Agassiz Peak - Uinta Mountains

Kamas, Utah
Naturalist Basin
Agassiz Peak 12,428'

Agassiz (Ah-Gah-See) Peak is named after geologist, Louis Agassiz. It is the domed corner peak between Hayden Peak and Spread Eagle Peak. You can see this peak as you come out of the Bald Mountain Pass around Mirror Lake. Climbing Agassiz Peak is quite difficult from the west. Most people climb it from Naturalist Basin.

Agassiz Peak from Hayden Peak
Looking south

Agassiz Peak from the ridge to
Spread Eagle Peak
Looking west

Agassiz Peak from Bald Mountain
Looking east
Agassiz is the round, domed peak in the foreground, right.
This is similar to the view from the road just after Bald Mountain Pass
Hayden Peak, Lamotte Peak, Ostler Peak, Spread Eagle Peak, Agassiz Peak

This is one of the only peaks I've ever hiked alone. It would had been nice to share this one with someone, it's hard to describe what it felt like to get up to the top of this sketchy 12,438 foot peak with the dark clouds above, thunder booming behind me, and the yellow light hitting the white quartzite lichen covered rocks.

My heart raced with emotion looking at the panorama of glowing ridges all around. Or maybe my heart was racing like that because I was exhausted. I felt like I won a small battle, but I also felt very alone up there with the rain coming, and the sun leaving.

I planned on going to the top by myself, if no one else wanted to, but we'd have to get to Naturalist Basin before 6:00 pm to have a chance of that. We reached camp at around 4:30, but it was cloudy and you could hear thunder. I didn't love the idea of lightning shooting down my spine, so I gave up on that idea.

Lorin and I went up to check out Blue Lake. Once we got to Blue Lake, I thought we were too close to not run up to the hill above Blue Lake, to see the other Lakes in Naturalist Basin. He said he would go until he got tired. Once on top of the hill, I looked back for Lorin, but he seemed to have decided to stop.

The views were great from there, but I looked up and noticed the ridge to Middle Basin was only 300 feet up. I also noticed the clouds were starting to open up to the west, and time was running out for light. So I decided to walk towards the base of the peak and take pictures of it from there.

I cut diagonally from the hill straight to the base, it was actually very easy. The rocks were all stacked in a way that almost seemed designed for the path I chose. I cut right up to the base with very little exertion.

Once I reached the ridge, I was filled with exhilaration from the view opening up in front of me. I could hear the angels sing with synthestisia. I looked at the sun and noticed that there was a break in the clouds, and realized if I hurried, I could make it to the top before sunset and that there should be enough light to see from the top. I huffed and puffed over washing machine-sized rocks to make it just in time to see the sun break from under the dark blanket of clouds and paint the mountain tops.

I stayed on top of the peak until the sun was completely set, then I started hiking straight down from the peak toward Blue Lake, I could see a talus that looked very steep, but still doable. I walk with a metal cane, so it makes it harder to slip. The thunder hit a few times, so I started moving a little faster, the rain was making the rocks harder to judge, as far as friction, I slipped a couple of times, and cut my hand.

I had to downclimb two cliffbands, it wasn't exactly hard, but if I would have slipped anywhere, it would have been bad. There was also a band of steep bushes I had to climb down in the rain, not the funnest part of the hike, but I've had worse. I finally got down and walked around the west side of Blue lake and then stumbled into camp feeling like the living dead.

During my 1,500 foot straight down decent from the peak, I saw two guys on the east side of Blue Lake below who were watching me in the dark with my flashlight. I knocked all kinds of rocks down the peak, and made plenty of noise with my metal cane. These same guys went up to the peak the next morning but chose a different route down... If you're going to hike to a peak at night, I would suggest taking the same route down as up, if you want to ensure your safety.

But there are always those who prefer a little adventure,
as it is as addictive as it is dangerous.

Saturday, September 1, 2007