Deertrap and Cable Mountain Hike

We (Kent, Allison & Sharon) started the hike to Deertrap and Cable Mountains at 9:30 am on Tuesday, September 14th. We arrived at Deertrap Mountain (4 miles) at 11:30 am. Deertrap overlooks "Going to the Sun" mountain, as well as, Zion Lodge and portions of Springdale. After eating our lunch and enjoying the views, we retraced our tracks for two miles to the intersection for Cable Mountain. Hiking another two miles brought us to the old cable works which were once used to bring timber down from the rim to the canyon bottom. An NPS work crew was reconstructing the old tram and limited our views over the canyon edge. We arrived back at the 4Runner around 4:30 pm having completed 12.2 miles for the day.

Getting started.....just west of Zion Ponderosa Resort 

Stave Spring...about one mile into the hike

Leaving Stave Spring and heading west for the overlooks

Site of the old sawmill used to bring timber down to the valley floor from Cable Mountain

Looking towards Cedar Breaks

Intersection for Deertrap & Cable Mountains....three miles to Deertrap and two miles to Cable Mountain

Heading west towards the West Temple

Almost to Deertrap.....looking south towards the Zion Tunnel

Looking back towards the Great White Throne (in the middle) and Cable Mountain just beyond 

Deertrap Mountain looking towards Springdale

Going to the Sun Mountain

Birch Creek

Zion Lodge, Lady Mountain and Emerald Pools

Going to the Sun and The Brothers Mountains

Sharon enjoying her lunch break

Leaving Deertrap and looking south towards Mt. Carmel Highway

History of Cable Mountain

NPS reconstructing old cable works from the 1920's

I need a job like the guy in the chair guarding the cliff!

Now what do we do?

Angel's Landing

Looking north towards Canyon Overlook

Canyon Overlook Trail

Looking down on Big Bend

Changing socks and shoes after hiking 12.2 miles.....ahhhh!

Delano Peak Hike

Saturday, September 11th, 2010. We completed our third hike in the Tushar Mountains as we hiked Delano Peak (the highest peak in southern Utah) with Allison, David Johnson and Sharon Pratchett. We left the 4Runner around 10:15 am at an elevation of 11,225 ft and hiked about 2 miles (one-way) to the top of Delano Peak (12,173 ft). At 11:45 am we arrived at the summit - it was windy and the temperature was in the mid 40's, but there was lots of glorious sun which helped keep us from getting too chilled. After forty-five minutes of enjoying the views and eating a small lunch (just below the summit's rock outcropping, which provided a great shelter from the wind) we headed back to the car. The highlights of the trip were enjoying the company of good friends, seeing the many mountain goats, and having fun posing with the mailbox that was placed as a registry at the summit - true "airmail".

Looking towards Mt. Belknap (12,130 ft.)  We hiked to the top in Sept. 2008

Looking north towards I-70 and Richfield

Mt. Baldy (12,082 ft.) to the northeast

Dave, Sharon and Kent looking northwest

Kent with Mt. Belknap in the background

Heading out on the trail

Easy walking terrain, except for the wind!

Poison Creek Basin

Looking towards Marysvale

"Not all those who wander are lost"

Diverse terrain

Delano Peak straight ahead.....looking south

We saw more mountain goats than people

Great scenery

Curious goats

The party's over, time for the goats to go home!

Almost there!

Bench mark at the top 12,173 feet

Kent verifying the elevation on his GPS

Enjoying the view from the top

Got Mail?  Top of Delano Peak.  It's a geocache site

Dave's looking for his paycheck!

The gang

Dave enjoying a snack

Sharon taking in the views and seeking shelter from the wind

In the distance, to the southeast, is Piute Reservoir

Cool rocks and lichen

Heading back down

Lazy goats

They sure look healthy

Looking back at Delano, also notice the goats

Aerial View of our Delano Peak hike