Sunday Morning Hiking Series #75 - Crow's Nest
7:45am-8:15am
Series Description
Why is this listed as a trailhead meet-up instead of a hike?
The Sunday Morning Hiking Series (SMHS) began on June 7, 2009 and has continued with a hike every month since then. There is a bookmark list at the right which contains all of the SMHS events. Geocaching is a dynamic activity in more ways than one. Cachers are constantly coming up with new ways to place caches and host events. Occasionally creativity pushes the limits too far and new rules are made. There has never been a problem on an SMHS hike; anyone who showed up was welcome to log the event even if they only went a small part of the distance hiked by the whole group, like across the parking lot. Apparently that was not the case elsewhere in the world. As a result "moving" events like a hike are no longer allowed to be listed. Therefore, the SMHS will continue as a series of trailhead meet-ups. We will gather for a half hour, 7:45-8:15 am, at the trailhead to chit-chat and drink a breakfast beverage. That's the event. Anyone who is there for any portion of that time may log an "attended" on the event. At 8:15 am anyone who would like to continue socializing after the event may put on their pack and join me on the trail leading from the trailhead meeting place. I hope this change may end up bringing out a few more cachers who were timid about attending the SMHS in the past because they felt they could not complete the hike.
Trailhead Meet-up
When you arrive at the parking area of the posted coordinates, look towards the lake. There are a couple of picnic tables. I hope to snag one. If that fails, look for the usual HKGSEAL license plates and the geocaching flag. That's where the party will be.
Wasatch Mountain State Park does not currently charge a fee for day use. However, they are going to start. Unfortunately the staff there could not give me a definite answer on when they are going to start. I may be that we arrive for the event and the fee signs with envelopes are finally posted. I will try to get there a bit early and post an announcement as to what I find.
Post-Event Hike
After enjoying bagels and OJ, we'll head across the street and into the spaghetti bowl of trail names that eventually leads to the Crow's Nest trail. Despite the dizzying heights the trail name may inspire, the whole 6.5 miles (round trip) of the hike is pretty mellow. There are only a few sections that may get the heart rate up a little. Our highest point has a great view because the valley below falls away from the trail rather than us climbing to a height. It will mostly be a loop with a couple places where we do have to double back after a bit of exploring. Not a lot of shade on the trail so plan accordingly depending on the temperature.
Fair warning since there is no attribute for flying golf balls. Right at the end of the hike we do have to walk about 100 feet across a golf course to the cart path which gets us back on a paved trail to the parking lot. I didn't have a problem when I was checking the trail out. However, the number of golf balls I found in the weeds suggests you want to keep your eyes open as you near the area. Also although dogs are allowed on the trail, better have a leash handy and be sure fido doesn't leave any presents in this section.
If you plan to hike after the event, please come equipped with plenty of water, snacks, sunscreen, and other equipment (i.e. hat, hiking poles, pack, etc.) There tends to be a range of fitness levels that show up for the hikes. As the emphasis is on being social, don't worry if a steep leaves you puffing. I'll be right there clinging to a tree and puffing with you.
Come out and join the Seventh Day Adventurists for talk of trails past, plans for future adventures, and orange juice!!