LCC horseshoe ridge traverse

[MYota]

I've been researching the ridge that creates a horseshoe around Little Cottonwood Canyon. The ridge basically goes from Lone Peak, up around Alta then out west to Twin Peaks.

The ridge has 27 peaks over 10,000ft, is probably around 35 miles, and I guess 30,000 total elevation change. I think a 3 day, 2 night push will get it done...

I was simply wondering if anyone had any personal experience with this ridge; either part of it or all of it.

[Iceaxe]

The hike from White Pine and out Lightening Ridge and down Bells Canyon is known as "Beat Out". It's in several guidebooks. I did the route a few years back. Many options, but if you want to bag Lone Peak and North/South Thunder mtns that hike alone is a minimun of 3 days.

I don't think your 3 day estimate is very accurate. It's hard to do just one of the ridges in 3 days.

I've done Lone Peak

P-Horn

AF Twins

Devils Castle Treverse.

Monte Cristo

Superior

Broads Twins

I think the route description for most of them is here:
http://climb-utah.com/WM/index.htm

Good luck

:rockon:

[Scott P]

I was simply wondering if anyone had any personal experience with this ridge; either part of it or all of it.

I've done all of it in pieces except for Lone Peak to Thunder Mountain which could be challenging. I have climbed both peaks, but not the part between them.

Most of the ridge is fairly straight foreward. Monte Chisto to Sunrise Peak is quite challenging and slow.

Some parts of the ridge are best in May and June, such as Thunder Mountain to American Fork Twins (Alpine Ridge) before all the snow melts and makes travel slower. Other parts (such as on the Cottonwood Ridge) are easier when melted out. Mid-June may offer the best compromise in most years, but don't even think about going without an ice axe.

[MYota]

I've done all of it in pieces except for Lone Peak to Thunder Mountain which could be challenging. I have climbed both peaks, but not the part between them.

This is the part that I'm worried about. I understand their is technical climbing up to 5.8 in this section. 5.8 alpine will be a little bit of a challenge with all my gear, but it's not going to be a show stopper. Ice axe and appropriate gear are available.
Has anyone done this specific section???

Everything else is hiking and maybe a bit of scrambling.

Iceaxe: Just curious where your 3 day estimate of one ridge comes from?

This is how I foresee those three days:
day 1 - up lone peak, past thunder mt, potentially to the Pfeiferhorn. This day will be the hardest day - technically and physically. I expect the day to be long - 18-20 hrs.
Day 2 - Goal is to hike past Alta, between Mt. Wolverine and the Honeycomb cliffs
Day 3 - finish out the northern ridge of little cottonwood and descend via Fergesun Canyon.


I've hiked much of the trail already, but in training I want to eventually have it all done before the final 3 day expedition.

Anyone else have any experience with this?

[Iceaxe]

Iceaxe: Just curious where your 3 day estimate of one ridge comes from?

Been there, done that....

Like Scott, i've probably done the complete trip you are talking, just not in one long haul. You probably want to exit Broads Twin via Deaf Smith Canyon.

Most these ridges you are talking about are NOT hikes. Lots of scrambling with big exposure and you will be carrying a lot of weight.

I'd break this trip into at least three pieces and probably four.... South ridge and north ridge are each a seperate piece and I'd start top down. I'd probably break the horseshoe into two bit size pieces.

I'd also cheat and use the Snowbird tram to access the south ridge..... and maybe the south Horseshoe... but then again... that's how I roll. :haha:

YMMV

[tmartenst]

We did the beatout last September and it took us 14 hours. Granted, my wife's legs are short and she had a tough time on the boulder hopping. I could have cut a few hours off of that for sure. The snow/no snow thing is a tough one. I think it would have made our trip easier in some sections but definitely harder in others. I did a backcountry trip in June of 2005 and the ridge to the Pfiefferhorn was tricky as hell because of the snow so I imagine the ridge from Monte Cristo on would be tough with snow. 2005 was a big year and I think you are going to have less snow if you wait a few weeks.

[Iceaxe]

We did the beatout last September and it took us 14 hours.

FWIW: Beat out does not include Lone Peak, which I believe is on MYota's menu.

Also... many tag South Thunder and Chipman's on this route.

I think the horseshoe could be completed as three long day hikes by a strong mountaineer. But the minute you start to attempt the entire route in one shot you add a bunch of weight that will really slow you down.

My 2 cents.
:rockon:

[Brian in SLC]

Friend of mine did this horseshoe loop in a day. He calls it the Whirl Traverse or some such.

I think he's got some beta on his website:

www.door5.com

Uhh, he's about 8 sigma on the bell curve and a pretty darn good climber...so...good luck.

-Brian in SLC

[Iceaxe]

Nice!!! no way in hell I could duplicate this feat. Details are kinda sketchy. If I get the drift right he used at least one support crew.

Here are the links. I could find nothing on attempt #1.

Attempt #2
http://www.door5.com/alpine/WURL_6-5-2004-WEB/index.htm

Attempt #3
http://www.door5.com/alpine/WURL_success_web/index.htm

Beta
http://www.door5.com/alpine/WURL_success_web/beta/beta.html

http://www.door5.com/alpine/WURL_success_web/beta/wurl_map_med.jpg

[Brian in SLC]

Nice!!! no way in hell I could duplicate this feat. Details are kinda sketchy. If I get the drift right he used at least one support crew.

Yeah, can't recall if he had support or no...mighta had someone hook up with him mid way?

WURL...Wasatch Ultimate Ridge Linkup, or some such.

Some notable climbers had tried and been denied....Jared's a beast!

-Brian in SLC

[gonzo]

I'm fairly certain I saw him up on Grandeur yesterday. My friend and I were doing a fairly leisurely hike up to the summit, and he cruised past us at a good clip. He summited, turned around, and a passed us again in about the time it took us to go a mile.

I can't wait to start running again. *glaring at my knee*

[Brian in SLC]

I'm fairly certain I saw him up on Grandeur yesterday. My friend and I were doing a fairly leisurely hike up to the summit, and he cruised past us at a good clip. He summited, turned around, and a passed us again in about the time it took us to go a mile.

Most likely was. His parent's house is near the mouth of Mill Creek Canyon, and, he runs from there. I think the La Sportiva ad in Trailrunner mag of him is on Grandeur as well. He does that rig year round, in the dark after work in the winter, etc.

Interesting you saw him yesterday, though. He was trying to do some unfathomly huge vertical, rumor had (ran into a friend of his in the Tetons last weekend).

He's a lot of fun. Always up to something...

-Brian in SLC