CASCADE--DNF
13 miles round-trip (via Rock Canyon, 2 miles? from the Summit)
5,201 Elevation Gain
Lived in Utah County practically all my life and have never gone to the summit of Cascade mountain--been on it, around it, up & down much of it, but never to the top of it.
Starting from the Rock Canyon trailhead (this lower access vs starting from Squaw Peak road adds about 3 miles one way to the trip) I ran this entire section climbing about 1,700 ft, 3 miles to Squaw Peak road then to the trail heading up toward Provo Peak and cirque.
I've never particularly enjoyed this section of trail (Kat'cina Mosa follows this same route)--hot, exposed and too steep for running. Relegated to power hiking, I continued up another 2,000 ft and a couple miles until the trail takes a big southern loop toward Provo Peak before heading back north to the ridge. I opted to head straight up (left-north) the terraces to the ridge. The straight up route involved some bush whacking and an extremly steep, rocky, and dustry climbing for another 1,000 ft.
Getting to the ridge I headed west to the base of the Cascade mountain ridge and traverse which leads to the top. At this point I realized I was in trouble. I had been running/hiking for about 7 miles/ and coming up on 3 hours, peeing copper and only about 1/2 a bottle of water left. The summit was about 2 miles and 1,000 ft from my location. I was hot, tired and falling apart. I had been rationing water and already dehydrated and did not feel right about going for the summit without more water.
I stopped, phoned a friend and asked them to check the net to see if they could find any information about water sources near the Cascade summit. As suspected, we found nothing.
As much as I hate quitting anything, I continued on another half mile to get a better look at the traverse, turned around and headed back.
Summit in the distance--would have to wait for another day.
The retreat was a fast descent the same way as I came up. I was glad to get water once back in Rock Canyon. Drank 2 bottles right on the spot, douced myself and wrapped it up.
Cascade is a long tough hike. Next time more water, more food and more time. Oh, I hate that hike--agghhh! | 