return to brighton ridge run

When H and I last did the Brighton Ridge Run, we then remarked that we thought our friend P would like that hike when he got out to Utah.  On Sunday, we arranged to meet him in the Brighton parking lot at 7 a.m. and take him around the route.  From Midway, he was able to come up and over Guardsman Pass, avoiding the highway entirely.

Oh deer

One of the reasons we thought he'd like this hike was because we have always seen a lot of wildlife there and this time was no mistake.  In the cool (43 F) morning temperatures, as the sun was just coming up over the mountains and through the lingering wildfire smoke, we saw 10-12 mule deer, including a couple of good sized bucks and lots of does with fawns.  We also saw a lot of pikas (all of whom scolded us incessantly) and several hawks, who were having fun riding the updrafts.

A and H, top of Clayton Peak

And P and H, top of Clayton Peak

The views are usually spectacular on this hike, where you can see where you're going and where you've been all the way around, not to mention about seven different ski reasons and Mt. Timpanogos.  This time, however, the smoke from local and California wildfires made it difficult to see anything much further than Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons. We did get a break in the haze for a while, though, hence the blue skies in a couple of these photos.

H at The Nook on Preston Peak

We started at Brighton, went to the top of Clayton Peak and then backtracked a little to the top of the Snake Creek Express chair.  From there, we found a faint trail that took us to the top of Preston Peak and then down to the Crest Express chair.  Finding this faint trail was a HUGE bonus: the last time we did this, we went far out of our way on the access road to get to the top of Crest Express.  This faint trail saved us about a half hour of walking.

Looking at Sunset Peak from Pioneer Peak

As has happened before, we had to do a little route-finding along Pioneer Ridge to Sunset Peak.  Because so few people do this section, the trail is very faint.  It is sandy and loose footing too, and very steep in spots, with some definite no-fall zones.  The key is to go slowly, looking ahead, and not to worry.

A and P on the final approach to Sunset Peak

There were a fair number of people atop Sunset, as well as down lower on Catherine's Pass.  We had the option of heading out there - going back down to Brighton past Lakes Catherine, Martha and Mary - but it was decided that we would keep going and finish the loop.  So up we went, first Tuscarora, then Wolverine.

P in the meadow below Twin Lakes Pass

We chatted briefly with a couple of Forest Service rangers as they lunched on Wolverine, then continued around the cirque and down to Twin Lakes Pass.  Here we took the steeper (and possibly not official) trail down the meadow's bowl and walked out along the shore of the reservoir.  Then, only the last bit remained: to walk down the access road to Brighton base.  Since the air temperature was relatively cool, this section wasn't the hot, baking slog it often is.

Cheers for post-hike beers!

There was a fair amount of action happening at Brighton base: a little flea market, cruising motorcycles, people lunching, hikers and trail runners coming and going. We ate our own lunches off in our own little corner and then bid adieu to P.  Hopefully he'll be willing to hike with us again: nearly ten miles, mostly above 10,000 feet, is not easy, especially for someone who was living at sea level less than a month ago!

Hike stats:  9.81 miles; 2.0 m.p.h. moving average; 7:20 total time; 4,060 feet of climbing