I thought this was a difficult hike. It only took 4 hours
up, but there was a lot of death-slide scrambling near the
end, I think we took the wrong route.
We went up American Fork Canyon to Granite Flat, we took the
Box Elder South Route Trail.
The trail begins in a beautiful forest and walks through many
open meadows. About 2 miles up, you get to Wide Hollow Overlook,
which looks south down a deep ravine. From here you need to
go right, towards an old cabin ruin. Follow this trail into
a meadow, look west, the peak you see is sub-peak 10,138'
east of Box Elder.
We went left at the fork in the meadow, we followed the trail
until it crossed the Wide Hollow drainage, then we cut straight
north and found another trail and followed it for a while.
When this trail ended the pain began. I would suggest staying
in the main drainage, and not trying to go up too early like
us.
From the top looking south we could see a huge congregation
of mountain goats, I would guess about 30-40 individuals,
the most I've ever seen together.
We stayed on the top until about 9:00 , it got dark and we
had a hard time finding the trail (because there wasn't any).
Along the way we saw a strange tree that was growing in the
middle of the drainage, it had no branches or leaves, or sign
that it ever had any, it had a bulbous body that had grown
into it's self.
We walked through a boulder-laden trail, until we reached
a steep drop off of smooth limestone, I think this would be
an incredible waterfall in the spring if you can find it (60-100
feet high). We then backtracked, and bushwhacked up to the
trail, it was kind of hairy. Shane walked down the whole trail
without a flashlight.
My knees were glowing with pain.
From along the beginning of the trail, looking northeast.
From here you can see, White Baldy,
Red Baldy and American Fork Twin Peaks.
Looking west toward the Sub Peak east of Box Elder.
Looking southwest near the Wide Hollow Overlook.
The cabin ruins near Wide Hollow Overlook.
Looking west toward Mill Canyon Peak down Wide Hollow.
From the saddle to Box Elder Peak looking southeast down Wide Hollow
You have to scramble over loose shale and limestone.
This is the base of Box Elder Peak as seen from the south saddle
Strange limestone formations
The Box Elder Hoodoo
Looking east toward the Uinta Mountains
Nearing the summit.
Just below the summit, I started around the east side of Box Elder
Peak
and saw this large family of Mountain Goats.
I looked down and there was this guy just sitting there,
chewin' grass, seconds later he turned his head and looked at me.
I didn't take a picture, because I didn't know what he would do.
I didn't move, but he took off running.
He noticed that I wasn't chasing him,
so he stopped to take a better look at me.
He could have kicked my butt off the mountain.
Shane reaching the summit.
Box Elder Peak Summit 11,101'
Looking north toward American Fork Twin Peaks. The summit log is full.
Looking east toward the Sub Peak 10,138'
I think there is a route that climbs up this ridge. (I'm not sure)
Red Baldy, Red Top, American Fork Twin Peaks, Unknown
Looking south toward Mount Timpanogos and Santaquinn Peak in the far
distance.
You can see the goat herd in the bowl and the highlighted area on
the mountain in front of us.
From the summit, looking northwest toward the giant gnarled limestone
strata.
Limestone is malleable and can be folded,
unlike granite and quatzite which shatter when put under stress.
From the summit looking north west toward Lone Peak and Bell's Canyon
Peak.
Looking north to the Pfeifferhorn, behind is Broads Fork Twin Peaks,
Sunrise and Dromedary.
Thunder Mountain, and the Pfeifferhorn, Cottonwood Ridge in the distance.
Looking north toward White Baldy and American Fork Twin Peaks.
White Baldy with Monte Cristo and the Cottonwood Ridge in the far
distance.
A huge pika cache, they spend all summer storing up food for the winter,
they don't hibernate.
Shane coming down the west side of Box Elder Peak.
Going down Box Elder Peak
Looking south toward Mount Timpanogos
Oquirrh Range, South Mountain, Point of the Mountain, Traverse Mountains
and Alpine City
Utah Lake, Mahogany Mountain (base of Timpanogos) and Mount Nebo,
in the far distance.
Special Thanks to Shane
Message Board
Page Posts: 1
NAME
CITY
DATE
Chris Taylor
Cedar Hills
2008-02-06
Do you know of any routes to the peak of Box Elder? Climbed it this summer from Granite Flats, to the saddle and then up the ridge to the top. I was thinking about climbing to the summit going the same direction in a few weeks. Thoughts?
C
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