Maple Canyon - Right fork
6:12 PM | 
Posted by
Luke and Sara
This morning I went back up the Right Fork of Maple Canyon. Today however was not a solo hike, in fact it turned out to be quite different from a solo hike.
TJ Wurth and I started the trip the same as any other trip. We cruised along at a good pace. Along the way we caught up to a large youth group. Which turned out to be a very small portion of a much larger youth group. They had 4 teams on the trail. An Advanced team, looking to clear the saddle just below the summit. A forward team, looking to make it to the lake. A moderate team, just out for fun. And a back team of people they knew would poop out early.
We passed the moderate team and kept going. The trail was incredible. All of the rain lately has everything green like Eden, and the wildflowers are out in large numbers.
About a mile down from the lake we spotted the forward team from the youth group. We caught up to them shortly and stopped to talk. Suddenly one of their young women fainted. We got her laying down in the proper position and made sure she was ok.
TJ and I headed up the trail to find their advanced team at the lake and let them know that they might need to help. Turns out they had horses up on top and so the rescue suddenly became a lot easier. Which I was very relieved about, since this trail is hard enough to get yourself down, much less someone else too.
We decided not to summit because we were now behind schedule, there was still a lot of snow up there, and mother nature was getting ready to show us who was boss.....again.
The rain ended up coming down hard enough to be running down the hillside. Making this steep rock-covered trail even more difficult to navigate.
Back down from the lake a few hundred yards we caught a glimpse of something moving in the dense foliage of the east slope. We soon realized that it was 2 day-hikers and intercepted them on the trail. The poor fellows had been given bad directions and had ended up going up Dibbles Canyon when they had meant to go up the right fork of Maple. They weren't really lost, they new essentially where they were and how to get back down, but they had been through a hard bushwhack to get from Dibbles to RF of Maple. Not something that I will be putting on my to-do list. But we had a nice hike down together.
We finally made it down, after all the drama, about 5 and a half hours after leaving. Just goes to show: be ready for the unexpected. A 3 hour trip can become 5. People can be falling down around you, you never know who or what might pop out of the woods, and mother nature can kick your trash anytime she wants.
the default setting for videos is low quality, you can click "View HQ video" for better res
Stats:
3,436 verticle gain
Ricky, Slick, and wet
Dibbles Canyon
Today was perfect for a trip to the mountains. I decided to do a solo hike up Maple canyon, then splitting off into Dibbles canyon, and hopefully making it to the saddle that drops into diamond fork.
It turned out to be the best trip yet this summer. I couldn't have asked for much more.
I actually met my pal TJ Wurth coming down the trail, he had already been out for about 2 hours and we caught each other at the trail head. He turned right around and followed me up the trail for a little over a mile, it was nice to have company for part of the trip. And then after that, I didn't see or hear another soul until i returned to the main trail.
Dibbles canyon trail starts out in a pine forest and follows a seasonal creek through the pines and into the aspens.
The wild flowers are very healthy and colorful right now. I counted at least 8 different species. 
The trail opens up into a couple of incredibly beautiful meadows. I am definitely going to have to spend the night sometime. 
The view as you begin to approach the saddle. The crest of the saddle sits at 7,671 feet. The peak to the left of the saddle is un-named.
Hmmm. Interesting markings about 7 feet up on this tree. 
If I would have had more time, I would have stretched out under this tree....
....and fallen asleep to this view.
I can't prove it. But I am pretty certain that the path leading up to the gates of Heaven, is lined with an Aspen grove.
Dibbles Canyon Walk through
Stats:
Trail head: Whiting Campground - note: they are now charging a $6 day pass
Starting elevation: 5,571
Saddle crest elevation: 7,671
Total vertical gain: 2,094
Round trip miles: 6.5
Average grade: 12%
Dibble Canyon Partial Profile - GPS reception is very sketchy for the lower half of the trip
The Hammock
Last year I started camping with a hammock. I couldn't ever seem to get comfortable in a tent. Yeah there was a lot of space in my 2 man, but the ground and I never got along very well. Plus I was tired of carrying a 6 lb tent around.
So I purchased a simple Travel Hammock for $20.
This hammock converted me to the way of the hammock. Weighing just over a pound and packing down to the size of Nerf football was a huge benefit to my new lightweight backing life.
