friendly with competent leadership, and a gentle introduction to canyoneering There is a pool mid-way down the rappel that requires a bit of creative stemming to avoid Beginners will get wet, intermediate canyoneers will enjoy the challenge No w...

Delano Peak is both the Piute and Beaver county highpoints, tucked in the Tushar Range, the third-highest range in the state This is a family friendly highpoint with easy access, a good and generally easy to follow trail, and stunning views from its summit There are many different approaches for reaching the summit, such as from Poison Creek, or the communications tower to the north For my money, however, the official trail offers as easy access as any, and keeps traffic and impacts to a minimum Bring a camera and ...

Often overlooked, Lambs Canyon offers one official trail this one that ascends up to the Mill Creek Ridge The trail has been recently improved It goes into shade by late afternoon, and the 42 mile distance makes a good 2-3 hour hike for most Good scenery, afternoon shade, wild flowers, and fall colors make this a good choice if your looking for a less popular hike near the Wasatch Front Note: Access is almost as close as Mill Creek from the Salt Lake Valley, and the road is open from early summer through fall

Near Battle Mountain Nevada, Galena has a long history as a mining town Mining began in 1863 when the first miners made claims The town grew steadily and blossomed through the 1880's, complete with a cemetery, city park, and more than 300 residence living there Mining dwindled in the 1880's, and people moved on The town has had a few minor revivals, one right before World War I, one just before World War II, and one in the late 1960's None of the revivals lasted very long, and the quiet town of Galena is now abando...

Like most Millcreek Canyon hikes, this is a steep one! That being said, the effort is worth it in my opinion The hike is broken up into two different parts Section one climbs to the pass and returns the same way This is about 175 miles and 1,700 ft elevation gain one way A solid workout! Those wanting more can continue to Millvue Peak, which clocks in at about 25 miles and nearly 2700' of elevation gain ONE WAY An overachiever workout! Millvue is the local name for the peak at elevation 8,926' to the east of Lambs ...

I am always amazed by the determination and vision of the first cattle ranchers in southern Utah They carved out paths that required an incredible amount of work and vision to become passable by horse and livestock From a distance it is easy to pause and think "no way that is passable," yet a trail was created and used! This hike follows the Great Western Trail for a short distance, then an old stock trail that is now an official forest service trail The route climbs from the lowlands near Bicknell Bottoms to the r...

One of the newest park trails, Fire Wave, was once a social trail that has now become an official attraction The eons compressed the shifting dunes into colorful striated rock The hike is reminiscent of the Wave in the Arizona Strip, without the permit hassles This hike was my favorite hike in Valley of Fire On our trip, we visited just after sunrise and the colors were particularly vibrant Surprisingly, an early start also meant we enjoyed the scenery without other visitors A unique place that is particularly grea...

Mill A is not an official Forest Service trail, and the path up Mill A is much less travelled than most other hikes in the canyon The lower part of the canyon was mined and is still occasionally panned by hopeful prospectors Once above the lower section, the canyon becomes enclosed and a bit overgrown This is a hike I recommend for those looking for wildflowers or fall colors Being an out and back, it is well suited for a short stroll The farther you go, the more overgrown and difficult the going becomes I was feel...

Sometimes the Mirror Lake Highway can feel crowded with trails and lakes seeing much traffic on summer weekends Hourglass Lake proves, if you are willing to work a bit, there is still solitude and infrequently visited spots to be found! The hardest part of reaching Hourglass Lake is reaching the trailhead The road is typical of many Uinta mountains road, ROCKY! Expect about 6 miles of bumpy, rocky, teeth jarring road A 4-Wheel drive vehicle is required, as is patience The reward for the difficult road is an area wi...