Deeps
09-17-2009, 12:32 PM
Leif and I planned a return trip to the Uintas last weekend but the weather seemed sketch so we stayed closer to home. He's been begging to bag a peak, so we decided to do Mt. Olympus. I've lived in Salt Lake for nine years and never done Olympus, so it seemed like a good fit.
His mother worried that it was too much for him, and I wasn't sure. Either way, trying was better than not.
http://homepage.mac.com/deanpaulrussell/Mount_Olympus/pictures/picture-1.jpg
We were at the trailhead at 9:15 am. Not a lot of pictures going up, just quick camera phone snaps. It was interesting to see Leif's feet hit the steep sections flat, where I take them on my toes due to hamstrings tighter than a, um, well, they're tight.
http://homepage.mac.com/deanpaulrussell/Mount_Olympus/pictures/picture-3.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/deanpaulrussell/Mount_Olympus/pictures/picture-4.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/deanpaulrussell/Mount_Olympus/pictures/picture-5.jpg
Leif took a break every hundred yards or so. As much as I was determined to make it to the top, I was willing to turn around anytime he wanted. But he was a superstar. We passed a lot of gasping people on the trail who talked him up and told him how awesome he was. It was like having a puppy. When you have a puppy, everyone talks to the dog without saying a word to you. "You're a trooper" was the most common compliment. He's small for a six year old, and is often mistaken for much younger to his dismay. Leif was a little shy, but by the end warmed up to the few people we saw. Over the course of the day we saw less than twenty people total.
At the saddle we caught up to a couple and their dog and followed them to the summit via an "indirect" route. It was a little iffy, but we made it and so did their dog.
http://homepage.mac.com/deanpaulrussell/Mount_Olympus/pictures/picture-6.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/deanpaulrussell/Mount_Olympus/pictures/picture-7.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/deanpaulrussell/Mount_Olympus/pictures/picture-8.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/deanpaulrussell/Mount_Olympus/pictures/picture-9.jpg
At the top, we had a few minutes before a passing shower to sign, eat a sandwich, and take a few photos. Leif signed in the day planner near our summit date - in hindsight I wish I would have told him to write his age as well.
http://homepage.mac.com/deanpaulrussell/Mount_Olympus/pictures/picture-13.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/deanpaulrussell/Mount_Olympus/pictures/picture-14.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/deanpaulrussell/Mount_Olympus/pictures/picture-15.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/deanpaulrussell/Mount_Olympus/pictures/picture-17.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/deanpaulrussell/Mount_Olympus/pictures/picture-19.jpg
We carefully picked our way off the summit. the rocks up there became really slippy with the little rain shower.
http://homepage.mac.com/deanpaulrussell/Mount_Olympus/pictures/picture-20.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/deanpaulrussell/Mount_Olympus/pictures/picture-21.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/deanpaulrussell/Mount_Olympus/pictures/picture-22.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/deanpaulrussell/Mount_Olympus/pictures/picture-24.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/deanpaulrussell/Mount_Olympus/pictures/picture-27.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/deanpaulrussell/Mount_Olympus/pictures/picture-28.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/deanpaulrussell/Mount_Olympus/pictures/picture-30.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/deanpaulrussell/Mount_Olympus/pictures/picture-31.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/deanpaulrussell/Mount_Olympus/pictures/picture-34.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/deanpaulrussell/Mount_Olympus/pictures/picture-35.jpg
We took our time getting down, enjoying the views and the cool air. The distance covered and elevation gain were awesome. Leif kept talking about how much smaller everything appeared as we climbed. Leif had brought binoculars and stopped to check out cars, the golf course, and the roof of the Fort Union Target where we shop.
http://homepage.mac.com/deanpaulrussell/Mount_Olympus/pictures/picture-36.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/deanpaulrussell/Mount_Olympus/pictures/picture-38.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/deanpaulrussell/Mount_Olympus/pictures/picture-39.jpg
Surfin' on the skree...
http://homepage.mac.com/deanpaulrussell/Mount_Olympus/pictures/picture-26.jpg
Anyone know what these berries are? We only saw this one bush...
http://homepage.mac.com/deanpaulrussell/Mount_Olympus/pictures/picture-41.jpg
By the end of the trail he was dragging me down.
That night he said he was neither tired or sore. I could not say the same.
