Spanish Fork Peak

BOU AVENUE
Spanish Fork Peak

On our way to southern Utah, Zosia Zgolak and I stopped to climb Spanish Fork Peak near the city of Provo on 10 October 2016. After camping the previous night on a nearby back road, we started our ascent from the side of Highway 6/89 as described in 100 Hikes in Utah by Steve Mann and Rhett Olson. Although we were unable to drive further up the gated access road, the hike to the trailhead was short and easy. Beyond the signed trailhead, we followed a good trail which climbs up Sterling Hollow, the large gully on the south side of Spanish Fork Peak. Views were limited for much of our ascent, but the colourful foliage of maple and oak trees kept us entranced throughout. The trail eventually peters out in an open meadow near tree line, and we simply headed up a steep, grassy slope directly towards the summit. Because of foreshortening, this slope is much longer than it appears, and it seemed to take forever to reach the cairn and metal structure on the summit. After taking an extended break there, we more or less retraced our steps back down the mountain without any issues. I found out later that there are other routes up Spanish Fork Peak which are perhaps a little less mundane than the one we took, but for our purposes, the route described by Mann and Olson fit the bill nicely as a moderately strenuous, no-nonsense climb. We actually got back to our car early enough to drive further south to our next adventure destination.

	Sonny walks up the access road leading to Sterling Hollow (gully at far right). Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak
	There is a bit of a hurdle at the trailhead.
	Despite limited views, the walk through the forest is quite enchanting.
	Zosia pauses for a break during her ascent up Sterling Hollow.
	The trail disappears in this meadow (or possibly heads somewhere to the left). The summit is out of view to the right.
	A herd of elk traverses the slope just below the summit.
	Zosia climbs up the steep slope below the summit.
	Sonny enjoys the view of Utah Lake from the summit. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak
	Zosia and Sonny stand in front of the metal structure on the summit of Spanish Fork Peak (3103 metres).
	To the southwest beyond Wind Rock Ridge are Loafer Mountain and Santaquin Peak (centre).
	Numerous peaks of the Wasatch Range are visible to the northwest including Mount Timpanogos (left of centre on horizon).
	There is a whole lot of nothing but rolling hills to the northeast.
	Sonny descends the trail through a stand of aspen trees. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak
	Total Distance: 13.7 kilometres Round-Trip Time: 6 hours 40 minutes Net Elevation Gain: 1620 metres GPX Data