Gold Mountain & Signal Peak

If you are looking for a fun introductory hike into the Tushar Mountains of southern Utah, this would be a good choice.  It's only about 5.5 miles round-trip and gives one an outstanding view of the highest peaks in the Tushar Range.  After a rather steep initial ascent, the hike turns out to be a nice stroll to the top of two mountain summits.

Surprisingly, Tom (and Lola) had not been to the top of Signal Peak, so we asked if they'd like to join us for what has seemed like (at least this year) our weekly journey into the Tushar's.  Of course it didn't take Tom long to say "Yes!"  We're always glad when they come along . . . nothing better than sharing a good hike with good friends . . . today was no exception! 

We were able to drive to a high saddle (10,700) and park in a small meadow . . .
It was here we began the hike up Gold Mountain

To the southeast, Peak 11,673 comes into view . . .
It's the seventh highest peak in the Tushars . . . 
We plan on summitting it on a future hike to Copperbelt Peak

For most of the hike we had fairly stable talus underfoot . . .
 it made for an enjoyable hike

Within minutes we were at treeline and the views began to unfold

The Tushars are Utah's third highest mountain range . . . 
We climbed Mt. Belknap (12,173) in 2008

Patches of these unique vertical tertiary rocks were common throughout the hike

Time for a break . . . then we'll be on our way to Gold Mountain (11,650)

Other than the first 300 ft, the hike up Gold Mountain was mostly a steady gradual ascent

Lola with Tom and Kent

We are getting closer . . . 

Tom was checking the summit register on Gold Mountain (11,650) . . . 
notice Kent holding onto his hat . . . the wind was strong at times!
(Just ask Lola!)

Lola decided to pose for a photo with us at the summit cairn

Kent is peering down into the Fish Creek basin for a possible future hike . . .
he's scouting out the Pipeline Trail (#50) that started at the saddle where we parked . . .
there are supposed to be two old mining cabins and an adit with tracks in the basin

Now we are headed for Signal Peak (11,306)

Gnarled Krummholz trees . . . formed by fierce winds
Notice the many multi-faceted colors that make up Signal Peak

When we reached the top of Gold Mountain,
Kent "thought" Signal Peak would be a hop, skip and a jump away . . . not quite! 
 We had to descend 600 ft then ascend 300 ft in 1 1/2 miles to reach the summit . . . whew!

Ah . . .  we made it!  Signal Peak

We enjoyed a lunch break just below the summit to avoid the wind

Time to reverse our tracks and head back towards Gold Mountain

Of course that means we now have to descend 300 ft and ascend 600 ft . . . 
Who's idea was this anyway? 
 (It really wasn't that bad and actually went rather quickly)

On the final stretch heading back down Gold Mountain . . .
Our vehicles are parked at the saddle below what looks like snow (but isn't),
in the center of the picture . . . you can see how steep the initial ascent was

Here's another view of Signal Peak & Gold Mountain . . .
Tom took this picture last year from the top of Mt. Belknap . . . 
It gives a good perspective of what the hike entails!

 For details on this hike, please click here for Tom's Peakbagger.com description of the hike.

Hy Hunt Creek & Britts Meadow Hike

There are so many neat and interesting places to explore in the Tushar mountains outside of Beaver, Utah.  Today's hike will mark our seventh adventure, this summer, into the Tushars.  Our plan was to hike, with Dan & Lorene, the Hy Hunt Creek trail down to Britts Meadow which is just east of Three Creeks Reservoir.  We placed a vehicle at each end so we could car shuttle and not have to retrace our four-mile route.  This allowed for a leisurely trek and plenty of time to fish, enjoy the scenery and explore the remains of the Delano Ranger Station in Britts Meadow.  For more information on this trail (#228) click here to access Jesse McMullin's article from "Into the Tushars".

The Hy Hunt Trail begins at Big Flat . . .
 The trailhead is just across the road from the turnoff to the Skyline trailhead
(Follow the rock cairns across the Flat to the forest edge)

We left Big Flat and descended down a drainage into the forest . . .
it wasn't long before the water began to flow into Hy Hunt Creek

 This colorful Longleaf Arnica really stood out among this downed tree 

Kent couldn't wait to cast his line into this nice pool . . .
he could see a good sized trout feeding . . . but couldn't get a bite

This Fireweed is showing all stages of life

Oh Chipper . . . will he ever learn!
(No wonder Kent couldn't get a bite!)

 Eastern Comma Butterfly

All along the trail we saw evidence of the old phone line that ran
from the Delano Ranger Station (in Britts Meadow) to the Big Flat Ranger Station

We crossed over Hy Hunt creek several times

The trail passed through pine, fir, spruce and aspens

Kent is filling his water bottle from a cold flowing spring

Now he's putting our new Sawyer Mini Filter to the test . . .
If you see another post from us you'll know the filter worked!

We want to be prepared for "just in case" . . .
we don't plan to use it on every hike

We took a nice break here . . .
it was soothing listening to water trickle, from a spring, out of the hillside

Kent found several nice pools along the trail . . . 
Here he is fishing Lake Stream which Hy Hunt Creek flows into . . .
I have a feeling we will return sooner than later, just to fish! 

It looks like Chipper is eyeing Kent's brook trout! 

Yep, Chipper enjoyed the fishing . . . a little, too much!
(The trout was happy to get away from both of them)

Next time Chipper just might be staying home!

This old cold-storage dugout room at Britts Meadow was really well built

Lorene was admiring the old front door . . .
it looks as if Chipper was getting a lesson on "this old door!"

If only this old fence post at Britts Meadow could talk . . .
years ago the Delano Ranger Station called this home . . .
we could see many interesting remnants of it's past in the area

 

Skyline Trail

It was time to complete our last segment of the Skyline Trail, in the Tushar Mountains, that we started in 2018.  This trail is approximately 18 miles long from it's start at Big Flat (just south of Puffer Lake) to where it ends at Blue Lake (directly beneath Mt. Baldy).  We had completed all but a four-mile portion.  Today's plan was to park at the Eagle Point Ski Resort, hike up a ski run and then cross country to the Skyline Trail.  From here we would work our way northward to Big John Flat and then car shuttle back to the Ski Resort.  It was a fantastic plan and made for an enjoyable afternoon hike. We love it when a plan comes together!

We parked at the Eagle Point Ski Resort's Skyline Lodge . . . 
Once through the back country gate, we headed towards Mt. Holly . . . 
this path intersected with the Skyline Trail in about a half mile

Soon we were traversing through grassy meadows below the skyline of the Tushars 

Allison was excited to see these colorful Paintbrushes and Asters so late in the summer 

We crossed over this little stream near the base of Mt. Holly (11,999)

It was peaceful walking . . . only an occasional hawk was in sight
(Click on the picture for a panoramic view)

Monkey Flowers grow near water or marshy areas 

                                                    

As you can see, the trail is suitable for just about everyone

Merchant Creek flows through this meadow . . . it almost looks like a golf course!

Chipper got his fill of cold clear water!
Next time we'll bring a water filter so we can try it, too!

The Mineral Mountains can be seen in the distance

                                             

Parry's Mountain Gentian were blooming despite the lack of moisture

            

In between the meadows there were some rocky sections

We chose this beautiful spot for our lunch break . . .
we are below the ridge to Delano Peak (12,173)

Cushion Buckwheat is a common wildflower that comes in a variety of colors 

Allison spotted this High Brown Fritillary fluttering between the rocks

The Tushar Skyline will soon disappear out of sight as we head north 

We had some great views of the Tushars today . . .
soon we will head back into the forest on our way to Big John Flat