Wasatch Romps

Looking for suggestions on scrambles, steep hikes, easy 5th class solos, etc around the Wasatch. Just trying to get in shape for things like Lone Peak, Tetons, Winds, Sierras.

Things on the list:
West Slabs
South Ridge Superior
Lisa Falls to Twin Peaks
Timp
Pfeiff? Haven't done this

Also open to Uinta suggestions for summer

Happy Suffering

Do the "Wurl"

outdoorresearch.com/blog/st…

Look up Jared Campbell's blog. It has good info on runs and scrambles throughout the Wasatch.

Wildcat
Beatout
Bullion
Millcreek
Triple
WURL
PURL
CURL

All great traverses. The WURL has shut down a lot of people.

WURL looks burly! Thanks for that list Josh, all look like good fun.

Follow up question...Best Wasatch Map? I have the Nat Geo Wasatch which is ok but would like a bit more detail. Are the USGS 7.5 min maps the way to go or is there something easier than piecing together all those maps?

Cheers

There is a backcountry ski app that I use frequently for like $12. Its the best UT has to offer. They sell paper maps too at REI.

I did most of those traverses last year. Here is the order of difficulty IMO
Easiest to Hardest in terms of what is most technical.

Millcreek - Long, not technical, build good foundation for the season for cardio, this is longest traverse in terms of miles. We didnt finish due to snow.

Beatout - Long, few sections of scrambling, really long to get out of, route finding issues in Bells (we were very fortunate and took our time). Great views on lightning ridge.

Bullion - Handful of section of loose scrambling. Much more solid once on the granite. I really enjoyed this one.

Wildcat - Wildcat just a bit more technical than Bullion. About the same length.

Didnt finish the Cottonwood (I got sick) but finished the Triple - Most technical and lots of elevation. Really hard to bail as well.

I also forgot to mention the cottonwood traverse on last post.

By doing the Cottonwood, Bullion, and Beatout you do about 75% of the WURL. If you are a mere mortal to me this is the minimum you need to do before attempting the WURL unless you are a hard man. After that you can attempt Devils Castle, Flagstaff Peak, and the Wolverine Cirque after work on separate days for route finding purposes. Devils has the technical crux of the WURL on it. Once you have that down you get a partner who is stocked, someone to pace halfway through he day, stash some food around pole canyon and hidden peak. Great writeup from the Dorais can be found online.

Yo nick, I'd be down to join you on some of those if you want some company!

The Pfieff by the normal approach is pretty straightforward, cool hike though. S ride of Sup is awesome. West Slabs I think most people solo as well, though it goes at 5.4 or 5.5 or something for the first 2 pitches.

You've been rocking it Josh! Nice! No wonder I didn't see you much last year. Way to go man.

Only cuz you had a bum knee. Switching focus back to climbing. Got my stuff ready. Let's get after it!

Some folks solo For Whom the Bells Toll in Bells canyon. Its a nice run up the steep trail with a little climbing, nice top out and a nice jaunt back the car for a good half day training mission in the mountains to prepare you for larger objectives. Geurt's Ridge is another one that has not been mentioned.

Allred nailed it. His descriptions and advice are spot-on.

If you do the West Slabs, go ahead and summit Olympus and then run back down the main trail. You can start at the trailhead, run the BST to the base of the slabs, and end up back at your car.

Alta Brighton loop from Grizzly Gulch over to Silver Lake and Brighton and then up Catherine's Pass back to Alta.

Up to Blanche, over the saddle to the north and then down Mineral Fork.

Timp Traverse.

If you're up for it - the Grand Canyon R2R2R will be in prime season in a month or so. Zion Traverse too.

Found this site to be helpful when I just moved here.

wasatchmountainclub.org/adm…

The excel spreadsheet tells you all about your route from distance to elev gain/loss to overall difficulty and estimated duration etc etc.

There is also a KMZ file for google earth, Satellite imagery can be fun paired with the topo's Josh mentioned.

Trails to Lone Peak are available here too .. so you can compare the route details with other hikes and find stuff that would aid in training.

I broke my leg pretty badly and have 6+ months of recovery left..I plan on using this to help me get back into Lone Peak Shape..

Hope it helps. Have fun man.

Devil's Castle traverse and Patsy -> Tusc are fun too.