Our search for Squaw Peak

A couple weeks ago, Sean and I realized that we really haven't done a whole lot this summer. Every Saturday, I was spending a few hours at the Pharmacy finishing up my hours, so after that and grocery shopping and laundry, we didn't have a whole lot of time to do anything else. So after I finished my hours we I made a bucket list of things I want to do before school starts/the weather gets crappy. We both really wanted to make it to the top of Squaw Peak for whatever reason, so we decided to try.

July 21, 2012

I had read online a few different "trails" that you are supposed to be able to take to get to the top of Squaw Peak. I didn't want to bear climb up to the top like a couple of my sister's friends did a few years ago. We set off..

There was a doe walking along down in that field. 

Old random abandoned tennis course. With the sunflowers growing in the middle.

A tiny cave!

Don't worry guys. I totally got this. I can hold up the whole mountain.

Turns out the way we started off at first would have had us bear climbing up to the top. So we went back. Apparently, there is a trail that goes to the top of Squaw Peak if you park at the overlook and go south from there. So we decided to try that. We started off on what we thought was the trail...

We got up to this point and realized we were supposed to be one mountain forward...

So after taking a few pictures, we decided to continue up the way had already come.

So pretty!

So at this point on the trail, we stopped to look around to see if we could see any signs of civilization. We saw some campers off to the east (the right side of this picture) and then Sean all of a sudden says "Oh crap." I turn around (facing the direction this picture was taken) and there was a mama and baby black bears crossing the trail, maybe 20 yards away from where we were. From where we were standing it was about where the road curves off to the other direction. So scary!

We were disappointed and frustrated that we didn't make it to the top of Squaw Peak, but luckily we saw some really pretty scenery, and of course, came away with a really awesome bear story!

At this point on the way up, Sean said "Welcome to Mars!" I asked him why he said that, and he said, "Because it looks like a completely different country right here!"

The Parker's went over the mountain to see what they could see...

We decided that the next Saturday (yesterday) we would try again, and we looked up and found where the real trail head is. It's up Rock Canyon, in case anyone is wondering. We hiked for about 3 hours this day though, and had a lot of fun.

July 28, 2012

Our second attempt. We invited Sean's best friend Cameron to come with us, and he brought a friend from his home town that just got off his mission.

Cameron meditating to continue to get into the hiking mood I guess. We had already been hiking for a good 45 minutes at this point.

We made it to the top! East bay...

...and north Utah county.

Facing east, up Rock Canyon. To the Northeast, we could see where Sean and I had ended up the week before. I should have taken a picture...

Sean found a bouquet of flowers that someone had already picked for me.

Finding all of their favorite climbs, and looking for a cave they've heard about.

Still looking for the cave

Cameron on the ledge

Sean on the ledge

Me on the ledge

Another shot of the east, and the storm that was a-brewin...

We found the top!

Let's be honest. We can't ever take a serious picture.

Pretty part of the trail

We played in the river for a few minutes on the way down

We were all the way up there!

Such a fun hike! It's a little steep at times but it was a lot of fun. There were little kids that did it, so it is family friendly... ish. Lots of fun though. I would recommend starting earlier in the morning (like 8 or 9) or doing it in the early early fall. It was really hot while we were hiking. At the top it was nice though. So glad we found it!