Is It May or March

 Is it May or March - Hard to Tell by Looking at the Mountains

Snowbasin from the old road, May 8, 2024

The 2024 Broads Hiking/Paddle Challenge has kicked off with a mix of sprinter (Spring/Winter) weather. You have to be creative this time of year to avoid wet and snow-covered trails. Some of us have gone south (Kanab is one of the favored locations) and others find routes where you can keep your boots dry. 

Everyone, let's get hiking.

Hike - Paddle and Celebrate 60 Years of Wilderness

Calling All Hikers and Paddlers - Help Celebrate 60 Years of Wilderness Protection

Join the fun as Great Old Broads for Wilderness celebrates 35 years protecting wild places and 60 years of wilderness protection. Hike or paddle 60 miles by the September 3, Wilderness Act anniversary and win great prizes along the way. It’s easy to participate. Send your name and email to bmcconvill@gmail.com and you will be registered. Every time you take a hike or paddle a stream, log your miles and send our way (include a photo if you like). We will keep track of everyone's’ progress and award prizes at the following milestones:

• 15 miles gets you some cool stickers and a sticker book

• 35 miles and your reward is a Chico Chica reusable bag

• 45 miles and you are rewarded with To-Go-Broads ware

• 60 miles by September 3, a certificate of achievement suitable for framing plus a bag of goodies

The Wilderness Act of 1964 established the National Wilderness Preservation System,

a national network of more than 800 federally designated wilderness areas.

These wilderness areas are managed by the National Park Service, Bureau of Land

Management, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and US Forest Service. You don't have to be in a

designated wilderness to appreciate wild land qualities. Public lands wherever you might find

them offer refuge for wildlife and a place to seek connection, inspiration, sustenance, adventure, and more for each of us. Join the challenge today. 

 EXPLORING WASATCH WILDERNESS

PART TWO OF A TEN PART SERIES

MOUNT OLYMPUS WILDERNESS AREA

(Source: USFS)The Mount Olympus Wilderness was established by Congress in 1984 with the passage of the Utah Wilderness Act. Located within the central Wasatch range, the area consists of approximately 15,856 acres and is generally bounded on the north by Mill Creek Canyon, on the south by Big Cottonwood Canyon, on the west by the Salt Lake Valley, and on the east by Gobbler's Knob, Alexander Basin, and Dog Lake. The portion in Big Cottonwood Canyon falls under Salt Lake City watershed restrictions.
There are several entry points in each canyon and along the Front as well. They include the following: Mount Olympus Trail and Neff's Canyon from the benches along the front; Thayne's Canyon, Porter Fork (private road), Bowman Fork, and Alexander Basin on the northern or Mill Creek Canyon side; and Mill B North Fork and Butler Fork on the south side from Big Cottonwood Canyon. You can also enter the Wilderness about a quarter of a mile west of Dog Lake.

The Dog Lake entry receives most of the mountain bicycle violations. Bicyclist like to ride the Desolation Trail to the Mill A Basin Trail and out or exit the forest by way of Butler Fork. You will also see a little less use here in general except for the increasing problem with mountain bikes (mountain bikes are not allowed in wilderness areas).

The Mount Olympus Wilderness provides a spectacular backdrop for the Salt Lake Valley and is dominated by rugged terrain, narrow canyons, and high peaks, including Mount Olympus, Mount Raymond, and Gobbler's Knob. Much of the higher elevation is alpine, characterized by large, open cirque basins, and exposed rocky ridges.  Snow remains in some areas until mid-summer.

Broads let's help educate the public! To preserve and protect the physical and aesthetic environment, National Forest wilderness areas are closed to motor vehicles, mechanized equipment, hang gliders, and bicycles. 

Full disclosure - we are not wilderness experts! Part of our mission as volunteer GOBFW leaders is to educate ourselves and others about wilderness, wild places and public lands. Our 2023 theme is Walking the Wilderness and we encourage all Broads and Bros to get to know your Utah (and especially Wasatch Front and Back) wilderness areas better. The more educated we are about these wild places, the better prepared we will be to rally against wilderness mistreatment.  Many of us are probably not going to hoist our ancient, heavy backpack onto our broken and creaky backs anymore, but we can get a peak at these special places and learn more about their unique features.

WALKING THE WILDERNESS - PART I

 EXPLORING WASATCH WILDERNESS - PART ONE OF A TEN PART SERIES

Full disclosure - we are not wilderness experts! Part of our mission as volunteer GOBFW leaders is to educate ourselves and others about wilderness, wild places and public lands. Our 2023 theme is Walking the Wilderness and we encourage all Broads and Bros to get to know your Utah (and especially Wasatch Front and Back) wilderness areas better. The more educated we are about these wild places, the better prepared we will be to rally against wilderness mistreatment.  Many of us are probably not going to hoist our ancient, heavy backpack onto our broken and creaky backs anymore, but we can get a peak at these special places and learn more about their unique features.

