Sept 7 - Summit Park Peak

Somewhere new today -- Summit Park Peak. Its actually 1/2 between my 2 favorite places Lamb's Canyon and Mormon Pioneer Trail off HWY 80. The trail is 6mi round-trip w/ a starting elevation of 7368; and gain 1250ft. I've always wondered what was at the Parley's Summit exit and today I'll find out.

The trailhead is at the end of a paved road. My guide says I could drive to the trailhead but there were a couple cars parked at the end of the paved road - so I figured that they were there for a reason, so I should just follow. Sure enough about 20yrds on the gravel road was a nasty dip in the road. My low clearance car would've been eaten alive; but once past it, the road was just another gravel road.

As I'm looking for the actual start of the trail off the road, I'm greeted by 2 dogs -- the one just ignores me and the other comes over for a sniff and a scratch on the head. The owner (a lady) shows me where the trail begins, and says I can't get lost because all the trails (and there a plenty -- mostly for the bikers) loop around and either end here or a bit further up the road. She also tells me to go up to Summit Park Peak (which is where I was going) --- the locals have arranged rocks like a living room. She says to look for the Over Easy Trail.

So off I went up a series of 10 switchback called the Short Stack. The trail climbs thru a forest of white fir and spruce. Not much blooming - late in the season and its very heavily shaded --- there are past-bloomed mint though.

I meet up with a "happy dog" (a Golden Retriever) heading down the trail. Love those dogs!

I finally get thru the switchbacks and it opens up with a clear view east towards Park City. I'm out of the fir/spruce forest and among lots and lots of low growing scrub oak -- I need to remember this for CO Hairstreaks come next July (that's their host plant).

The trail comes into a forest of oak/maple and aspens. I'm just enjoying the sights when a snake slithers across the trail -- well, that livened things up.

Now here's where I get confused, in my head I know I should just keep following the trail (WOS trail or Weather Observation Station trail) but I keep remembering that the lady I met below said to take the Over Easy trail so when I came upon it, I took the right to follow it.

The trail was narrow as it wove thru the flowers (dead and dry flowers), and it was very steep. I finally came out onto a semi-ridge -- not a very good view. But that wasn't the end, the trail kept going up heading south -- not as steep now but pretty decent. In and out of the forest. And finally to the ridge. The view to the right was over Lamb's Canyon (one of my favorite hiking spots) and to the left, Park City.

I had a choice to go right or left - well not really, the trail to the right was blocked with a branch (usually means "don't go this way") so I had left along the ridge. There's some purple asters up here (yea, some flowers). Then I come upon a wooden cabin/shelter. Its between a couple of trees; has a tarp roof and inside,

its pretty sweet - a wooden slat "bed", a folding chair and not a bad view.

I continue along the ridge trying to find my way down. I see the trail a bit further down actually heading uphill. Hmmm... I'm a bit confused. And there are storms clouds building so I decided that the peak (and the living room) can be reached another day. (Should've stuck to the original plan.)

On the way down and one of the few very small patches of yellow flowers, there is a Mormon Metalmark bfly -- first one of the season and the first (and only bfly of the day).

I meet a Husky on the way down (he was going up....very slowly). The owner was in front of the dog and when he saw me, he just stopped --- think he wanted a rest and a pat on the head. A little further down the trail was a puppy Golden Retriever -- happy, ears flopping, tongue hanging and tail wagging. Can't beat it!