Grandeur Peak - Dragon Tail Route - June 10, 2023

[scatman]

Well after being worked by @Bob in the big Jelly last week, I really had no business attempting the Dragon Tail today. It was a long, steep slog, and my knees and feet are now sore after descending the West Slope Trail off the summit of Grandeur. The West Slope Trail just happens to be my least favorite trail in the Wasatch.

Most of my shots in this report will be wildflowers. The mule ears and the Wasatch beardtongue were the most prevalent today along our route.

My cameras were as follows:

- Canon EOS 30D
- Canon PowerShot SX730 HS
- Olympus Tough TG-6

I bought the 30D used off of Ebay for a whopping 43 dollars, and the pictures that I took with it today turned out a little darker than I like, particularly when I zoomed in on a flower, or group of flowers. I'll have to compensate for that in the future. The Tough TG-6 made the trip to Yellowstone last week, but never took a picture with it. Feeling guilty about that, I used it a bit today.

Oh, and I lost my sunglasses while bushwhacking along the ridge through some scrub oak. I tried to retrace my footsteps through the scrub, but I couldn't find them. Oh well, an offering to the Grandeur gods I guess.


We got to the trailhead about 7:15 this morning


The sun is starting to come up over Grandeur. The Dragon Tail can be seen on the far right ridge.


My partner in crime for the day


Spider milkweed


REI down below


The ever present Mount Olympus to the south


Hookers onion


The climbing wall, which is the first rock formation you pass on the way to the bottom of the Dragon Tail


On the other side, and the east end of the climbing wall


Perkins Peak on Parley's Ridge, where we were about three weeks ago now.


Sweetvetch


Passing some Juniper trees, with the 215 Belt Route below.


The Dragon Tail ahead


Katie, taking a picture


Toadflax


Almost to the top of the Dragon Tail


Paintbrush


A parasailer passed right over the top of us. We would see three more as we made our way up the mountain.


Posing for a shot. REI down below


Evening primrose. There were a lot of these at the upper end of the Dragon Tail


Katie is making me walk the plank.


A small arch at the east end of the Dragon Tail


Penstemons


A lizard




Knife's edge between Mount Olympus and Triangle Peak


Wasatch beardtongue and bee


Bee?


Geranium



Got it mid chirp


A mosquito hawk


The summit comes into view. A lot of scrub oak to get through before then though. this is the section where I lost my sun
glasses


Looking down on Rattlesnake Gulch


Death Kamas


Sun glasses lost some where along this section


Ninebark on the ridge


Western wallflower too


Butterfly


One more hill to climb


On the ridge


I liked the look of the lichens and the rock


Utah serviceberry


American vetch


Another parasailer, with Desert Peak in the far distance


Gobblers Knob and Mount Raymond to the southeast


A swallowtail on the summit


Church Fork Peak and Mount Aire beyond


Summit shot


Lady bug on the summit


Canary violet


Heading down the West Slope Trail


Larkspur


Wasp, Bee or Hornet?


Mountain Mahogany


More death camas - sorry, kind of a dark shot


Another swallowtail


The ridge to the south of the West Slope Trail, which is the ridge we came up.


Wishing that I was off the West Slope Trail.


Mule ears


Parley's Ridge


Daisies


A butterfly


More paintbrush


Lupine and mule ears




Bumblebee


More vetch


Afternoon shot of Grandeur taken near the trailhead


Back at the Sube


View of Grandeur and the Dragon Tail from the REI parking lot. We had to exchange a flex-lite camp chair that broke while we
were at camp on Rescue Creek in Yellowstone.


The End.

 

[TractorDoc]

I could not help but notice that Katie is wearing a brighter color this time. Was that just coincidence or did she read the Lookout Peak trip report?

Great reporting as always Hugh. I do like seeing all the closeups of the flowers and pollinating insects. I don't know that I've ever heard of a mosquito hawk; I've always called it a crane fly. Your adventures are inspirational and educational!

Too bad you could not have jumped up and caught a ride down with one of the parasailers vs. taking the West Slope Trail.

One day we need to make a list of all the items you've lost in the wilderness. I'd suggest we get you one of those strings that allow the sunglasses to hang around your neck, but I know you'd tell me the string would only get caught in the scrub oak and defeat the purpose.

