Bogley

[Mtnman1830]

Okay, its not as cool as it sounds but here it is...

Winter Ascent of Frary Peak
March 12, 2006


We were tired. Tired of looking at the mountains with longing eyes wanting to get up above the pollution and hustle of modern life.
Our goal for the year is to hike the highest of peak in each of Utah’s counties. With there being 26 “highpoints” to climb, we wanted to get an early start and bag Washington county’s Signal Peak near St. George.
Unfortunately, Utah’s spring weather had different ideas, and our trip was canceled. Even our “Plan B” of spending some time in Zion’s was out of the question.
The winter storm hit that morning and dropped 4” of snow. Still being in the mindset of bagging a peak, we decided to go to Antelope Island and bag Frary Peak.(Not a county highpoint, but it was the highpoint of the island.)
After stopping for breakfast, we were on our way
We hit the geocaches on the north end of the island, and were look forward to the ascent..
We were at the trailhead at 13:44 with layered clothing, trekking poles to try out, and camelbacks packed on the heavy side.
The snow storm had left 4” of new snow and slugging through the windblown and drifted waves of snow seemed to add a few miles to the hike.
Unfortunately, the island don’t have much for scenery. Just grass, scrub brush, and a few trees in the drain gages, but the views of the mainland and surrounding lake are spectacular.
Wanting to quicken the pace (and being soft from a sedentary winter) I jettisoned my pack for the last mile to the summit.
When we crested the hill topped with a radio tower, we looked at Frary Peak in all its 6596’ of grandeur. The rough terrain looks like a difficult ½ mile, especially with the snow, but its worth a shot.
Picking our way along the snow-hidden trail, we inched along the precarious face of the cliffs.
I had not gone very far when I was holding to a rock and when I tested my weight on it, the rock came loose. Knowing that it would be a long, cold wait for a helicopter if I fell down the cliff (if I even survived), I did not go any further. Perhaps we weren’t on the trail, and I will come back just for this hike.
Another of the party went on ahead and eventually summited. On his return, when I asked him how the climb was, he said “that was kinda hairy”
It was now just past 17:00 and we needed to get down so we could get back and so the rangers could lock the gates. With our phone call earlier, the said that they would close between 6:30 and 7:00..
When we arrived at the parking lot, we were met by two rangers. The asked us how our hike was, and then they told us that the trail closes at 5:00pm, and we were late.
They had to go up after somebody the day before, but they saw us coming down the mountain, and just waited for us. They sternly told us that being out after the trail was closed deserves a citation.
They also told us that we were not using the trails. This was also deserving of a citation. The rangers were understanding of the new snowfall covering the trail, and none of us had been on the trail before, so we luckily did not get any citations.
After the tongue lashing we received, we high-tailed it out cold and tired. Only one of us made it to the peak, but I will definitely go back and do it again.

[Mtnman1830]

some pics...

[Mtnman1830]

sorry...how do I do this right????

[James_B_Wads2000]

Mtnman1830 wrote: sorry...how do I do this right????

Our resident guru Sombeech wrote up and excellant tutorial on resizing and posting pictures. I would highly recomend reading through it.

Find it here:
http://uutah.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1718&highlight=image+resize

It looks to me like you sized your images too small.

James

[Mtnman1830]

Yeah, I saw that tutorial and after I posted the pics, I saw it.

[James_B_Wads2000]

Great trip report, thanks for sharing. Sorry to hear you trip to Signal went south (no pun intended). Are you guys planning on hitting all 26 High County Peak in a single year, that’s pretty ambitious?

About the Frary peak trail, once you reach the radio tower the trail actually descends from the ridge to the west side. It follows the base of the rocky ridge until it is just below the summit where is makes a couple of sharp switchbacks up to the summit. Two years ago there was a sign at the radio tower pointing to the trail that leaves the ridge. But I have never done the hike in the snow and the sign could have been obscured.

And hey don’t knock Antelope Island. It is a very pretty place well worth seeing. If you want bleak and empty go check out Stansbury Island, that place sucks.

The rangers at Antelope can be dinks. I think it is because they have to enforce so many rules. Since that island is a wildlife preserve there is more bureaucracy than most places. This isn’t all a bad thing. If they didn’t have the rules, being so close to the metro area Antelope Island would turn into the land that law forgot, just like Stansbury Island.

Just a note for anyone else thinking of hiking Frary from:
http://www.climb-utah.com/WM/frary.htm

"The Frary Peak Trail is closed from approximately April 1 through June 1 for the bighorn sheep lambing season. The exact dates change yearly. If you intend to hike on or near these dates you can call the Antelope Island visitor Center at 801-725-9263 for more information."

James

[Mtnman1830]

Yes, we plan on hitting all 26 this year.

The only forsee able hitch is Mt. Ellen. I don't have a 4WD.

[James_B_Wads2000]

Mtnman1830 wrote: Yes, we plan on hitting all 26 this year.

The only forsee able hitch is Mt. Ellen. I don't have a 4WD.

That’s badass, I wish you good luck on your goal. Are you planning on following the routes in the book High in Utah or the other book (who’s name escapes me). I have said this a before, that I have done 18 of the 26 peaks and have found some errors in High in Utah. I think one of the hardest things about hitting all 26 in one year is that you wouldn’t be able to spend a lot of time in the surrounding areas of some of the peaks. Lots of these places are very far away and could occupy your entire weekend just exploring around IMO.

As far as not having a 4WD, yes that will make Ellen difficult. I few years back my friend jacked up his car pretty bad on the road up to Ellen. But that’s not saying too much as that car was a total piece of sh*t. In fact it was a miracle that he even made it to Hanksville. But the bad news is that without 4wd I would count out South Tent Mountain. The dirt road leading to the trailhead, the Skyline Drive, is notoriously bad road in all but the driest or dry times. The roads are made of that super bad clay that turns to quick sand the second a drop of water hits them. I would also add Ibapah and Monument to the list of peaks that the hike or drive would be much longer without 4wd.

But drop me a line when you plan on doing Ellen. I haven’t done that one and would be happy to offer the use of my 4Runner. We could do a big trip south and knock off the Bluebell Knoll and Fish Lake Hightop wile we are down there.

James

[Mtnman1830]

Boy I would appreciate it. Shphilby and I are trying to do it together.
Neither one of us has a truck.

[Scott P]

......

[shphilby]

Frary peak isn't that about a 10 min hike. :roflol: :roflol:

good luck on getting to the top of all 26 peaks before me.

[Mtnman1830]

Quote: shphilby Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2006 12:08 pm Post subject:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Frary peak isn't that about a 10 min hike.

good luck on getting to the top of all 26 peaks before me.


:bootyshake:

[shphilby]

yep thats all your going to see

[James_B_Wads2000]

Scott Patterson wrote: Quote: As far as not having a 4WD, yes that will make Ellen difficult.

No, not really. There is an easy route from the west slopes and Lonesome Beaver Campground. No 4wd required.

BETA SAVED!!!!! :roflol:

[Sombeech]

James_B_Wads2000 wrote: Scott Patterson wrote: Quote: As far as not having a 4WD, yes that will make Ellen difficult.

No, not really. There is an easy route from the west slopes and Lonesome Beaver Campground. No 4wd required.

BETA SAVED!!!!! :roflol:

:lol8: you sneaky bastard.