Sand Peak-the cruel way April 6, 2008

With a reasonable start time of 7 AM, SirloinofBeef and Wimpy set out to conquer the mighty Sand Peak.  We decided on a circuitous route so that Wimpy could finally bag City Creek Peak on the way.  After a quick drive by the home of Falsebeard and SirLeeBastard, we started our hike from the Ensign Peak Trailhead.  The trail was relatively clear of snow and would have allowed for a quick hike if not for the aerobic conditioning of Wimpy.  Many ‘Views’ (ie. rest break) were enjoyed on the way to the summit of City Creek Peak.  After passing the turnoff for Ensign Peak we were treated to two herds of Deer trotting by.  The first group consisted of more than 10 deer and elicited comments from both hikers about ‘Wow that is a lot of Deer’.  Much to our suprise, this herd of animals was quickly followed by a second group that was at least 25-30 Deer in number.  It has been a rough winter for Deer, Elk and Moose, but all the Deer appeared to be in good shape.  After several false summits, we gained the real summit of City Creek Peak and broke out ‘The Boy'(singular).  Since this peak had been previously climbed by SirloinofBeef, only Wimpy ate the requisite Cheeseburger.  The Cheeseburger consisting of a delicious Beef patty a creamy slice of Manchego goat cheese surrounded by a flowered bun and spiced with Smoked Paprika. Yum! After summiting City Creek Peak we took a wandering pathway back down to the Bonneville Shoreline Trail.  No one who has read this site before, will be suprised to find out that completely unnecessary bushwacking was performed.  As we wandered along the Bonneville Shoreline Trail north of Sand Peak, two hikers with a dog warned us that we should hurry as it had begun to snow.  Remembering the rallying cry of mountaineers Joe Tasker and Peter Boardman ‘Wind and Snow are best confronted’, we chose to forge onto Sand Peak.  It should be duly noted, that Peter Boardman and Joe Tasker died in 1982 on the North-North East Ridge of Everest (in a snowstorm).  Both Tasker and Boardman were authors and published some of the finest books on Alpine Mountaineering including ‘Everest the Cruel Way’.  As we pushed on southward, the looming profile of Sand Peak came into view.  We turned off from the main trail and reached the summit in about a minute of leasurely walking.  We were treated to views of the valley, the great salt lake and Antelope Islane.  We quickly broke out ‘The Boys’ and enjoyed SirloinofBeefs Cheeseburger creations.  Afterwards we followed the trail down to the neighborhood houses and back to the car to complete and elegant loop.

Summits: SirloinofBeef 1 (Sand Peak), Wimpy, 2 (City Creek Peak and Sand Peak)