Casto Bluff

Our plan was to hike Crow Peak on Friday morning, and then head back to camp and rest a little while.  Then later, in the afternoon, go and hike to the top of Casto Bluff.  It was a good plan until we came to a cliff face that blocked us from getting to a saddle that we needed to reach in order to complete the hike.  It was getting late, so we decided to come back and try a different route on Saturday.  Friday’s attempt wasn’t a total bust, as we enjoyed great views as we traversed a high ridge and got some unique views of Casto Bluff that inspired us to go back and “bag” this peak on Saturday!

That's Casto Bluff (9,580 ft) up ahead . . .
Our plan is to start on the far right ridge and work our way south to the top of the Bluff . . .
You can see the saddle on the ridgeline that will give us problems on our 1st attempt

We began our initial ascent at the Judd Pasture Troughs

Blue Mustard was blooming where we parked the Can-Am

This little hoodoo stood out as we traversed the ridge heading south for Casto Bluff

Kent & Tom peer through this opening, in the cliff walls,
 only to discover there is no way to reach the Bluff from here . . .
But they did see another route that might work

Here's a better view of what they saw . . . somehow we need to get to that saddle to complete the hike
It was getting late, so we made plans to come back and try, again, on Saturday

Here's a good view of the ridge we have been following, as we head back to Judd Troughs 
The Sevier Plateau offers a variety of unique terrain . . .
That's Hancock Peak (9,990 ft) and off in the distance you can see the snow-capped Tushar Mountains

A baby short-horned lizard

Kent has been intrigued by Blind Spring Mountain . . . so Saturday morning we made plans
to go and hike this peak before completing Casto Bluff in the afternoon . . . 
Once we arrived, it was fairly obvious we probably weren't going to get the dogs on top and
it was highly doubtful we could make it . . . we decided to save it for another day!

We were quite surprised by all the neat colorful rock formations along the way 

Lola could easily be mistaken for a bear cub . . .
She enjoyed a drink from Blind Spring before we turned around and headed back to Casto Bluff

We parked by this aspen to begin our hike up Casto Bluff . . . 2nd attempt
(It is located in a pull out area just to the south of the Judd Troughs) 

Obviously there is no trail . . . it was a bushwhack to get to the saddle!

Up on the saddle . . . all we have to do is follow it south . . . right??

Use your imagination . . . is it a dog or a cow wearing a hat!?

We took in the views from here . . .  it was a long drop-off beyond these rocks

The top is near (or so we think), but first we must negotiate this narrow bridge . . .
That means going up and over the rock in front of Tom . . . there are steep drop offs on both sides!

Pictures can be deceiving . . . we had to use all fours to get across this section
Kent stayed here with the dogs, while Tom & Allison continued on to the top

Trees can be pretty even when they die

Turns out the top was actually another one-third mile away

We could see a long way
(Click on the picture and it will open in landscape view)

Tom thought it was scarier coming back down the rock bridge . . .
Kent, Lola and Ezy are waiting for Tom & Allison behind the fir tree

Time to work our way back towards the saddle

You can see the cliffs, in the distance, where we were stopped on our 1st attempt last night

Allison spotted this feather from a Mountain Bluebird . . .
 Blue feathers symbolize calm & peace, a perfect ending to this hike 

This was a fun and challenging hike, and other than a few short sections of bushwhacking, a very rewarding hike.  If you're interested in our routes, Tom has posted them both on his Peakbagger.com page.  For our first attempt on Friday night you can click here for a topo map and GPS tracks - for Saturday's successful summit route, you can click here.  Round trip was about 2.5 miles, with 700 feet of elevation gain and took us about three hours.

Crow Peak

When we hiked Adam’s Head, last September, we looked down on Crow Peak and thought, “That looks like it would be an interesting hike.”  Fast forward to Tom’s phone call on Wednesday night, saying he was going to hike it on Friday, and would we be interested in coming and doing it with him.  It didn’t take long for us to say, “Yes!”

