Kent has been enjoying a book by Frank Boreham that is titled "The Other Side of the Hill." In the introduction Mr. Boreham says, "It is always worth while seeing a peak from the other side, even if that side was windswept, bleak, and bare." His point being that to get a true perspective of a mountain it must be viewed from all angles. And for Little Shelly this couldn't be more true!
You may remember we tried hiking Little Shelly in May (click here for that post), but were unable to make the summit due to the unrelenting bushwhacking that was involved. We turned around less than .30 of a mile from the top with little thought of ever returning.
Oh, what a difference a trail (from the other side), an encouraging friend, and a beautiful day make. Tom and Lola joined us for this unforgettable summit that is tucked away in a little visited area of the north Tushars. Don't miss out on this southern Utah gem . . . you will be rewarded with outstanding views . . . and a picture gallery of memories that will last for a long time.
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| The Cove Creek Trail starts near Manderfield Reservoir . . . and while it doesn't go all the way to the summit . . . it is the "best" way to hike Little Shelly |
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| Within minutes we came across this bear track . . . yikes! (Notice the little track inside the bigger print) |
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| After a mile of fairly level walking we quickly began to gain elevation . . . and the views began to open up! |
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| What a difference a trail with switchbacks can make! (Little Shelly in the background) |
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| Tom spotted this Bench Mark (from 1936) on the ridgeline saddle that separates Beaver and Piute Counties |
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| Mt. Baldy (12,122 ft) Kent has always wanted to hike this peak, but there's no easy approach |
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This bowl opened up before us with unique rock formations
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| What a view! That's Little Shelly in the foreground on the right (click on the picture for an expanded view) |
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| Here we are with Mt. Belknap (12,137) and Mt. Baldy in the distance |
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| Now we are on the west side of the bowl working our way towards Little Shelly This area had some unusual black volcanic sand |
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| Looking back at the unique formations that "fall away" into the bowl |
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| Can you see Tom? He's standing on the cliff below Little Shelly (He's smiling . . . really he is!) |
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| Walking the ridgeline between the two mountains (no trail) Sooner or later, we knew there had to be some bushwhacking! |
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| Looking back from where we have come . . . The trail wrapped around the backside of this mountain and then headed north . . . From here one just follows the ridgeline to the top of Little Shelly |
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| Yes, it is steep and we can't quite see the top from here . . . Time for a break before making the final ascent! |
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| Hiking on talus sounds like walking on broken dishes |
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| Awesome views along the way |
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| This snag has stood the test of time |
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| This pretty Callippe Fritillary was up on the summit of Little Shelly |
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| Tom and Lola taking a well deserved break on the top (9,900) . . . Lola was hoping to have a bite of Tom's pork loin sandwich . . . She got a piece . . . Grey Poupon and all! |
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| The Tushar Mountains offer outstanding views (click on the picture to open in a panoramic format) |
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| Well, it's time to begin our descent . . . Mt. Belknap and Mt. Baldy tower over Manderfield Reservoir |
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| We decided to drop off the side and make a loop rather than backtrack . . . Whose idea was this, anyway? This was one of the steepest bushwhacks ever! It was beyond brutal . . . |
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| Tom and Kent did not fare well on the descent . . . (Hey, Tom, where are your sunglasses?) Notice, Allison is not in this picture! HA! Somehow she escaped unscathed! Woohoo! |
If you are interested in doing this hike (which we highly recommend), please click here to get details from Tom's Peakbagger.com entry that maps and documents our route. For our hike, round-trip distance was about six miles.
