Martin Ralya - Dec 26, 2013 10:50 pm Date Climbed: Dec 26, 2013
My first 9,000-foot peak
Hiking up Mount Olympus is one of the coolest things I've ever done. Reaching the summit was exhilarating; I've never felt a rush of emotions quite like I did up there.
It was a gorgeous day to hike, and even though I got a late start (11:00 am) I made good time both ways. It's a grueling hike, so steep on Blister Hill that it's a slog up and a knee-punishing trek back down. There wasn't much snow down low, but it was packed snow all the way to the summit scramble once I hit the switchbacks. The scramble was wet with snow melt, dry in places, and snowy in places.
I was worried about the summit scramble, as I've never done anything like that before. And partway up, I got scared; there were a couple of bits I found hairy. But I kept my head, assessed the situation, and decided that I wasn't in danger -- I was just psyching myself out. Not quite sure how I was going to get down what I was going up, but confident I'd figure it out, I kept going. And as it turned out, it was much easier going down.
Up top, I managed to put my foot through what appeared to be packed snow and in between two boulders, but I had my poles out and was able to keep it from going in too deep. A good lesson for next time!
This was my highest solo summit, first 9,000-foot peak, and first YDS Class 3 hike. The view from the top is the best view I've ever had of the Salt Lake valley, and after nine years living here, looking up at this mountain and assuming it wasn't something ordinary folks climbed, driving around the valley will never be the same -- I'll always remember standing on top of it.
wyomtman - Sep 23, 2013 9:42 am Date Climbed: Sep 21, 2013
West Slab
Nice approach and fun climb, traversed below the ridge then up a chute to the top. Down climbed alittle then rapped a small tree to the saddle between the N and S summits. Then up a chute to the main summit, which had a nice Mountain Goat on it's north face. Hiked down the trail (I think the climb would be easier then hiking up the trail) to my bike, to get back to the car. Cool mountain, to bad the city is so close. Another one bagged with my wife.
Hardman - Aug 26, 2013 2:01 pm Date Climbed: Feb 23, 2013
Many Climbs Up the Most Popular Central Wasatch Peak
No need for the laundry list.
Last climb was in winter. Despite the recent snowfall, the trail was trodden down and frozen over. Ran up to the saddle overlooking Heughs Canyon, donned gaiters, and made the short scramble over snow (surprisingly, no one had made the true summit since the storm)to the summit.
Still haven't made the north summit via the West Slabs. If anyone is interested, feel free to PM me.
DonutPig - Aug 4, 2013 11:18 am Date Climbed: Jul 6, 2010
First
This was the first mountain I ever climbed. It started an obsession...
abrennalinerush - Jun 19, 2013 11:59 pm Date Climbed: Jun 1, 2013
Do you need a first aid kit?
If you trail run down, I highly suggest not falling. On the plus side, if you DO fall, the blood dripping down your leg will look really super cool, and everyone will move out of your way so you can keep running uninterrupted! (Or perhaps it's because they're afraid you have a highly communicable disease...? Whichever.) My only regret from this day is not hula hooping at the summit. Learn from my mistakes, friends!
utahguy058 - Jun 17, 2013 5:32 pm Date Climbed: Jun 1, 2013
It's the Climb
Can You Say Up Up and Up. This hike has a lot of elevation in a short time, but it is very manageable, the final scramble to the top was a lot of fun, a lot more intimidating than it actually is. The views are gorgeous! Totally worth the climb as Miley said.
TonyTheJet - Jun 9, 2013 4:26 pm Date Climbed: Jun 9, 2013
Good Climb!
Climbed it with a co-worker today. It was hot for early June--95-96 degrees! Had a great time, and made it up in just over 2 hours. We saw a rattlesnake on the way up.
Going down I always seem to take the wrong route and have to scramble a bit more than necessary, so if you aren't a regular on this mountain, be sure to kind of take note of the route you use to get up to the summit. It will save you from some sketchy areas getting back down to the trail.
