Thurston Peak TR

[Mtnman1830]

Is there a better way to spend the Fourth of July?

Myself and three other people drove up the treacherous (no, it isn't as bad as I have heard) Farmington Canyon and parked at Smith Creek Lakes.

**the road in Farmington Canyon is narrow, and has lots of exposure, but it is possible to get a passanger car up to Francis Peak**

On the way up, we bagged two peaks that had geocaches on the summits, and headed to Thurston.

The flowers were showing thier colors, still being cool enough,(there is even a bit of snow left up there).


Because Thurston is a 'twofer' (two counties share the highpoint) it was my 4th and 5th one. I am almost - almost half way done.

[caverspencer]

Sounds like fun, Who were the other three people?


Did anything weird happen like people losing there brand new GPS or getting stung by a caterpillar?

[Mtnman1830]

Did anything weird happen like people losing there brand new GPS or getting stung by a caterpillar?

yeah, we ended up scouring through some thick ass scrub brush for a gps somebody dropped when they got bit by this caterpillar

[W]

Looks like a gorgeous hike, guys! I didn't realize 'til yesterday you could hike Thurston from Francis -- makes it a nice, relatively easy bag. Bummed I couldn't make it. Start it an hour or two later next time & I'm there. ;-)

I am definitely gonna have to go check that hike out... looks like a blast. No trouble getting up to Francis (i.e. closed gates/pesky feds), I take it?

How long did it take you guys round-trip? Think you were guessing around 5-6 hours or so, right?

[RugerShooter]

Wish I could have made this one with you, maybe next time.

[caverspencer]

Looks like a gorgeous hike, guys! I didn't realize 'til yesterday you could hike Thurston from Francis -- makes it a nice, relatively easy bag. Bummed I couldn't make it. Start it an hour or two later next time & I'm there. ;-)

I am definitely gonna have to go check that hike out... looks like a blast. No trouble getting up to Francis (i.e. closed gates/pesky feds), I take it?

How long did it take you guys round-trip? Think you were guessing around 5-6 hours or so, right?

It was a great hike indeed. You dont want our round trip numbers because we were stopping at geocaches along the way.
We began our hike at Francis but after walking along the clearly drive able road for 1/4 or so I ran back and grabbed my SUV. The roads were mostly dry and we had very little problems driving the road to its end. We parked at the end of the road that skirts the east side of the ridge line. (there is a also a fork that goes around the west but appeared to be further away) We picked the East because there were geocaches along it. There are three lakes and we parked at the lake farthest to the north.

I will have to look at the GPS data to get the exact info but if I remember right we left the car around 10am, hit the summit of Thurston shortly after 1pm. We hit 3 caches along the way, which meant climbing up a couple of other summits, a trip straight to the summit would be much faster. we spent a long long time at the summit and probably didn't head back down until close to 2pm. I recall the GPS saying the return was about 1hr 10 minutes.

The drive back up the road went well, I had to back up and get a better angle through one ditch, and there was a sharp corner I had to back up and turn a bit sharper on. This was in a stock Mitsi Montero Sport. Anyone with a 4X4 Jeep or Toyota would have no problems at all, as long it is dry weather.

Photos are uploaded as we speak I will link some of them later.

Thanks to Sportsman for stepping up and organizing the trip (and for spotting my lost GPS).

I had a great time!

[caverspencer]

some Photos as promised.

This is where we parked, if you look closely in the shade of the tree you will see the car:


Looking back at Francis peak:


What is he doing?



Roadstr at Peak a boo Thurston Geocache, Geocache #1000 for him


MtnMan1830 and "three other people" at the summit:


Heading back down:

[accadacca]

Looks like a good way to spend the day for sure. Thanks for the pictures and write up.

[sparker1]

Enjoyed your pics, thanks for sharing.

[James_B_Wads2000]

Thanks for the TR Mtnman1830 & caverspencer, I have added it to the Utah High Pointing Index .

Thurston is a great peak. You guys went the better way. You can climb it from Feronwood(?) Recreation site in Kaysville, just above Highway 89. The trail connects to the Great Western Trail and winds its way up the west side to the ridge. But that route is like 6miles one way and 4000

[Mtnman1830]

[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=P0MA1Sibkdo[/youtube]

[RugerShooter]

That one would have been fun to. One day I will make one of these hikes with you

[sportsman]

there i am standing on the peak and I dont get credit? whats up with that?

[Mtnman1830]

http://www.bogley.com/forum/images/avatars/1328748044480cee51d1917.jpg[/img] ] there i am standing on the peak and I dont get credit? whats up with that?

Welcome to the forum, Sportsman.

[sportsman]

just had to put the rookie thing in there...ha ha. dont worry i am working on changing that.