W100: Lone Peak Looper

Date: July 7, 2018

Distance: 13 miles

Purpose: re-connect with a friend and a favorite peak

I have known Art since I was in kindergarten. I have played a lot of soccer with him, skied with him, camped with him, philosophized with him, room-mated with him, and ran some trails with him. He is important to me because he is one of the few childhood friends that loves playing in the mountains as much as I do. I’m grateful for those emotional and physical high-mileage friendships. We have covered a lot of life’s ground together.

I have done Lone Peak a half-dozen times since my 20’s when I first summited it. I never get bored of the approach from the west. After getting above the standard hot and dusty bottom section, it turns into scrub oak, then alpine, and finally granite boulder-laden hills with granite spires and shields in all directions with leading to a wall of sheer peaks on the east boundary. In other words, you enter the rugged and unique micro environment of the Lone Peak Cirque. You have a hard time not feeling small and humbled in the Heart of the Cirque. It’s as if all the spires could all tumble right on your head if not careful.  Professor Gale Dick, renowned physics professor from the University of Utah and well-documented world traveler ,was once asked where his favorite place was in all the world to travel and he responded enthusiastically: “the Lone Peak Cirque!.”

Since this peak rises up 6000’ from the Salt Lake Valley floor to 11,300’ above sea level, there are several hikeable approaches to easily turn it into a loop (starting from the south and going clockwise): Hamongogs, Jacobs Ladder, Draper Ridge, Cherry Canyon (a.k.a. Bear Canyon), Big Willow, Trail of the Eagle, Bells Canyon, and Lightning Ridge via the Beat Out (more on that route later…).

Regardless of the approach, rekindling and refreshing old memories with an old friend made the miles slip by easily. The cirque and the summit was so rewarding with Art. It was his first time, making it extra special for him, who lives in its shadow down in White City below.

Art basking in the first view of the awe-inspiring Lone Peak Cirque.

I was already in sleep-walking mode by this point.

Fields of Gold - over half way up and approaching the Lone Peak Cirque, we came across this baby.

We then decided to turn our hike into a loop by descending into Bells Canyon from one of the east couloir’s of Lone Peak. While apparently doable-loo  Eventually we were officially cliffed out. We veered south into some scrub pines that gave us just enough traction to keep from tumbling. The reward was a nice summer ski run on
king from the top, it gradually became steeper  and more gnarly toward the bottom.

some remaining snow. Here are some action videos of how we navigated that steep ice field.

There is nothing like a challenging summit with a  great friend! With just enough exposure  on 3 of the 4 sides to keep your footsteps light and your intentions honest. 

We passed by Upper Bells Canyon Reservoir, where Art suddenly felt faint and nauseated. Luckily we had abundant water in all directions so we took our time to re-hydrate properly. I dipped my hat in these cool streams at least 10 times on this hot and dusty day.

Upper Bells Canyon Reservoir, a rarely visited gem in this popular canyon. 

 By the time we reached the famous waterfall and lower reservoir, we were back to full strength and running strong again to the car we had dropped off there.

Bells Waterfall, a place of refreshment and rest at mile 11...it's all (steeply) downhill from here.

We also had some precious magic potatoes to partake of. These delights are Becky's homeade creation of bite-size potatoes, coupled with lots of butter and garlic salt. They are a perfect runners snack.

Although not quite as many wildflowers and waterfalls as the Timp Looper, this was still beautiful and worthwhile in its own right. It was great to have Art as a companion runner as well.