El Pico Norte, July 1, 2019

El Pico Norte, North Peak, 6,731 feet elevation. It's the peak on the south side of North Canyon, accessed via the pipeline right of way.

My goal today was to hike up Pyramid Peak, otherwise know as Cave Peak on USGS maps. My planned route was the North Canyon Right Fork access road, which is the northward fork of the main North Canyon Road found just above the lower cabin.  But that road is now blocked, gated a half mile from the cabin, with signage declaring "Private Property - No Trespassing." Pyramid Peak is still accessible via a legal "go-around," on public land, by hiking NE up the ridge just before reaching the gate, but with my recent back surgery I didn't want to chance a steep climb up a virgin slope covered in slippery cheat-grass. Instead I back-tracked to the main road, hiked up to the pipeline crossing, hiked southward up the pipeline right-of-way, and then up the west ridge of El Pico Norte - North Peak. The disappointment of missing out on Pyramid Peak was short lived. El Pico Norte is a beautiful walk with hardly any sign of human presence once you leave the pipeline right-of-way. There is really no trail leading to the summit - terrain I love! Yeah, I'm a total anti-social dumb ass, but, in my defense, with so much noise in today's over stimulated world, the only time I can actually hear my own thoughts is when I am completely alone, away from signs of humanity. But stay focused and forward looking, don't look west or else you'll see Gotham just down the hill. But its reward enough for me to get off the beaten path, not see human footprints, shot-gun shells, half-burned pallets or rusted beer cans. El Pico Norte is as close to virgin, untouched, non-human terrain as one can get to anything I know of in the foothills of Bountiful. Go do it if you don't mind cheat-grass-stickers in your socks and maybe spotting a rattle snake here or there. It's well worth any risk.

If you can't tell I just love Sego Lilies, and 2019 has been the most bounteous bloom of Sego's I have ever seen. But they are wilting now, so get up soon. These are near 6,000 feet on a north aspect, in an area of low-brush, rocky terrain. 

Sego's everywhere.

This is the higher El Pico Norte - South Peak, 7,091 feet elevation, photo taken from the ridge headed east towards El Pico Norte - North Peak. There are two peaks of El Pico Norte. The higher one is the South Peak, 361 feet higher than the North Peak.

South Peak - you can tell it's higher (nearly 7,000 feet) due to the mature Douglas Fir growing on the north face. 

The approach ridge of El Pico Norte - North Peak.

El Pico Norte - South Peak.

Little Black Mountain (high point on south side of City Creek Canyon) as seen through the North Canyon Saddle from the summit of El Pico Norte-North Peak summit. 

Bountiful as seen from the summit of El Pico Norte - North Peak (6,731 feet).