Hayden - Jun 7, 2013 10:20 pm Date Climbed: Jun 7, 2013
First time up there
We got up early this morning and started before the sun came up. The last section from the saddle to the top was my favorite part. Going down to the bottom sucks, I only fell once. There were tons of flies at the saddle area today.
mthornt - Jun 6, 2013 7:42 pm Date Climbed: Mar 3, 2012
View View View
I had 4 hours to spare so I hiked the west face of Mount Olympus. I didn't follow any specific trail which made the ascent pretty fun.
The hike had amazing views and some scrambling areas about half way up. I didn't quite make the summit as I ran out of time but if I go back to Salt Lake, I'll definitely hit it again if I have time.
PrinceOfNorway - Jun 1, 2013 8:08 pm Date Climbed: Jun 1, 2013
So this happened
I really liked the scrambling portion of this hike. We ran down the trail and it was probably the best thing ever. I was sorry that everyone coming up were hiking in such heat!
MAero - May 12, 2013 7:04 pm Date Climbed: May 12, 2013
Training
Getting back in shape after moving from out East. Started at around 6:45 and had the summit to myself. ~2hr up
andrew david - Feb 18, 2013 12:11 am Date Climbed: Jan 11, 2011
great one
Went solo through 1 ft of snow posthole-ing the entire way and decided after this hike to finally invest in snowshoes after I waded through some snow up to my waist for the last little stretch. But it was awesome and I love this peak in winter. Had done it once in fall too. My favorite central Wasatch view and peak. One of the first I climbed upon moving to Utah and the elevation was making me suffer to walk to the store but I had to climb this thing as soon as I learned what its name was and where the trail began. I was near dead at the top that first time and some local made fun of me. Think of this the next time the Jazz run a visiting team off the basketball court.
Apexrock - Oct 8, 2012 12:28 pm Date Climbed: Sep 23, 2012
West Slabs
Was a little tricky navigating our way over to the main summit in the dark. Lots of fun though!
Ryan Borzea - Sep 20, 2012 7:55 pm Date Climbed: Apr 8, 2012
Fun spring snow
Had a blast, bought crampons after this summit. Slippery fun!
Also did a summer summit in 2011.
marc123 - Sep 18, 2012 5:49 am Date Climbed: May 21, 2009
nice hike
Nice hike on the trail to the top in bad weather with brother Nick.
kgmack - Aug 31, 2012 4:28 pm Date Climbed: Jul 28, 2012
SLC View
Used to run this in High School. It was a bit tougher now that I am out of shape. I love the views of the city then the ranges. There are way too many stupid people who take this hike with not enough water and get stuck (happened 3 times in that week that I climbed).
scgrant - Aug 14, 2012 10:36 pm Date Climbed: Apr 28, 2016
Mt. Oly
4/28/2016
4/7/2016 Warm day sunny day.
3/31/2016 Quite a bit of new snow since I did it 4 days ago. Stormy on top and all but no visibility. It's always exciting on Olympus.
3/27/2016 Summit scramble was pretty icy which made it pretty fun.
1/7/2016 Quite a bit of new untracked snow the last 600 feet to the top.
1/1/2016 #35&36. Back to back ascents on New Years Day with Greg Jagielski.
11/14/2015 After work hike. Fastest time to top at 1 hr 27 min and fastest roundtrip at 2 hr 23 min.
9/23/2015 North and South summit via the West Slabs with Greg Jagielski,
3/28/2015 After work, 1:38 up 2:39 RT,
1/9/2015,
11/2/2014 Up the standard trail under snowy conditions with Greg Jagielski, Donovan Lynch, and Ben Stokes.
10/5/2014 Along with North summit via a free climb of the West Slabs.
9/21/2014 With Brad Yates and Lubos Pavel. We were planning on doing the West Slabs route but it was a very rainy day so we opted to head up the standard trail. We had a break in the weather as we summited but otherwise it was a very wet day. 28th ascent.
