We parked one car at Albion Basin and another at Snowbird.
We rode the tram up to the top of Hidden Peak. The tram driver
was a impatient lady who made it clear that the last tram
was going down at 8:30 whether or not you were on it. She
seemed to despise the clueless tourists who screamed and sighed
as the tram moved and stopped. As she told us about how the
tram was going to go down with or without you, she seem to
fantasize about watching these same tourists missing the last
tram and having to walk down the 2-3 hour descent in the dark.
But only as she engages the tram down the mountain, waving
sarcastically, and cackling at the poor souls.
After we left the tram on Hidden Peak, we then traversed Alpine
Ridge up to Mount Baldy. The hike up to Mount Baldy from Hidden
Peak was easy. On top of Mount Baldy there is a weather metering
antennae.
From Mount Baldy we proceeded east down the rugged, wildflower
covered, east side of Mount Baldy.
On the way down Mount Baldy (The most challenging part of
the hike, loose rocks, steep), We met a family with 3 kids,
who were doing the same route but in the opposite direction.
The father of the family playfully told his children that
we (My friends and I) were going in the wrong direction. The
man's wife wasn't in a good mood, and they still had at least
an hour and a half to make it back to Tram Lady. It was about
7:30.
As we watched the family summit Mount Baldy, you could see
the silhouette of the father running like a bat out of hell
down it's west ridge, to try to stall the tram. I bet for
Tram Lady it was like Christmas, as she cackled into the cold
night air. He should have went in the wrong direction like
we did.
From there, we continued on up to the Sugarloaf.
It was cold on top, I didn't bring any extra clothes. From
there we hiked down the steep switchbacks to Cecret Lake in
Albion Basin. We sat at Cecret Lake for about a half hour
in the dark listening to Dallas play his Indian flute in the
dark. The sound seemed to visually echo and reverberate throughout
the giant alpine cliff walls. I wonder if the family could
hear it as they began their epic hike down in the dark.
Bumble bees and Thistle.
From the ridge between Hidden Peak and Mount Baldy looking south.
Behind is Mill Canyon Peak, Provo
Peak and Cascade Peak.
Getting his pollinatin' on.
Indian Paintbrush Wildflowers
Indian Paintbrush Wildflowers.
Looking north toward Mount Baldy.
Looking north up the ridge to Mount Baldy.
Looking southwest down the ridge to Hidden Peak (Tram on top)
Behind the tram is American
Fork Twin Peaks.
Looking northeast over the Wasatch toward the Uinta
Mountains.
The Snowbird Tram. It was $12.00 to ride it up (We didn't ride it
down).
The top of the tram station on Hidden Peak 11,000'.
Behind is the tallest mountain in Salt Lake County: American Fork
Twin Peaks.
Looking south toward Unnamed, Provo Peak, Cascade Peak.
Looking south toward Mill Canyon Peak.
The summit of Mount Baldy. A weather metering station.
Looking north, you can see Mount Raymond
on the left.
Looking northwest down Little
Cottonwood Canyon toward the Salt Lake Valley. Twin Peaks, Sunrise Peak, and
Dromedary sit at the head of Cottonwood Ridge.
In the far distance is the Oquirrh Mountains.
Looking toward American Fork Twin Peaks from the summit of Mount Baldy.
Looking north toward Scott Hill, AKA Mickey Mouse Hill.
There is a microwave reflector in the foreground, used for cell phones
and radio.
Looking west down Alpine Ridge toward The
Pfeifferhorn, and the Sub-Pfeiff.
From near the summit of Mount Baldy looking north.
Mount Superior, Mount Raymond, Kessler Peak,
Gobblers Knob,
and the Reed and Benson Ridge.
From the eastern side of Mount Baldy looking over some pristine wildflower
patches.
Mill Canyon Peak sits in the background, with Provo Peak in the distance
on the right.
