Logan Peak Run 2009

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Rich contemplating the salty lake near the northern terminus of Stansbury Island

Stansbury Island Traverse

November 2009

It was about time I made it back and ticked this sucker off. Ever since my abortive attempt three years ago (account here) the Stansbury Island Traverse has burrowed under my skin, providing me no end to irritation for not completing it. The problem was the shuttle- I didn’t have one and I new the thought of having to (again) run the length back to my truck was a bit overkill. It would have been a good run (or bike ride)… but I was worried about being shot by locals. I mentioned it in passing to Rich one day and he was excited, offering to drive out there with me. Perfect- the deal was set and late fall proved to be the perfect season.

The short drive from Salt Lake went quick enough and I was happy to find a non-private parking lot near the north end of the island to leave Rich’s car. Driving the shuttle back to the south end reminded me how big Stansbury Island actually is. Albeit only about 10 miles in length it felt rather massive reaching out of the evaporation ponds to the west. We stashed my truck at the south end of the island and started climbing. We ran into some guys hunting chuckers about a mile in and tried not to get shot. In a short distance we split from the hunters and climbed the high peak on the south end of the island (the “spiny peak”) and then trucked on north catching them a bit further as they turned back for better chucker terrain.

The miles leading up to Castle Rock are mostly mellow, rolling with grass and occasional rock outcrops. But as you being to ascend towards the peak, the scrambling picks up and things get more exciting. Rich soloed a short 5.7 crack in incredible quartzite with ease. The geology if the island is incredibly interesting- shifting back and forth from limestone to quartzite. The quartzite is stellar but broken, and the limestone is inevitably sharp with short cliffs. Passing Castle Rock and the other minor summit, we continued north into the divide leading to Stansbury Peak (or Stansbury Dome?). The terrain is funky, with a bit of somewhat difficult scrambling. We found an efficient path that had eluded me last time and required a unnecessary drop and climb.

We reached the burned summit of Stansbury and found it exactly as I remembered- cold and tired, with an odd wind break and odd wood debris. The summit log was soaked through, but found my previous entry was one of the last. Apparently either no one climbs the peak or the paper has been wet a long time (or yeah… no one signs in). A brief rest led us down the steep north slope of the peak and to my previous far point. I felt about the same as the last time (tired and cold)- just happy to have a car at the north end instead of only back at the south. Without the shuttle I surely would have contemplated skipping out early again. Rich was going strong so we cranked onward, enjoying the late afternoon sun. Being out in the middle of the Great Salt Lake, the scenery was incredible with Antelope Island on the right, Lakeside Mountains on the left, and the dead blue of the briny water straight ahead. The quartzite boulders glowed in the fall sun and we spooked a few chuckers (if only our friends the hunters were there…). A couple more miles found us at the shores of the salted Great Lake and a bit further to Rich’s car. The nice speedy shuttle definitely beat a long hike back to the south end. Overall, a great hike with fantastic company and scenery. Thanks Rich!

A general map of our route HERE

A Google Earth image of our route HERE

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