As we look back on our pictures it would be easy to conclude this was a drab unassuming peak – and to some extent you would be right – due to a fire that ravaged the area in 2002.  However, most of this hike was over 9,000 ft and the aspens and spring grasses hadn’t begun to green up.  And we know, for a fact, that there wasn’t a more beautiful place that we visited last Fall when the aspen leaves were in their golden glory!  Don’t be too quick on overlooking this unique area – there are some neat peaks, small streams and interesting rock formations!

This was our view looking south toward Crow Peak (9,775 ft) from the top of Adam's Head (Sept. 2021)

We stopped to stretch our legs near these neat rock formations . . .
East Hunt Creek was off to our left

East Hunt Creek gently cascading through the rocky landscape

Uh-oh . . . this is not what we had in mind!

We have no choice but to park and start hiking . . . this will add 3/4 mile each way

As we approached this spring, a couple of ducks took flight

This meadow looked like a beautiful park . . . great place for a picnic or a round of Frisbee golf!

Alpine Pennycress

Ravaged by a forest fire (2002), Crow Peak doesn't look too exciting, but it's still a good hike

We weaved our way through the aspens . . . soon they will be green with foliage

We are getting closer to the top . . . just one more push, above the rock, and we'll be on the summit

Here we come!  A few more steps and we'll be atop Crow Peak (9,775 ft)

Lola & Ezy enjoyed our lunch break as much as we did!

Allison noticed this well worn horseshoe, resting on the remnants of a log, from the fire 

Rather than follow the ridgeline back down, we decided to drop into the valley and follow
West Hunt Creek back to the start of the trailhead . . . it was a good plan!
(Hancock Peak can be seen right of center . . . we hiked this in September 2021)

The creek was so clear we could see small trout from up on the trail

Tom spotted this short-horned lizard . . . it's been a while since we've seen one 

We should have taken the time, took off our shoes, and dipped our toes in the stream . . .
but we were anxious to get back to camp and get rested for our next hike later in the afternoon

Had we been able to drive to the trailhead this hike would have been only about four-miles (r/t).  However, having to hike the road due to the downed aspens, made the mileage for this hike just a little under six-miles.  We gained about 1,500 ft of elevation and it took about four hours to complete.  All-in-all a very enjoyable hike, with great views and beautiful scenery, especially in the West Hunt Creek stream valley.  If you'd like a topo map and GPS tracks for this hike you can click here to see Tom's Peakbagger.com post.

Wilson Peak

We’ve been looking for a Teardrop trailer for almost a year.  Little did we know that Richard, from Oklahoma, had begun building it for us last August (Richard didn’t know it either!)  When he finished it, in March, he let us see what it looked like by posting it on Facebook Marketplace.  He and his wife, Deborah, were even so kind as to drive his finely crafted, one-of-a-kind, 4X8 Teardrop out to Hurricane for us, where we sealed the deal.  Thanks, Richard . . . we’re loving the Teardrop you created just for us!

Tom called and asked if we would be interested in camping north of Bryce and doing a couple of hikes on the Sevier Plateau.  We really enjoyed our time in this area last Fall, and so we used the opportunity to take our Teardrop on its “maiden voyage.”  We had a great time and are looking forward to a new phase - that of Teardrop camping – to augment some of our future hikes.

We couldn't let Richard go back to Oklahoma without taking his picture!

We camped north of Bryce Canyon off the Tom Best Springs road

The Teardrop kept us warm & cozy . . . even at 23 degrees!

Allison had fun cooking up meals in the galley kitchen . . . she can't wait to go again!

After we set up camp Tom took us up Wilson Peak in the Can-Am

We had amazing views of the area we plan to explore over the next several days

This is looking back at the south side of Wilson Peak

We saw a few Pronghorn . . . this buck stood still long enough to have his photo taken

Tufted Evening Primrose at our camp site

Just about anyone can drive their vehicle up Wilson Peak.  From the turnoff the road almost immediately begins to climb until it reaches the ridgeline.  It then follows this ridgeline for approximately five miles to various communication towers.  The peak provides exceptional and even unique views of Red Canyon, Bryce Canyon and farther off to the east, Powell Point.  For a topo map of the area, that will provide you with directions, you can click here.