5/25/2014 With the WMC as part of the Wildcat Ridge traverse. A lot of snow on the ridge made for a very long hike.
4/3/2014 after work.
3/31/2014 25th time to the top of Mount Olympus. A lot of new snow from the storm yesterday.
2/15/2014
12/11/2013
11/28/2013 Second Thanksgiving in a row climbing Mount Olympus.
6/9/2013 With the WMC as part of the Wildcat Ridge Traverse.
4/21/2013 Climbed after work.
4/7/2013 Climbed after work. 2 hr 45 min RT, fastest time to summit at 1 hr 44 min.
3/31/2013 Followed up a Grandeur Peak climb with a climb of Mt. Olympus. From the top of Blister Hill, I climbed the Forgotten Arete to the saddle. Great scramble.
3/25/2013
3/6/2013
3/1/2013
2/25/2013
1/20/2013
1/6/2013
1/2/2013
11/25/2012
11/22/2012 Thanksgiving Day.
10/17/2012 Started up at 5:00 am, hiked up in the dark. Reached the summit at 6:50 am and hung out on top until 7:30 am. Watched the sunrise and the city come to life before heading back down. Back down to trailhead at 8:45. Good way to start the morning.
10/6/2012 Traversed over after climbing Triangle Peak.
1/29/2012
1/6/2012
12/28/2011
11/14/2011
10/16/2011 via the West Ridge, both North and South summit.
5/27/2011
4/1/2011.
dstevenson0204 - Aug 2, 2012 5:01 pm Date Climbed: Apr 10, 2012
Early Season
Fun hike. We camped on top in the snow and woke up to a blizzard!
Topped out today with my son & wife for the first time. Steep! Summit was about 70 degrees with no wind. Beautiful. Had the summit to ourselves for over an hour, and enjoyed the quiet. The class 3 section was fun!
Martin Ralya - Dec 26, 2013 10:50 pm Date Climbed: Dec 26, 2013
My first 9,000-foot peakHiking up Mount Olympus is one of the coolest things I've ever done. Reaching the summit was exhilarating; I've never felt a rush of emotions quite like I did up there.
It was a gorgeous day to hike, and even though I got a late start (11:00 am) I made good time both ways. It's a grueling hike, so steep on Blister Hill that it's a slog up and a knee-punishing trek back down. There wasn't much snow down low, but it was packed snow all the way to the summit scramble once I hit the switchbacks. The scramble was wet with snow melt, dry in places, and snowy in places.
I was worried about the summit scramble, as I've never done anything like that before. And partway up, I got scared; there were a couple of bits I found hairy. But I kept my head, assessed the situation, and decided that I wasn't in danger -- I was just psyching myself out. Not quite sure how I was going to get down what I was going up, but confident I'd figure it out, I kept going. And as it turned out, it was much easier going down.
Up top, I managed to put my foot through what appeared to be packed snow and in between two boulders, but I had my poles out and was able to keep it from going in too deep. A good lesson for next time!
This was my highest solo summit, first 9,000-foot peak, and first YDS Class 3 hike. The view from the top is the best view I've ever had of the Salt Lake valley, and after nine years living here, looking up at this mountain and assuming it wasn't something ordinary folks climbed, driving around the valley will never be the same -- I'll always remember standing on top of it.
wyomtnlady - Sep 27, 2013 12:29 pm Date Climbed: Sep 21, 2013
DittoGreat day with you Wyomtman!
wyomtman - Sep 23, 2013 9:42 am Date Climbed: Sep 21, 2013
West SlabNice approach and fun climb, traversed below the ridge then up a chute to the top. Down climbed alittle then rapped a small tree to the saddle between the N and S summits. Then up a chute to the main summit, which had a nice Mountain Goat on it's north face. Hiked down the trail (I think the climb would be easier then hiking up the trail) to my bike, to get back to the car. Cool mountain, to bad the city is so close. Another one bagged with my wife.