6.8 miles round trip, 4,200' elevation gain to the 9,026' summit. Start: 9:15am. Summit: 1:45pm. Finish: 6:05pm.
Any suggestions on another peak or two to get in before winter?
His mother worried that it was too much for him, and I wasn't sure. Either way, trying was better than not.
http://homepage.mac.com/deanpaulrussell/Mount_Olympus/pictures/picture-1.jpg
We were at the trailhead at 9:15 am. Not a lot of pictures going up, just quick camera phone snaps. It was interesting to see Leif's feet hit the steep sections flat, where I take them on my toes due to hamstrings tighter than a, um, well, they're tight.
http://homepage.mac.com/deanpaulrussell/Mount_Olympus/pictures/picture-3.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/deanpaulrussell/Mount_Olympus/pictures/picture-4.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/deanpaulrussell/Mount_Olympus/pictures/picture-5.jpg
Leif took a break every hundred yards or so. As much as I was determined to make it to the top, I was willing to turn around anytime he wanted. But he was a superstar. We passed a lot of gasping people on the trail who talked him up and told him how awesome he was. It was like having a puppy. When you have a puppy, everyone talks to the dog without saying a word to you. "You're a trooper" was the most common compliment. He's small for a six year old, and is often mistaken for much younger to his dismay. Leif was a little shy, but by the end warmed up to the few people we saw. Over the course of the day we saw less than twenty people total.
At the saddle we caught up to a couple and their dog and followed them to the summit via an "indirect" route. It was a little iffy, but we made it and so did their dog.
http://homepage.mac.com/deanpaulrussell/Mount_Olympus/pictures/picture-6.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/deanpaulrussell/Mount_Olympus/pictures/picture-7.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/deanpaulrussell/Mount_Olympus/pictures/picture-8.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/deanpaulrussell/Mount_Olympus/pictures/picture-9.jpg
At the top, we had a few minutes before a passing shower to sign, eat a sandwich, and take a few photos. Leif signed in the day planner near our summit date - in hindsight I wish I would have told him to write his age as well.
http://homepage.mac.com/deanpaulrussell/Mount_Olympus/pictures/picture-13.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/deanpaulrussell/Mount_Olympus/pictures/picture-14.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/deanpaulrussell/Mount_Olympus/pictures/picture-15.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/deanpaulrussell/Mount_Olympus/pictures/picture-17.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/deanpaulrussell/Mount_Olympus/pictures/picture-19.jpg
We carefully picked our way off the summit. the rocks up there became really slippy with the little rain shower.
http://homepage.mac.com/deanpaulrussell/Mount_Olympus/pictures/picture-20.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/deanpaulrussell/Mount_Olympus/pictures/picture-21.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/deanpaulrussell/Mount_Olympus/pictures/picture-22.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/deanpaulrussell/Mount_Olympus/pictures/picture-24.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/deanpaulrussell/Mount_Olympus/pictures/picture-27.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/deanpaulrussell/Mount_Olympus/pictures/picture-28.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/deanpaulrussell/Mount_Olympus/pictures/picture-30.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/deanpaulrussell/Mount_Olympus/pictures/picture-31.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/deanpaulrussell/Mount_Olympus/pictures/picture-34.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/deanpaulrussell/Mount_Olympus/pictures/picture-35.jpg
We took our time getting down, enjoying the views and the cool air. The distance covered and elevation gain were awesome. Leif kept talking about how much smaller everything appeared as we climbed. Leif had brought binoculars and stopped to check out cars, the golf course, and the roof of the Fort Union Target where we shop.
http://homepage.mac.com/deanpaulrussell/Mount_Olympus/pictures/picture-36.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/deanpaulrussell/Mount_Olympus/pictures/picture-38.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/deanpaulrussell/Mount_Olympus/pictures/picture-39.jpg
Surfin' on the skree...
http://homepage.mac.com/deanpaulrussell/Mount_Olympus/pictures/picture-26.jpg
Anyone know what these berries are? We only saw this one bush...
http://homepage.mac.com/deanpaulrussell/Mount_Olympus/pictures/picture-41.jpg
By the end of the trail he was dragging me down.
That night he said he was neither tired or sore. I could not say the same.
6.8 miles round trip, 4,200' elevation gain to the 9,026' summit. Start: 9:15am. Summit: 1:45pm. Finish: 6:05pm.
Any suggestions on another peak or two to get in before winter?