Tibble Fork to Alpine via Dry Creek-Deer Creek Trail and Box Elder Summit
Left the truck at the Alpine trailhead and got dropped off at Tibble Fork reservoir. Spent a few minutes in the parking lot with the forest service reps asking some questions about the trails and options. Ran up the road to the Granite Flats campground and jumped on trail #44.
Nice climb gaining approx 2,000 ft in the first two miles. Hit snow at about 8,000 ft. Continued climbing until trails drops down into a ravine and crosses a stream from the above slide area and snow field. The trail from this point as described by the ranger heads down canyon and southeast. It was hard to pick out the trail through the snow field. I found and lost it several times before losing it for good and had no idea where the trail headed up to the ridge. I retraced my steps back to the ravine where I had seen a track from someone sliding down the couloir and decided to head straight up.
I was somewhat nervous about traveling on the snowpack this time of year, coupled by the water which could be heard running underneath. I was careful and stayed to the more solid sections. About halfway up at a rocky ledge I stumbled on an exposed large buck mostly decomposed. Two of four large points on one side had broken off but the other side remained intact and attached to the bleached out skull. I carefully removed the skull from the spine and tied it to the back my Ultraspire backpack and continued on following a set of large cat tracks to the ridge.
From here the summit was only 1,000 ft up (11, 100) navigating around cornices and traveling up the skree slope. The summit offers spectacular views of Timpanogos, Lone Peak range , Pfifferhorn, etc., etc. From here I wasn't sure of the best way down but noticed a trail far below to the southwest that would eventually get me going the right way.
I choose to ski (on my shoes) down what some of the locals call the "sleigh run." The Sleigh Run is a field of snow about half a mile long right down the face. Its super steep and a lot of fun screaming down.
Box Elder Bug on Box Elder Peak at 10,500 ft. Ironic...I don't think so.
After hitting dirt again, the trail travels north and east around Box Elder Peak before heading down canyon. Surprisngly, there's still a ton of snow at the 8-9,000 ft level and traveling along the traverse was fun but difficult with the mud and snow.
Finally, the trail hits beautiful Community Meadow (?) and connects up with and heads down the Dry Creek-Deer Creek trail. I got some strange looks as I worked my way down to the more popular Horsetail Falls sections with my deer skull tied to my back. After a couple miles of good running I hit the trailhead and my truck.
Great day on the trail and first time on Box Elder. Est. 5,000 + vert. Only 11 miles but great climbs and a little more than 5 hours. Highly recommend.
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