Bald Mountain, summit: 8,445 feet
Looking east at the higher mountains from top of Bald Mountain
I finally made it to the top of Bald Mountain hiking up in the snow, actually more like on the 4 wheeler tracks on the road up to it. I started up at 9 a.m. on a Saturday morning while everybody else were getting ready for a day of college football in their warm homes. Well, that football stuff isn't for me, I thought going for a hike would make a day more adventurous, rewarding, and happier. I've decided on this day, I would go all the way to the top, not just halfway or 2/3s like the other hikes. The morning was really nice and a little bit sunny, 13 degrees when I started, but good enough. The base was 5,900 feet and the top was 8,445 feet somewhere 2,500 feet of climbing. While everybody were fighting each other about the Utah/BYU football game on facebook, stadium, everywhere, I was up on the nice mountain thinking about nothing but the trees, fresh air, my dog, snow, walking, my bike rides this year, etc. It was so nice and not be part of the world. What a great day!
The bottom part from the valley up to the screen is steep and it's the funnest part because it goes by fast. Then after the screen is all switchbacks and a very easy to moderate climb but is really long. The very top, the last 1/4 mile is the steepest part of the hike but it has great 360 degree views. Very awesome! I used to ride my bike up this road and it's one of the best and hardest climbs ever. When I used to be 155 pounds and in better shape, I used to climb up this all the time to the top in 1 hour. Then go down the other side through Ephraim Canyon. I don't know if I have the strength to climb up this now but I haven't tried it in years. I am just afraid the bottom half of it which is the most steep and grueling part of the climb. Someday I will think about doing it again on my mountain bike but hiking up it is a lot easier. It would be a great bike ride to try out sometime. Go down the other side towards Willow Creek and go down the new Willow Creek Singletrack Trail and the Flume Trail. It's the climb that will be the greatest with all the views and everything. The hike up it is really great too. The climb up to it on the hike took me 2 hours and the descent took 1 and half hours.
