I went snowshoeing again February 2nd, of 2011. When I saw how good the day was, I couldn't hold back from going. I had been waiting for a long time to get a good enough day to climb Sardine Peak which has a grand view in many directions. Sardine Peak is to the south of Ogden Canyon above the Oaks Restaurant, and north of Snowbasin's Maples Picnic Area. To get there, one takes the trail from Snowbasin through the Maples up to the Ogden Overlook, as far as the first saddle ridge, then turn right and follow the ridge up to the peak. From the peak, you can see most of Pine View Reservoir, as well as down into Ogden City.
Sardine Peak as seen from the Snowbasin lower parking lot.
Knowing that this would be a strenuous hike, I was reluctant to ask most of my friends to try it. Those that I figured could do it were unable to go, so I went alone this time. You can get good cell phone service up there, so I wasn't worried about being alone. When I got up that morning it was only 2° at home. Checking in at the Ski Patrol Station they said it was 4 degrees when I started out from Snowbasin. When I got back down to Snowbasin it was only 10°.
Fortunately there was no wind, that's what makes cold, really cold. My face and hands were cold as I started out, but within the first mile I had good circulation and was warm as toast. Coming down I was so warm that I had my coat open and took my gloves off. I had a great day with a clear blue sky and got some great photos while up there.
View down into Ogden from Sardine Peak.
The path I was following up to the saddle, went over to the Powerline Trail. Not wanting to go up that steep climb, I went out to the right, going up where it wasn't as steep. Couldn't find the summer trail that goes up. I did find the trail again below the peak and took if for a ways, then decided to go straight up to the peak, as the trail went way around the peak before going to the top.
Took me 3 hours to get up to the peak, and 2 hours to get back down. The total hike was a about 5 miles, with a climb of 1,302 feet.
I didn't get a complete GPS map of the hike, only one way. The day was so cold that the battery in my GPS ran clear down by the time I reached the peak. I doubled the GPS distance to get an approximate total, but since I came down a different way, it's not exact. I added a line to the map showing approximately where I came down.
On the way home I stopped at the Ogden Canyon Waterfall to take some pictures of the icefalls. They were mostly in the shade, where I would have preferred sun on the ice, but since I was there I took the photos. They are included on the last photo page.