Wasatch Solo: Big Mountain to Swallow Rocks, August 2, 2021

Grandview Peak (9,410 ft.) is the distant, high-point on the left-middle skyline, as seen from the Great Western Trail (GWT), about a mile north of Big Mountain (7,420 ft.). The near high-point on the right doesn’t have a name so I’ll call it Swallow Rocks Peak (8,910 ft.), the Swallow Rocks are located in the SE facing bowl just below the peak. Zoom in and you can see them. The Great Western Trail roughly follows the ridges, seen here along the right, over to Sessions Pass, then along the 4x4 double track over to Skyline Drive above Bountiful. In comparison to Little and Big Cottonwood Canyons, the GWT is the last undiscovered trail in the Wasatch, it gets very little traffic, no over-flow parking, and no masses of humanity shuffling along like the checkout-line at Walmart.

The plan was to hike from Big Mountain Pass (7,410 ft.) to Grandview Peak (9,410 ft.) and back, a distance of 8.6 miles one-way, 17.2 miles round trip. I got a late start, arriving at Big Mountain Pass after 2pm, and then sat in the truck for about 45 minutes due to lightning. I’m fine hiking in the rain, but the lightning is much more threatening and the risk was worse up on the trail because it sticks to ridges and peaks for miles. When I started hiking there was still a light shower, but the flashes and thunder were off in the distance so I presumed it was safe. About two miles up the trail the air became prickly and I could feel static electricity on my arms, then BOOM! I was in the bulls-eye for another round of lightning. I quickly descended off the exposed ridge and hid under a Mt. Mahogony in a small draw just off the ridge. I sat there for five minutes then started running again. The lightning seemed more distant. I’m not a patient person, I can’t sit still for long, so as soon as the storm hinted at diminishing, I got going. There were a few more bolts of lighing that were way too close, and I questioned why I was doing this, but I kept heading towards Grandview.

About four miles in I came to a rounded pass on the ridge. There was well-tread, double track heading right/north, and a very faint single track heading left/west. There was a beat-up old sign at the junction stating “No bicycles allowed in City Creek Canyon, Stay on Great Western Trail.” I presumed the well used trail was the Great Western Trail so I went right. Half a mile down the double track I could see the road was leading me down towards Morgan so I knew I took the wrong turn. To be sure I pulled out the map and, sure enough, that narrow, over-grown trail a half mile back was the real Great Western Trail. By now it was late afternoon and I realized if I was going to Grandview, I’d be coming out in the dark. I had a headlamp but, after taking the wrong turn in full daylight, I realized my day was done. To tag Grandview I need to start early, without a storm, and consult the map when I’m wasn’t sure. Don’t make assumptions.

I ran back the half mile to the junction of the faint trail, took a left/west and ran another half mile to just below the Swallow Rocks. I pulled out the map and confirmed that this was the correct trail. Now familiar with the route to Grandview but, running out of time, I turned around and headed back to the truck. Grandview will wait for another day.

Stats:

Total Miles: 10.39

Elevation Gain: 2,461 feet

High Point (Swallow Rocks turn-around): 8,485 feet

Low Point (Big Mountain Pass): 7,422 feet

Total Time: 3:39:40

Moving Time: 2:52:04

People:

- 2 hikers at mile 1 (per my trip odmeter), headed S to Big Mtn Pass;

- 2 ATV’ers at mile 3, headed SE back to East Canyon Resort;

- 1 runner at mile 4, headed N to Big Mtn Pass;

- 1 E-biker/packer at mile 8, headed N, saying he was camping near the Swallow Rocks.

First view of Grand View (distant high point, middle of pic) from just above the Big Mt. Pass switchbacks.

View north about a mile above Big Mtn. Pass

Typical Great Western Trail, rolling along the ridges between Sessions and Big Mtn. Pass.

Grandview

View south from the Great Western Trail, near the Swallow Rocks turn-off. Grandeur Peak the pointy peak on the right, Mt. Olympus to the left of Grandeur, Wildcat Ridge the toothy ridge left of Mt. Olympus, and Broads Fork Twins on the far left.

Great Western Trail, view north about two miles north of Big Mtn. Pass.

I had to jump out of the way to avoid getting flattened by two ATV’s coming out of East Canyon Resort.

Swallow Rocks straight ahead. I incorrectly took the wrong trail, seen here traversing the hillside on the right. The Great Western Trail traverses left/west on the open slopes below the Swallow Rocks.

Back on the right track, Swallow Rocks come into focus.

Yeah, I’m a smarty. I missed the “Great Western Trail” suggesting the faint trail leading under the Swallow Rocks, assuming the heavily used double track was the right way, out of view here but just to the right of photo.