But the comfort is what really got me. For me a hammock works great. The banana shape doesn't bother me very much, and it's way better then the bumps and slants of the ground.
Then towards the end of last summer, a mistake on my part caused a rip in this hammock.
So for my graduation present my parents got me a Clark Ultra Light Jungle Hammock. Which I used for the first time last night.
This hammock is very comfortable. It has great balance that allows you to turn and lay on your side easily. It also has a built in mosquito net and rain fly (both removable). I didn't use the mosquito net last night, but man did I get my money's worth out of the rain fly. It rained for 8 hours straight, and not a single drop got into the hammock. And this wasn't some wimpy rain, it was a monsoon by Utah standards.
This hammock isn't cheap, but if you like hammock camping, it's worth the money. It packs down small and weighs a little over 2 pounds.
Can't wait to use it some more!
Maple Canyon Left Fork - Spring Starter trip
Today I went on my first day hike this spring. I really love this time of year. The weather is perfect for hiking, just cool enough to keep you from getting hot when moving, but not enough to chill you when you stop. We also had great cloud cover today, which I also appreciate.
The wild flowers have started blooming.....
....and in large numbers. 
The runoff has been going on for a good 2 weeks and it still has some pretty good volume behind it. The left fork of Maple Canyon follows the creek consistently and provides for some pretty great finds.
This tree was amazing. It's branches had grown out to the trail where it could get the sunlight, and then straight up. 
Maple Canyon is a great day hike. There are many different types of trees and the woods around the trail and creek have some real character. This trail also goes all the way over the mountain making for a great one night through-hike that I hope to do this summer. 
Thanks to Lars (seen here) and TJ for coming along. I had a great time. 
Stats: Turns out to be almost exactly 3 miles round trip, but the GPS has a hard time keeping a signal in the canyon - as you can see below.
3 miles
966 feet of vertical climb
Snow shoeing - the first time
Today was my first time snow shoeing. I have been cross country skiing quite a bit and figured that i would enjoy shoeing, but i didn't realize how much i was going to enjoy it.
It, of course, helps that we picked the most perfect day of the year to go. Fresh powder, perfect temp, light snow fall from time to time, no wind, and few people. It was great.
My buddy Adam and I did the Big Springs loop up the right fork of Provo Canyon, a popular place for shoers, skiers, and many others.
On of the best things about Big Springs is that there is several types of terrain. From packed road, to small trails, to open fields of powdery snow.
The trail through the woods is my preferred route when hiking here, so we took that today. Winding through the trees was very enjoyable, the muffling affect that the snow has on sounds is one of my favorite things about winter.
There is a lot to see along the trail, and some great photo ops. There are some of those crazy trees i love......
...gorgeous streams with glowing green moss that pops out from the snow.....
...majestic views of the mountains...
...and even beaver ponds.
We figure there was about 4 feet of snow pack the whole way......which was confirmed when I was able to "dunk it" on this hoop that someone installed in the middle of nowhere.
The dirty stats of the trip are: about 4.15 miles and a little over 800 vertical feet of elevation gain in 1.5 hours of moving time. By no means a killer trek, but enough to give you a workout while you enjoy the scenery.
I am excited to go snow shoeing again. It is about the best training i can think of for backpacking. But next time i think i will take my hammock and have a short nap at the top of the trail.
It, of course, helps that we picked the most perfect day of the year to go. Fresh powder, perfect temp, light snow fall from time to time, no wind, and few people. It was great.
My buddy Adam and I did the Big Springs loop up the right fork of Provo Canyon, a popular place for shoers, skiers, and many others.
On of the best things about Big Springs is that there is several types of terrain. From packed road, to small trails, to open fields of powdery snow.
The trail through the woods is my preferred route when hiking here, so we took that today. Winding through the trees was very enjoyable, the muffling affect that the snow has on sounds is one of my favorite things about winter.
There is a lot to see along the trail, and some great photo ops. There are some of those crazy trees i love......
...gorgeous streams with glowing green moss that pops out from the snow.....
...majestic views of the mountains...
...and even beaver ponds.
We figure there was about 4 feet of snow pack the whole way......which was confirmed when I was able to "dunk it" on this hoop that someone installed in the middle of nowhere.