 

[Rockskipper]

Katy p[robably wore the bright colors because she knew Scat was using his darker camera. Or maybe she didn't want to get lost. Or maybe she was emulating Scat's orange cone attire of a previous trip. Or maybe she just wanted to wear orange. Or maybe...

And Scat could put an Airtag on his next pair of sunglasses, though the tags are kind of heavy for glasses and whoops! You need an iPhone.

ETA: You would look kind of silly with an Airtag on your glasses, and you're also telling the world you pretty much lose stuff.

 

[scatman]

I could not help but notice that Katie is wearing a brighter color this time. Was that just coincidence or did she read the Lookout Peak trip report?

Great reporting as always Hugh. I do like seeing all the closeups of the flowers and pollinating insects. I don't know that I've ever heard of a mosquito hawk; I've always called it a crane fly. Your adventures are inspirational and educational!

Too bad you could not have jumped up and caught a ride down with one of the parasailers vs. taking the West Slope Trail.

One day we need to make a list of all the items you've lost in the wilderness. I'd suggest we get you one of those strings that allow the sunglasses to hang around your neck, but I know you'd tell me the string would only get caught in the scrub oak and defeat the purpose.

Sheila and Katie both bought new hiking pants at the Memorial Day Sale at REI before we went up to Yellowstone. Both got an orange pair, and Sheila bought a green pair too. Not sure why orange caught their eye.

I only included the shots that weren't too dark.










Maybe that is why the camera only cost 43 bucks!

 

[scatman]

Katy p[robably wore the bright colors because she knew Scat was using his darker camera. Or maybe she didn't want to get lost. Or maybe she was emulating Scat's orange cone attire of a previous trip. Or maybe she just wanted to wear orange. Or maybe...

And Scat could put an Airtag on his next pair of sunglasses, though the tags are kind of heavy for glasses and whoops! You need an iPhone.

ETA: You would look kind of silly with an Airtag on your glasses, and you're also telling the world you pretty much lose stuff.

I think everyone knows by now that I lose stuff. If Dr. Frankenstein were still around, he could probably make a whole new hiker from all the things that I have lost in the backcountry.

I'm half tempted to head back up and find those damn sun glasses.

I think the cone attire might have hit the nail on the head.

 

[Bob]

I could not help but notice that Katie is wearing a brighter color this time. Was that just coincidence or did she read the Lookout Peak trip report?

Great reporting as always Hugh. I do like seeing all the closeups of the flowers and pollinating insects. I don't know that I've ever heard of a mosquito hawk; I've always called it a crane fly. Your adventures are inspirational and educational!

Too bad you could not have jumped up and caught a ride down with one of the parasailers vs. taking the West Slope Trail.

One day we need to make a list of all the items you've lost in the wilderness. I'd suggest we get you one of those strings that allow the sunglasses to hang around your neck, but I know you'd tell me the string would only get caught in the scrub oak and defeat the purpose.

I have a glasses string.... Have never lost mine.. ... Time to consider?

 

[scatman]

I have a glasses string.... Have never lost mine.. ... Time to consider?

The problem is Bob, I would just be doubly embarrassed when I lost the string and the glasses.

 

[ImNotDedYet]

That lupine / mule ears image is gorgeous!

You're going to be in fantastic shape for your summer trips!

 

[scatman]

That lupine / mule ears image is gorgeous!

You're going to be in fantastic shape for your summer trips!

Yeah, I liked that shot too.

I'm guessing that I'll be in good shape or dead. It's a fine line you know.

 

[Rockskipper]

Yeah, I liked that shot too.

I'm guessing that I'll be in good shape or dead. It's a fine line you know.

And then there's the walking dead...or should I say the hiking dead. I've run across a few of those.

 

[Ugly]

Funny, I saw some hikers going up the West Slop of Grandeur Saturday morning at about 730am as I drove by, and thought it was a beautiful morning for a little torture.
It looks like it was!

 

[scatman]

Funny, I saw some hikers going up the West Slop of Grandeur Saturday morning at about 730am as I drove by, and thought it was a beautiful morning for a little torture.
It looks like it was!

I may have to invite you to go find some sun glasses.

 

[Ugly]

I may have to invite you to go find some sun glasses.

I hope they weren't found by a local raccoon. If he has them, they would be tough to find.

 

[scatman]

I hope they weren't found by a local raccoon. If he has them, they would be tough to find.

Good point. I may have to break down and buy a new pair.