Hardman - Aug 26, 2013 2:01 pm Date Climbed: Feb 23, 2013
Many Climbs Up the Most Popular Central Wasatch PeakNo need for the laundry list.
Last climb was in winter. Despite the recent snowfall, the trail was trodden down and frozen over. Ran up to the saddle overlooking Heughs Canyon, donned gaiters, and made the short scramble over snow (surprisingly, no one had made the true summit since the storm)to the summit.
Still haven't made the north summit via the West Slabs. If anyone is interested, feel free to PM me.
DonutPig - Aug 4, 2013 11:18 am Date Climbed: Jul 6, 2010
FirstThis was the first mountain I ever climbed. It started an obsession...
abrennalinerush - Jun 19, 2013 11:59 pm Date Climbed: Jun 1, 2013
Do you need a first aid kit?If you trail run down, I highly suggest not falling. On the plus side, if you DO fall, the blood dripping down your leg will look really super cool, and everyone will move out of your way so you can keep running uninterrupted! (Or perhaps it's because they're afraid you have a highly communicable disease...? Whichever.) My only regret from this day is not hula hooping at the summit. Learn from my mistakes, friends!
utahguy058 - Jun 17, 2013 5:32 pm Date Climbed: Jun 1, 2013
It's the ClimbCan You Say Up Up and Up. This hike has a lot of elevation in a short time, but it is very manageable, the final scramble to the top was a lot of fun, a lot more intimidating than it actually is. The views are gorgeous! Totally worth the climb as Miley said.
TonyTheJet - Jun 9, 2013 4:26 pm Date Climbed: Jun 9, 2013
Good Climb!Climbed it with a co-worker today. It was hot for early June--95-96 degrees! Had a great time, and made it up in just over 2 hours. We saw a rattlesnake on the way up.
Going down I always seem to take the wrong route and have to scramble a bit more than necessary, so if you aren't a regular on this mountain, be sure to kind of take note of the route you use to get up to the summit. It will save you from some sketchy areas getting back down to the trail.
Hayden - Jun 7, 2013 10:20 pm Date Climbed: Jun 7, 2013
First time up thereWe got up early this morning and started before the sun came up. The last section from the saddle to the top was my favorite part. Going down to the bottom sucks, I only fell once. There were tons of flies at the saddle area today.
mthornt - Jun 6, 2013 7:42 pm Date Climbed: Mar 3, 2012
View View ViewI had 4 hours to spare so I hiked the west face of Mount Olympus. I didn't follow any specific trail which made the ascent pretty fun.
The hike had amazing views and some scrambling areas about half way up. I didn't quite make the summit as I ran out of time but if I go back to Salt Lake, I'll definitely hit it again if I have time.
PrinceOfNorway - Jun 1, 2013 8:08 pm Date Climbed: Jun 1, 2013
So this happenedI really liked the scrambling portion of this hike. We ran down the trail and it was probably the best thing ever. I was sorry that everyone coming up were hiking in such heat!
MAero - May 12, 2013 7:04 pm Date Climbed: May 12, 2013
TrainingGetting back in shape after moving from out East. Started at around 6:45 and had the summit to myself. ~2hr up
andrew david - Feb 18, 2013 12:11 am Date Climbed: Jan 11, 2011
great oneWent solo through 1 ft of snow posthole-ing the entire way and decided after this hike to finally invest in snowshoes after I waded through some snow up to my waist for the last little stretch. But it was awesome and I love this peak in winter. Had done it once in fall too. My favorite central Wasatch view and peak. One of the first I climbed upon moving to Utah and the elevation was making me suffer to walk to the store but I had to climb this thing as soon as I learned what its name was and where the trail began. I was near dead at the top that first time and some local made fun of me. Think of this the next time the Jazz run a visiting team off the basketball court.
Apexrock - Oct 8, 2012 12:28 pm Date Climbed: Sep 23, 2012
West SlabsWas a little tricky navigating our way over to the main summit in the dark. Lots of fun though!
