Chase Parker  &  Brennon Loveless

Wasatch Mountains

             The Wasatch Mountains are a narrow mountain range running north to south for about 200 miles from the Idaho border to the town of Nephi in central Utah.  The Wasatch Mountains are located on the western edge of the Rocky Mountains.

 

            

 

            

             Lone Peak is not as tall, at 3430 meters, but it is known for being quite rugged.  A hike to the summit requires an elevation gain of 1845 meters.  Lone Peak is situated between  Little Cottonwood and American Fork Canyons.  It is the centerpiece of the Utah’s first congressionally designated Wilderness Area.  Lone Peak Wilderness Area was established in 1977.

            

             Mt. Olympus and Grandeur Peak are found just east of Salt Lake City.  Both mountains are very popular for hiking and are accessible to beginning and intermediate hikers.  The summits of Mt. Olympus is 2751 meters in elevation; the easier trail has an elevation gain of 1234 meters.  Grandeur Peak is 2529 meters tall.  A favorite route to the top is trail all the way and rises just under 800 meters in elevation.  The summit can be reached in less than three hours.

 

             Mt. Ben Lomond, located east of Ogden, Utah, is one of the better-known mountains in the northern Wasatch.  The elevation of the summit is 2960 meters.  Hiking trails are long but not overly steep.  A round trip to the top will take 6-7 hours.  Spectacular views of the Great Salt Lake and Willard Bay reward those reaching the summit.  Parts of the trail are suitable for mountain biking in summer and cross-country skiing in the winter.

 

             Many of the mountain peaks in the Wasatch have interesting histories to their names.  Some are named for more famous mountains located elsewhere in the world.  Mt. Olympus, for example, is named for Mount Olympus in Greece, the home of the principle gods in Greek mythology.  Mt. Nebo is named after Mount Nebo of Jordan, said to be the place where Moses died.  Mount Ben Lomond was named for a mountain in the highlands of Scotland.  The origin of the name Timpanogos is not entirely clear; some say it is a Paiute word for “river of rock”, others say it comes from the name of a legendary Indian maiden.  Other mountains are named for their appearance, such as Lone Peak and Grandeur Peak.