The dirty stats of the trip are: about 4.15 miles and a little over 800 vertical feet of elevation gain in 1.5 hours of moving time. By no means a killer trek, but enough to give you a workout while you enjoy the scenery.
I am excited to go snow shoeing again. It is about the best training i can think of for backpacking. But next time i think i will take my hammock and have a short nap at the top of the trail.
Two things that don't mix
This weekend I took the scouts to a little place up the Provo Canyon called Big Springs (or East Vivian Park). It is a terrific trail leading up the backside of Provo Peak and is perfect for quick overnighters during any season.
I expected the usual easy hike up the trail, set up camp, joke around with the scouts, and hit the sack. However, it didn't quite go that way.
Around dinner my gut started to act weird, I wasn't really hungry (strange), I couldn't get comfortable, and I wasn't sure if everything in me was completely solid anymore.
I suffered through it and then hit the sack........but never fell asleep.
Instead the increasing magnitude of the problem in my gut motivated me to pack up and bail. There were 4 other leaders with the scouts so I knew they would be OK.
I hit the trail sinking in 12-18 inches of snow as I went, when it suddenly came to me.......I had food poisoning. The signs were all there.
Luckily I made it home before the digestive tract H-bomb let loose.
But let me tell you, coming off the mountain alone in the dark and cold while your gut is turned into a carnival of pain.....is not fun.
I expected the usual easy hike up the trail, set up camp, joke around with the scouts, and hit the sack. However, it didn't quite go that way.
Around dinner my gut started to act weird, I wasn't really hungry (strange), I couldn't get comfortable, and I wasn't sure if everything in me was completely solid anymore.
I suffered through it and then hit the sack........but never fell asleep.
Instead the increasing magnitude of the problem in my gut motivated me to pack up and bail. There were 4 other leaders with the scouts so I knew they would be OK.
I hit the trail sinking in 12-18 inches of snow as I went, when it suddenly came to me.......I had food poisoning. The signs were all there.
Luckily I made it home before the digestive tract H-bomb let loose.
But let me tell you, coming off the mountain alone in the dark and cold while your gut is turned into a carnival of pain.....is not fun.
Mount Nebo
I was invited by my ol' pal Bronc Walker to join in an over-nighter to the top of Mount Nebo. Mount Nebo is the highest peak in Utah County, and for some reason was not on my "To Do" list, so passing up the chance was not an option.
Bronc, his son Caleb, and I left late on Friday night, hiked in the dark and made camp a little under 2 miles from the trailhead. The woods, just below the timberline, were perfectly quiet; and the stars were in their shiniest array. We were shortly joined by Bronc's brother Spencer, their sister Amy, and Clyve and Paul - some friends of Spencer's who have recently moved from England. We kept eachother entertained with everything from hospital horror stories, to companaring slang terms in the English and American languages.
That night's camp was of perfect wilderness comfort, and as a red sun rose through the trees, we made for the summit.
Other peaks rise from the trail, and to the north the populated valley, though gorgeous, reminds one of why we need these wilderness areas.
To the south-east several valleys and mountains take turns claiming their place on earth.
But that view also revealed an incoming storm.
The summit still looked promising........
....then the weather changed.
....then the weather changed.
We continued climbing along one of the best, most stunning trails I have ever been on. Every turn and ridge brought more glorious views then the last.
We waited out the first bit of rain and hail in a stand of trees. And then continued up the towards the summit. With only 200 vertical feet to the summit of the north-minor peak, and 1,000 vertical feet to the main summit, the weather suddenly changed.While the group debated about weather to continue or not, a cloud rolled in from the east at an astonishing pace.
This cloud moving in, the consistent stream of day-tippers coming off the peak at a scurrying pace, and the words of one of them upon hearing our debate - "The summit will always be around, you may not be" - was enough to convince me to take the safer road, and save the summit for another day.
Bronc, Caleb, and I enjoyed a nice descent back to camp and on to the trail head. Spencer, Clyve, and Paul pushed for the summit. Clyve had a different theory - "I am 48 years old, I may not be around either way" - and they were willing to risk the weather.
In the end everything turned out terrific. We all enjoyed an uplifting trip, half of the group made it to the north summit, and I am left with an exciting addition to my "To Do" list - Finish off Nebo.
See more pictures and an altitude chart here
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