Ryan Borzea - Sep 20, 2012 7:55 pm Date Climbed: Apr 8, 2012
Fun spring snowHad a blast, bought crampons after this summit. Slippery fun!
Also did a summer summit in 2011.
marc123 - Sep 18, 2012 5:49 am Date Climbed: May 21, 2009
nice hikeNice hike on the trail to the top in bad weather with brother Nick.
kgmack - Aug 31, 2012 4:28 pm Date Climbed: Jul 28, 2012
SLC ViewUsed to run this in High School. It was a bit tougher now that I am out of shape. I love the views of the city then the ranges. There are way too many stupid people who take this hike with not enough water and get stuck (happened 3 times in that week that I climbed).
scgrant - Aug 14, 2012 10:36 pm Date Climbed: Apr 28, 2016
Mt. Oly4/28/2016
4/7/2016 Warm day sunny day.
3/31/2016 Quite a bit of new snow since I did it 4 days ago. Stormy on top and all but no visibility. It's always exciting on Olympus.
3/27/2016 Summit scramble was pretty icy which made it pretty fun.
1/7/2016 Quite a bit of new untracked snow the last 600 feet to the top.
1/1/2016 #35&36. Back to back ascents on New Years Day with Greg Jagielski.
11/14/2015 After work hike. Fastest time to top at 1 hr 27 min and fastest roundtrip at 2 hr 23 min.
9/23/2015 North and South summit via the West Slabs with Greg Jagielski,
3/28/2015 After work, 1:38 up 2:39 RT,
1/9/2015,
11/2/2014 Up the standard trail under snowy conditions with Greg Jagielski, Donovan Lynch, and Ben Stokes.
10/5/2014 Along with North summit via a free climb of the West Slabs.
9/21/2014 With Brad Yates and Lubos Pavel. We were planning on doing the West Slabs route but it was a very rainy day so we opted to head up the standard trail. We had a break in the weather as we summited but otherwise it was a very wet day. 28th ascent.
5/25/2014 With the WMC as part of the Wildcat Ridge traverse. A lot of snow on the ridge made for a very long hike.
4/3/2014 after work.
3/31/2014 25th time to the top of Mount Olympus. A lot of new snow from the storm yesterday.
2/15/2014
12/11/2013
11/28/2013 Second Thanksgiving in a row climbing Mount Olympus.
6/9/2013 With the WMC as part of the Wildcat Ridge Traverse.
4/21/2013 Climbed after work.
4/7/2013 Climbed after work. 2 hr 45 min RT, fastest time to summit at 1 hr 44 min.
3/31/2013 Followed up a Grandeur Peak climb with a climb of Mt. Olympus. From the top of Blister Hill, I climbed the Forgotten Arete to the saddle. Great scramble.
3/25/2013
3/6/2013
3/1/2013
2/25/2013
1/20/2013
1/6/2013
1/2/2013
11/25/2012
11/22/2012 Thanksgiving Day.
10/17/2012 Started up at 5:00 am, hiked up in the dark. Reached the summit at 6:50 am and hung out on top until 7:30 am. Watched the sunrise and the city come to life before heading back down. Back down to trailhead at 8:45. Good way to start the morning.
10/6/2012 Traversed over after climbing Triangle Peak.
1/29/2012
1/6/2012
12/28/2011
11/14/2011
10/16/2011 via the West Ridge, both North and South summit.
5/27/2011
4/1/2011.
dstevenson0204 - Aug 2, 2012 5:01 pm Date Climbed: Apr 10, 2012
Early SeasonFun hike. We camped on top in the snow and woke up to a blizzard!
brekgrover - Jul 29, 2012 11:26 pm Date Climbed: Jul 29, 2012
Mount Olympus TrailTopped out today with my son & wife for the first time. Steep! Summit was about 70 degrees with no wind. Beautiful. Had the summit to ourselves for over an hour, and enjoyed the quiet. The class 3 section was fun!
Great mountain!
Go Utes!