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
Agassiz Peak - Uinta Mountains
Agassiz Peak
Agassiz Peak - Uinta Mountains
When I first surfaced the ridge, it was a very s
Agassiz Peak - Uinta Mountains
Once you get to this point, you'll look ahead an
Agassiz Peak - Uinta Mountains
Looking east towards Agassiz' ancient neighbor,S
Agassiz Peak - Uinta Mountains
Looking northwest toward Agassiz' other ridge co
Agassiz Peak - Uinta Mountains
Looking north toward Hayden Peak, Kletting Peak
Agassiz Peak - Uinta Mountains
Inching my way up the teeder todder rocks toward
Agassiz Peak - Uinta Mountains
Explorer Peak 12,708' (Dark peak on the left) wi
Agassiz Peak - Uinta Mountains
Agassiz Peak
Agassiz Peak - Uinta Mountains
Looking north toward Hayden Peak, Kletting Peak,
Agassiz Peak - Uinta Mountains
To enter heaven you must pass through these towe
Agassiz Peak - Uinta Mountains
Looking down from through the pearly tower gates
Agassiz Peak - Uinta Mountains
Naturalist Basin
Agassiz Peak - Uinta Mountains
From near the summit looking east over the body
Agassiz Peak - Uinta Mountains
East Grandaddy Peak 11,659' Grandaddy Lake 10,30
Agassiz Peak - Uinta Mountains
The last light of the day, just clipping the hig
Agassiz Peak - Uinta Mountains
Ostler Peak
Agassiz Peak - Uinta Mountains
Pointy Explorer Peak lit up dramatically in the
Agassiz Peak - Uinta Mountains
Explorer Peak with Mount Emmons in the backgroun
Agassiz Peak - Uinta Mountains
Lamotte Peak and Ostler Peak between them is Am
Agassiz Peak - Uinta Mountains
Ostler Peak
Agassiz Peak - Uinta Mountains
Ostler Peak
Agassiz Peak - Uinta Mountains
Just in time for the sunset.You can barely make
Agassiz Peak - Uinta Mountains
The last steps to the highest point on Agassiz P
Agassiz Peak - Uinta Mountains
From Agassiz Peak looking east down the spine of
Agassiz Peak - Uinta Mountains
Looking west toward the central Wasatch.You can
Agassiz Peak - Uinta Mountains
Looking far west toward Mount Raymond and Gobbl
Agassiz Peak - Uinta Mountains
Looking south over the Grandaddy Mountains.
Agassiz Peak - Uinta Mountains
Looking southeast toward the Four Lakes Region.
Agassiz Peak - Uinta Mountains
From Agassiz Peak looking east, LeConte Lake is
Agassiz Peak - Uinta Mountains
Looking east toward Lamotte Peak 12,720'
Agassiz Peak - Uinta Mountains
Looking down Amethyst LakeStillwater Fork/a.E
Agassiz Peak - Uinta Mountains
Looking west toward Cascade Peak and Timpanogos
Agassiz Peak - Uinta Mountains
Looking far southwest toward Mount Nebo ViewsMo
Agassiz Peak - Uinta Mountains
Looking west toward Mount Watson UintasMount Wa
Agassiz Peak - Uinta Mountains
Orange hills rolling into the sunset.
Agassiz Peak - Uinta Mountains
Foreground: Bald Mountain, The dark pointy peak
Agassiz Peak - Uinta Mountains
Looking northwest toward Hayden Peak, Kletting P
Agassiz Peak - Uinta Mountains
Rainbows forming through the falling rain, as th
Agassiz Peak - Uinta Mountains
Looking northwest toward Bountiful Peak 9,259' i
Agassiz Peak - Uinta Mountains
For a minute, the mountain peak lit up like Vega
Agassiz Peak - Uinta Mountains
Kings Peak UintasKings Peak/a 13, 528' and S
Agassiz Peak - Uinta Mountains
From the summit of Agassiz Peak looking southeas
Agassiz Peak - Uinta Mountains
Looking east over the Uinta Mountain Range, belo
Agassiz Peak - Uinta Mountains
Lamotte and Ostler Peak straining to feel the wa
Agassiz Peak - Uinta Mountains
Just another everyday sunset above 12,000 feet
Agassiz Peak - Uinta Mountains
Background: Red Knob 12,108 in the backgroundMid
Agassiz Peak - Uinta Mountains
Red Knob about an hour later.
Agassiz Peak - Uinta Mountains
Looking north over East Hayden Peak 12,284'Thoug
Agassiz Peak - Uinta Mountains
The end of an awesome day.
Agassiz Peak - Uinta Mountains
It was an indescribable feeling with the thunder
Agassiz Peak - Uinta Mountains
Bald Mountain UintasBald Mountain/a 11,943'
Agassiz Peak - Uinta Mountains
From the top of Agassiz Peak looking west over B
Agassiz Peak - Uinta Mountains
Listening to thunder crashing in the background,
Agassiz Peak - Uinta Mountains
The eye of God closes shut as Horus loses his ba
Agassiz Peak - Uinta Mountains
Mount Timpanogos in the Wasatch
Agassiz Peak - Uinta Mountains
After thanking the Mountain Gods for their hospi
Message Board
Page Posts: 4
NAME
CITY
DATE
Dylan Anderson
Provo
2009-03-13
Explorer peak is south of this nameless peak you called pointy Explorer peak. Awsome pictures
*METEOR EXPLORER*
Jason Marsh
Coalville, Ut
2007-10-05
I have been to east haydens an d your not a kidding when you said it would offer the best pictures. I took some and they are some of my favorites. I recommend you try it someday it is definitely worth the hike!
Jason Marsh
Coalville, Ut
2007-10-05
I have been to east haydens an d your not a kidding when you said it would offer the best pictures. I took some and they are some of my favorites. I recommend you try it someday it is definitely worth the hike!
TMN
SLC, UT
2007-09-21
aaaahhhhhh - the radiant golden and orange glow whisping softly and so sweetly on the planet..... Wow - what a magical trip for you - ahhhhhh wow breathtaking