Friday, August 26th 2011 Utah

After a day off on Thursday I felt ready for the hike I had been thinking about since back in June.

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I rose around 6:00 and took my banana bread, coffee and camera out to the deck and watched the sun slowly light up the Wellsville Mountains. It was cool with a slight breeze and felt delightful. And the quiet - ahhh. Considering the number of people (112k) that live down below in the Cache Valley it is surprisingly quiet here.

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The reflection here tells the view from the inside.

Located on the north end of the Wasatch Mountains, the Wellsville Mountains have the distinction of being the steepest mountain range in the world. While only moderately tall, they are particularly narrow. Box Elder (9,372') and the Wellsville Cone (9,356') are its two highest peaks.

Hawk Watch International got started when its founders noticed the large numbers of hawks that migrate along the ridge of the Wellsville mountains. Hawk watches are typically conducted from September through October.

Source: WikiMapia

Logan area Google terrain

The knife edge ridge line of the Wellsville Mountains which jut up sharply from the valley floor is in contrast to the sloping foot hills of the Bear River Range to the east - and just behind the house.

The Bear River Mountains are located in northern Utah and southeastern Idaho. The mountains form the northern extension of the Wasatch Range. They run in a north to south direction from Soda Springs, Idaho to Ogden Valley, Utah. This area is a gem and has many beautiful mountains and lakes. The highest peaks are over 9,000 feet in elevation. They vary from rolling hills to summits surrounding by rugged cliffs. Some of the more interesting peaks remain unnamed and are seldom climbed.

Source: SummitPost.org

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A trail runs the ridge line for 30 miles. There must be some incredible views from up there.

After a breakfast of cereal and coupla boiled eggs I packed enough food for an overnight into my day back along with 3, 22oz water bottles.
I left the house about 8:30, drove up Logan Canyon to the trailhead at Woodcamp and arrived around 9:00.

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And here begins my 10.5 mile round trip hike which will have about 2200' feet of elevation gain. The trail head elevation is at 5420' and my destination would be at 7610'.

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After crossing a small creek the trail opened up into a flowery sage meadow. Here, I stepped off the trail to let two horse riders pass.

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There were many fine views of the mountains and meadows.

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Here is the creek bed Dolores had mentioned to me. She often runs this trail and sometimes has to ford this creek.

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The scenery kept getting better and better.

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This is a very popular trail and I saw runners, walkers, mountain bikers and equestrians.

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The Showy Goldeneye (Viguiera multiflora) was in full bloom in the lower elevation meadow.

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Eventually the trail started to do some serious climbing. But the well graded trail had just enough switchbacks to keep the huffin' and puffin' to a minimum.

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I was passed up by five mountain bikers at the first switchback.

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There seemed to be a fresh view every time I looked back down the trail.

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This is the seed head of Western Salsify (Tragopogon dubius). It is native to central Europe and western Asia and has escaped and naturalized throughout the US.

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The trail levelled off for a bit to go through a nice grove of Trembling Aspen.

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The trail then went through another meadow which was full of Mulesears ( Wyethia amplexicaulis). The were past the blooming stage but the thousands of plants must put on quite show at bloom time.

Not sure where this gal had come from or was going. There is a big network of trails and her route could have been taking her to any number of destinations.

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My first hint that the "Holy Grail" was not far away.

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Spectacular scenery and no sound but the wind in the treetops.

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I had been routinely stepping off the trail on one side or another to try to get the shot I wanted. At this point I was just about ready to do so when I heard a noise I did not immediately recognize - but should have. I stopped mid-step and looked down to the ground. There, next to where my foot would have been placed was a cute little rattle snake and he was doing a good job of warning me off.

I watched as he slowly moved off into the underbrush and only then realized I had not thought to take a picture. Oh, well...
After that incident I was very careful about where I placed my feet when off trail.

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Every switchback offered more beautiful views.

Eventually I made it to the top and intersected the loop trail which would take me to my final destination.

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I am not far now!

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This gnarly old thing has barely has a bit of greenery left. But it hangs on.

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It would take a much more accomplished shutter bug than I to capture the strange beauty of this centuries old sentinel.

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The Jardine Juniper is an individual of the species Juniperus scopulorum found within Logan Canyon in the Cache National Forest. Often credited with an age of over 3000 years, core samples taken in the 1950s revealed that it was actually over 1500 years old. It stands approximately 40 feet tall and its circumference has been measured at 284 inches (7.21 meters). Discovered in 1923 by Maurice Blood Linford while he was a student at Utah State Agricultural College, it was named after USAC alumnus and former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture William Marion Jardine (1879–1955). It is a member of the list of oldest trees.

Source: WikiPedia

The Mount Logan Middle School had put up a good web site with lots of info about the Juniper and geology as well.

After my snapping session I sat and munched on my sandwich and rested up a bit for the hoof down the mountain. It was warming up now - 1:00 already! I knew I would not have the cool temps I started out with.
As with the hike up I took my time and was back at the van by about 4:00. It was hard to believe I have been on the trail the whole day. I had passed by quickly, to be sure.

So, I had completed the hike and my worries were for naught. I was a bit weary of feet and the heat was relentless in the open sun. I had stopped at the creek near the parking area and soaked my feet and wet down my head. Much better.

Tomorrow I will explore more of the Canyon and spend the night in a mountain top yurt.

'Till then...