Trip Report
I was in Vegas for a software conference. I had planned on doing Charleston Peak. However, Charleston Peak got a lot of snow the week before and had remaining snow from the winter... that snow just got hit with temperatures in the 70's and 80's for 3 or 4 days. Reports from those that had been up there was that the snow was slurpy at best. With a day forecast to be in the 70's above 10,000 feet again, it was time to find something else.
I settled on Zion in Utah. However, I noticed Brian Head Peak in Utah wasn't that far off course. So I headed to Brian Head first, then did Angels Landing in Zion that afternoon.
Brian Head Peak is county highpoint of Iron County, Utah. It sports 3,785' of prominence, which give it 360 degree views. The top houses a rock shelter built in 1935.
Brian Head Peak is fairly easy to climb. During ski season, one can get to within 400' of the top on a ski lift. During the summer, a road reaches the summit.
However, I was climbing during neither of those seasons and thus had to do a REAL route to the top ;-).
I parked at Mammoth Summit off of UT-143 at around 10400'. I then snowshoed the snow covered road across the flats. Once on the peak itself, I turned north and climbed the ridge to the summit. Around 11000', I removed my snow shoes, as the wind had blown the snow off the peak from there to the summit.
The summit was a very flat area. The day was very clear and the views were great in every direction. The Cedar Breaks to the south were gorgeous! The day was warm, probably in the 50's with no wind.
On descent, I stuck to the south ridge the whole way. Not only was this more direct, but it also enabled me to leave my snowshoes off until I reached the flats and the final 1/2 mile of the hike.
Round trip for the peak was about 1 hour and 30 minutes, keeping me well on pace for my next adventure in Zion.
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