Lamerdorf Kilns & Peak

Tom said he was planning on hiking Lamerdorf Peak, in the Wah Wah Mountains and thought we might be interested in coming along.  We have always wanted to explore the Wah Wah's (which means good clear water), so when Tom made the offer we didn't hesitate to accept.  As we were planning our route, Kent noticed some old charcoal kilns in the area, so we incorporated them into our outing.

Part of this adventure was taking Tom's Can-Am, from his home in Enoch, and traveling 40 miles to the Wah Wah mountain range.  Once there we made a 30 mile loop that incorporated the Lamerdorf Kilns, Lamerdorf Peak and the Blawn Mountain area.  Then another 40 miles to get back to Tom's home . . . 110 miles of dirt roads . . . phew!  It was a great day and a grand adventure!

North of Lund we saw several small groups of wild horses . . . they look so healthy!

We spotted these kilns, in Lamerdorf Canyon, on Google Earth and knew we needed to visit them . . .
Only one was still completely intact

The craftsmanship is beyond amazing! 

All things considered . . .  can you imagine building one of these?!     

Tom found the doors, to the intact kiln, laying next to it . . . 
Hard to believe they were still there after nearly 150 years since they were last used!

Notice the two rows of vent holes . . .
They were used to regulate the burn.  By wedging pieces of rock, wood or brick into the vents they could dampen the fires and prevent the burn from becoming too hot which would produce ash rather than charcoal

Phlox were blooming on the hillside

Standing the test of time . . . it almost looks like a hoodoo . . .
This is all that remains of an upper portion of a kiln wall

From the hillside we had a view of the kilns and Lamerdorf Peak . . . our next stop

Before leaving this segment of our route, we thought we'd share a little history on kilns that we were able to obtain from an article called Charcoal Kilns: A Photo Gallery  These kilns, along with others in the area, were independently owned and operated.  They supplied charcoal for the smelter in the silver mining town of Frisco (circa 1877) and were used continuously until 1885.  Kilns were often built with their backs to wash walls so that wood could be fed through an upper window rather than building a ramp to achieve this purpose.  Interestingly, the one complete kiln had this window still in place on its backside.

Astragalus in bloom

We are now working our way up Lamerdorf Peak . . .
In the distance is Frisco Peak (9,660 ft) . . . at its southern base is the ghost town of Frisco . . .
The Lamerdorf Kilns transported their charcoal twenty miles across the valley to the Frisco smelter.

Lamerdorf Peak is directly in front of Kent & Tom
(Click on the picture and it will open for a panoramic view)

Several bunches of Lewisia covered the north side of Lamerdorf Peak

Upland Larkspur

Tom taking a break on top of Lamerdorf Peak (8,425 ft)
He (and Ezy) have a knack for finding antlers

We're heading back down . . . 
Notice the great views we had from the top of the Peak . . .
This is looking north towards the Wah Wah Range highpoint (9,383 ft)

Phlox and King Bladderpod

We took a side trip up a wash to Willow Spring . . . this was an especially lush and beautiful place
Tom is already making plans to come back and hike this peak (8,926) . . .
We plan to be with him!

Next, we were on to Blawn Mountain, our final destination for the day . . .
We passed by this old mine shaft on our way to the top

That's Blawn Mountain up ahead . . . supposedly there's a benchmark on top

On the 'rocky top' of Blawn Mountain . . . unfortunately we couldn't find a benchmark
(Do you see Lola standing by Tom? . . . he likes to say, "She's there hiding in plain sight")
Now it's time to descend and make our 40-mile journey back to Enoch

What a great day!  We can hardly wait to go back and hike a few more Wah Wah peaks with Tom, Lola and Ezy.  Our hike to Lamerdorf Peak was only about two and half miles (r/t) with about 600 ft of elevation gain.  If you would like to see our route, you can click here to get Tom's post from Peakbagger.com - by doing so you can view a topo map and download our GPS tracks.  Don't miss out on discovering this often overlooked mountain range!