The view from 9,026' over the Salt Lake Valley is nothing short of amazing. Last year we hiked Grandeur Peak which is 8,299' and you can say I got addicted to getting even higher to be able to see even farther! Mt. Olympus is on any Salt Lake locals bucket list. Mainly because you can't help but stare at it all day. It's rocky face calls out to you to come climb it! Every year we say we are going to hike it and we never time it right. So this year, I was ON IT! Especially with the COVID outbreak, it was something we could do close to home and safely social distance ourselves. We decided to invite a few friends since we could remain apart from each other on the trail. The COVID life is a whole new world.
We were shocked that out of the 5 of us, 4 of which grew up in Salt Lake, had NEVER hiked Mt. Olympus. There are rumors around town that it is so difficult and steep that it almost isn't worth it. In High School, 3 boys got stuck on the trail and had to call Search and Rescue. Don't let that scare you! All of these stories are from people who were not prepared! We all took the trail in stride and went in with a mindset that it was going to be a sufferfest. We lovingly named our hike "Sufferfest 2020".
Mt. Olympus is totally doable. I talked to quite a few people on the trail who hadn't hiked in years and others who were 60+ lapping my group on a second hike up just because it was such a beautiful day. The best way to tackle any summit is to be prepared to get tired, have plenty of pick-me-up snacks, and TONS of water. I will go into a few mistakes I made that I could have done better with, but overall this is an amazing hike with amazing views. Even if you don't want to do the last scramble to the top, you still get a gorgeous view of the valley and the Wasatch Mountain Range. The photo to the right is the view from the trail when you start getting close to the saddle, spectacular!
Tip #1: Start Early!
We started the hike at 7:45am so we could be in the shade on the way up for as long as possible. Even though there was still a bit of snow, it was already pretty hot in the valley and climbing 4,000' in elevation SUCKS when you are in the sun.
Tip #2: Take Your Time
If you can't get rid of the burning feeling in your calves take a break. Don't gas yourself out in the beginning trying to keep up with trail runners. You won't catch them, and they will most likely lap you. Believe me, it happened to me twice. We reached the summit at about 11:00am and enjoyed the hike the whole way.
Tip #3: Take Enough Water
Let me say that again, take enough water! I carried 2L and guzzled it down! I literally took my last sip at the summit. We still had about 4 miles back down and this time we wouldn't be in the shade. It drained me to not have water on the way down, so just take more than you think you'll need.
Tip #4: Take Good Snacks
We had a PB&J, candy, and a beer. Reward yourself for what you just accomplished. There is nothing better than enjoying a PB&J with a summit beer on top of a peak! We had multiple mountain goat sightings and saw climbers topping out on another peak close by, the West Slabs. It gives you a chance to rest and really enjoy how beautiful the world is.
Last bit of advice, SUMMIT! You can do it! Just take your time and don't be afraid to ask for help. This is a photo of the last little bit of the hike. This scramble takes you to the actual summit Mt. Olympus. It looks so much more intimidating than it actually is. Just be careful of loose rocks so they don't fall down onto the person below you and you got it!
This was such an amazing experience and being able to look at two peaks in the valley and know what the view is like from the top is so amazing and rewarding. I have 2 more summits planned for the summer. I hope I can time them right with the weather and other camping trips. I have caught the peak bagging bug!
What You Want to Know Take Me There! The Mt. Olympus Trailhead is along Wasatch Blvd. Park anywhere you can find a spot and head towards the start of the trail. Don't worry about getting lost, the trailhead is clearly marked.
How long is the hike? Strava clocked me in at 7.54 miles out and back with a 4,277' elevation gain.
WOO! Sufferfest 2020.
What do I wear?
If you start super early in the morning, you will most likely want a light jacket. I started getting hot because of how steep the hike was. But it was nice to have in the beginning while I was getting warmed up. I also wore Smartwool socks, mid-ankle hiking boots, and runners slick to stop the chafing.
Are dogs allowed?
Dogs are allowed to use the trail if they are leashed. I would make sure that your dog is in shape, you have plenty of water for them, and that you bring something in case their paws are ripped up. It's a long rocky trail and my friends dog had a hard time at the end with her paws being tore up.
Comments