April of this year I came across a blogpost for the WURL (Wasatch Ultimate Ridge Linkup) and immediately fell in love with it. 34 miles of ridge-hiking (more like 22+ miles), 18,000+ feet elevation gain, and summiting 22 peaks, all on the Little Cottonwood Ridgeline.
And this Saturday, September 3rd, will be my friend Elynn and I's attempt and defeating this beat. Our goal is under 24 hours.
Since April, we have summited a dozen or so of these peaks and stashed water at these summits. Water and food stashing is a necessity for this hike. There is NO water along the ridgeline in September.
We have 4 locations. They are at the following: Twin Peaks, near Cardiff Pass (or Pole-Line Pass), Hidden Peak (which is the tram at Snowbird), and the saddle right before the last 1/2 mile to the summit of the Pfeifferhorn.
The plan is to start at Ferguson Canyon at 2am and work our way to Twin Peaks and follow the ridge line until we Dromedary and have breakfast there. We will continue on and fill up our water at the Cardiff Pass. Continue on and hit a few more summits and work our way around to the tram and have lunch with a few family members and friends. This will be our longest break. We plan on some pizza, change of socks, foot and back rubs, and probably a 20-30min nap. Afterwards, we will press on until the saddle near the Pfeifferhorn and fill up our last 3 liters of water there, along with having dinner. We have freeze dried meals and will packing a small stove to boil the water at that spot. We will leave the cooking gear in a alcove and come up another week to retrieve it. Again, press on around 4-5pm and scramble up to Lone Peak where we will find exfil to Upper Bells Reservoir. From there it is a "easy" 5 mile hike back to the our waiting car and friends. Hopefully ending before 2am. If not...that's okay too.
We are experienced with Ferguson up to Twin Peaks, Cardiff Pass, Devils Castle Traverse, Pfeifferhorn, Thunder Peak, Lone Peak, and the exit slope and Bells canyon. The areas where we haven't figured out (but have some good intel) or experienced yet is from Dromedary to Superior, and then from Devil's Castle to Hidden Peak, and the Baldys.
There is no "defined" trail as it is ridge-scrambling and rock-hopping for the most part.
Elynn and I have been running in our down time and we will ready for this beast of a hike. The only concern of mine is me being a Type 1 Diabetic. I have been for 19 years now (I'm 32) and making sure my blood-sugars are stable is what will define my endurance level.
We are both no strangers to long hikes or long days. I have been canyoneering for the past 15 years with some canyons reaching 16+ hours. I have been hiking smaller hikes and trails ever since I was in HS, and so when I saw this hike - I HAD to do it. And who knows what is ahead! I'm not Jared Campbell (the guy who designed the line and made it popular) but each hike and peak-bagging gets easier and easier!
Anyway, I will be reposting this Sunday and giving a full TR with pics.
PS - if any of you are near the ridges in Little Cottonwood sometime on Saturday and you see two young people hiking and looking beat-up and sun scorched - that would be us! Say hi!
