Delano Peak

Overview: Delano Peak is a semi-strenuous day hike of about 4-5 miles round trip.  The typical elevation gain/loss is about 1,500 feet in about two miles.  The hike is not technical at all.

Where: Drive to Beaver on interstate I-15 head to the center of town and turn East onto highway 153  through a pretty canyon along the Beaver River for 16 miles to FS road 123, known as the Big John Flat road.  It is roughly 5 miles to the Big John Flat campground and restroom area.  There isn't an official trail head but I have hiked it two times both from different starting places. The first time we hike up Griffin Creek and the second Poison Creek.



When: Depending on the year Big John Flat Road may not open until mid July due to snow drifts once open Delano is hike-able until first snow in the fall.


Hike Summary: Every summer I try to climb at least one peak. My first year with this goal Renee and I hiked Wheeler Peak in Great Basin National Park, the next summer Cody Thompson and I did Delano, this year Renee and I have hiked Yellow Rock and now Brandon Garner and I just peak bagged the +12,000 foot Delano Peak.  Delano is one of the higher peaks in Utah outside of the Uintas and is the highest in the Tushar Mountain Range.  The hike was spectacular and semi strenuous as we gained over 1,500 feet in under 2 miles. The highlights of hiking Delano are 360 views of the Tushar Mountains including more the more famous although slightly lower peaks of Belknap, Holly and Baldy. If fortunate, as we were, you might sneak upon the Mountain Goat herds who live near Delano.

From Delano

Looking at Mount Belknap from Delano.

 Brandon and Myself at the top.

MOUNTAIN GOATS

DELANO PEAK

After nearly a one month hiatus from the amazing outdoor scene of Southern Utah, I was finally able to return to the wilderness. I decided to repeat, well repeat the same concept, of last Julys camping trip but rather than Great Basin National Park we drove to the closer Beaver Canyon/Tushar Mountain Range. The camping was awesome we basically had a campground to ourselves. Nobody within sight, right next to a lake. I sat gazing at the lake while I read The Monkey-Wrench Gang. What a perfect moment!

The highlight of the trip though was to summit the 6th highest peak(I stand corrected it is not near the 6th highest in Utah whoops good thing I have such informed commentators!) in Utah, Delano Peak. I read a review that said it was an easy hike, one of the easiest peaks in the Tushar Range. With that thought I convinced Renee that we could haul up Niah, and Rachel and Cody could haul up Emma. I did not think they would make it up all the way and they didnt, thankfully as it was a much harder hike than I had anticipated. Niah and Renee made it to above 11,000 ft. After Renee turned around Cody and I slowly continued to the top.

I summitted first, (summit sounds much cooler than saying it was a long up hill hike), signed the log book, and took some pictures. Then I sat for a couple minutes and just took it all in. Summitting peaks is an amazing experience. Its hard to breath, your legs are burning and your body tells you to stop, and give up, but upon summit everything is worthwhile and one of the greatest feelings of satisfaction I have experienced. Truly it is a mind over body moment!

Cody, a couple minutes later, also made it to the top, but at this point with a slight sprinkle and strong wind gusts we did not have much time to enjoy the peak. Instead we descended several hundred feet. At the peak Cody saw the herd of mountain goats that live on the mountain and we decided to try to get a closer view. This was after Cody decided to be possibly the first person to make a snow angel at over 12,000 feet. We snuck to within about 30 yards of the mountain goats before the discovered us and began to move away.

Once I read an article about survival tips and it mentioned that hikers who summit are more likely to die on the descent rather than the summit. Often people set a goal to make it to the peak so when after the have achieved the goal the let their guard down. Even with this knowledge, Cody and I had a difficult time getting off the mountain! We were mentally tired, and physically exhausted and because of this fell times, fortunately like I said this was not a technical climb just a steep hike and so we made it back with minor bruises, blisters and cuts!

Niah and myself just before her and Renee turned around













Flora and Fauna