MOUNT NEBO WILDERNESS AREA

The Mt. Nebo Scenic Byway (located between Payson and Nephi) is the primary access to Mount Nebo Wilderness Area, which was designated by the United States Congress in 1984. The wilderness area encompasses 28,022 acres and is managed by the U.S. Forest Service. The centerpiece of the southern portion of the wilderness is Mount Nebo, which looms above the wilderness area between Interstate 15 on the west side of the area, and the Byway to the east. Wilderness elevation begins at approximately 5,400 feet elevation, climbing through mountain valleys and meadows broken by moderate to steep ridges. The Wilderness Area encompasses four USFS maintained trails, totaling approximately 21 miles within the wilderness area. The trail system provides access to sites and is linked with other trails that border the wilderness area.

Twenty-seven trails are located along the Byway, seven of which lead into the Mount Nebo Wilderness Area. Mount Nebo is the highest peak of the Wasatch Mountain range. The mountain is crowned by three peaks, with the northern peak reaching 11,928 feet . Parts of the mountain are covered in snow from mid-October until July and it is a popular, although strenuous, destination for hikers and equestrians.

The extensive winter snow melt caused damage along the Byway as well as Santaquin Canyon Road. Make sure to check road conditions before exploring the area. Some areas are expected to open by June 16, others not until the end of July.

Sources: Nebo Loop Scenic Byway Corridor Management Plan Update, Wilderness Connect, USFS Spanish Fork District

 ANTELOPE ISLAND HIKE

Beautiful day, fun friends, great conversation

 WE TOUCHED OUR FIRST WILDERNESS OF 2023

Our Broadband theme for 2023 is Walking the Wilderness and our intent is to become better educated about the wilderness we are passionate about protecting. According to the USFS description, "the Mount Olympus Wilderness was established by Congress in 1984 with the passage of the Utah Wilderness Act. Located within the central Wasatch range, the Mount Olympus Wilderness consists of approximately 15,856 acres and is generally bounded on the north by Mill Creek Canyon, on the south by Big Cottonwood Canyon, on the west by the Salt Lake Valley, and on the east by Gobbler's Knob, Alexander Basin, and Dog Lake. The portion in Big Cottonwood Canyon falls under Salt Lake City watershed restrictions."

On February 15, seven Broads and Bros and one dog, wandered 4.25 miles up the Burch Creek trail and back around to Millcreek. On occasion the clouds parted and we were able to see a stunning view of the surrounding peaks. The day was crispy cool, but the company warm. We were honored to have the leader of the new Broadband in Flagstaff, Cuyler, and her husband Tom, along for the outing.  

 Best Laid Plans……

Three-hundred ninety miles and feeling great! Back issues resolved with Barnacle the tennis ball, heel blisters no longer a problem, strong mind, strong body and then the knee pain began. Mild at first, then searing. SAVED was midway through segment 23 from Carson Saddle to Stony Pass. She had done some big pushes the day before the pain started. A rest overnight was not helpful, and she awoke in the morning with big time swelling and stiffness.

The first few morning miles were painful. Her hiking mates took some of her weight. It was only getting worse. One of the hardest decisions a thru-hiker must make is when to stop. A quick look at the GPS showed a way off the trail at mile 10.6. It was a four-mile dirt road that joined the Alpine Loop about four miles from Silverton.

SAVED texted her resupply team. When we received the distress call, we were eating lunch at the top of Wolf Creek Pass near Pagosa Springs after breaking camp that morning near Creede. “I am having some major knee issues. I’m going to need to bailout on a dirt road coming up.” We were three hours away! Many thoughts raced through our hearts and minds, but we keep our cool, found her approximate location on the map and headed toward Silverton where we were scheduled to camp that evening.

She found the dirt road that was void of traffic and limped the four miles to the loop road. It was the slowest hiking she has ever done she reported later. At the loop, a couple with a dog offered her a ride apologizing for the dog who was now resting on her lap in the back seat. Little did they know how healing that was for her. Timing was perfect as we were checking in at the Silverton Lakes RV Park when she arrived.

Little was said that evening about the end of her journey. She showered, loved on Tallus and we had a nice meal in town. Ice and elevation helped and by next morning she saw some improvement but was still stiff and swollen. She plans to stick around and welcome her hiking buddies, Pages and Breaker, when they finish in Durango in a few days.

It appears her injury is due to overuse and will hopefully recover in time for her to return to where she ended her journey and finish the final five and a half segments this fall. If not, she will be back next year to complete her journey. Bravo for the nearly 400 miles hiked, the new friendships formed, and the incredible strength gained from this experience. We love you Colleen, Coco, Cocoleeno, SAVED. You certainly SAVED yourself!

TRAIL NOTES: The best laid plans, a proverbial expression used to signify the futility of making detailed plans when the ability to fully, or even partially, execute them is uncertain, might best describe this situation.