New trails
I parked at Neffs Canyon trail head and ran/hiked up to the Thayne pass overlook to Big Cottonwood Canyon - one of the best views in all the Wasatch. Neffs Spring is wonderful - it is in a small clearing, and is one of those pipes flowing clear, cold spring water into an old metal tub. I crossed into MIllcreek canyon and descended the Desolation trail. I brought my trek poles and used them for power hiking and defense against stupid dogs. Late in the day I was descending Rattlesnake Gulch when a dog coming up the trail saw me, barked and ran full speed uphill in a show of aggression. I held my poles crossed low in front of me and yelled at the dog to back off. The animal came close but I felt defended. Freaking dogs. Speaking of rattlesnakes, from the canyon road I crossed the skreet to Church Fork, then jogged up to Burch and continued up Burch Hollow trail, which climbs to Millcreek Ridge. From the ridge to the Mt Aire saddle is a horrible shwack on a faint trail. With my poles I beat the foliage in front of me to alert any snakes. Then I did come close to a rattler, a few feet in front of me, which slid off the trail quickly and wanted nothing to do with me. From the saddle I ran up to Mt Aire, then down to Elbow Fork. Then cross the skreet again to jump on the Elbow Fork/Terraces trail. A lot of unexpected climbing on that one. At Terraces I ran down the road to Burch Hollow TH, then ran the Pipeline to aforementioned Rattlesnake Gulch, then got on the canyon road with intention of running down, then back up to my car at Neffs. Was not excited about having to go on road, back to the car. Then Erik Storheim stopped and gave me a ride as he was driving down canyon after a short run. Luck! Happened to be just over 26 miles. Got familiar with a lot of new trail today. The view from high up in Neffs is very good, including a unique view of Mt Olympus.
| 