My wife and kids were away visiting family today, so I figured I would take advantage of the time to climb something, and my friend Matt and I were going to climb the Sundial Peak up Big Cottonwood, but he cancelled on me. I was having the hardest time deciding where to go, and after I got off work I changed my clothes and still didn't know where I was going. I ended up driving to the trailhead for Mt. Wire because I feel very comfortable doing it solo.
It was very hot and within 10 minutes I was hiking alone and couldn't see anyone else on the trail at all. I took off my shirt to soak up the rays and it felt great. My knee has been a touch sore, so I didn't want to push at all, and I didn't. I made it to the top in 57:00, which isn't bad at all, especially since I wasn't pushing it hard. There was a guy leaving the summit and he was the first person I saw on the hike. I stayed on top for about 15 minutes checking out the views and I decided to head over to bag Red Butte and pick up some more miles because my knee was feeling good.
I ran the ridge over to Red Butte and felt just a tiny bit of soreness in the knee, but nothing serious. I cruised over the ridge and then stopped at the summit for a few minutes to watch an eagle soaring right over the top.
The hike down is steep, so I took it a little slow and then when I got down the the Living Room, which a bunch of furniture made of rocks, I took the trail that heads left down into drainage. Jun and I had run this the last time we were there and it was fun. I ran the whole way down and made decent time. I passed a few hikers coming up and then once I was down I ran on the BST back to the car. I did stop the last 1/4 mile to walk because I didn't want to push it too hard.
This is just what I needed today. Total time: 2:15 | 