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How bad is climbing in summer at Wasatch range?

Original Post
G-Raw · · making my way to the sticks · Joined Jan 2013 · Points: 107

Pretty much as the title implies...I'm trying to make my way out to Wasatch area mid July early August. Wondering if it is worth it to stop for a few days and get some climbing in or will it be so miserably hot that I should just keep going out west? Thanks for any insight.

BigNobody · · all over, mostly Utah · Joined Nov 2013 · Points: 10

High country climbing only. IE: Uintas and over 8500k. You can chase shade lower but it's still sweaty.

Mike Marmar · · Salt Lake City, UT · Joined Aug 2013 · Points: 67

High alpine areas like Uintas, Lone Peak, Hellgate, Tanners Gulch, Sundial, Red Pine, Hogum should all be good. Lower little cottonwood will be fine as long as it's not during a heatwave and you chase shade. Also some good shady spots in big cottonwood.

Stuart Ritchie · · Aurora, CO · Joined Dec 2007 · Points: 1,725

Notch Peak!

jacob m s · · Provo, Utah · Joined Apr 2011 · Points: 135

AF canyon can also be good if you stick near the river and chase the shade. Maple can be pretty good during the summer as well.

William Kramer · · Kemmerer, WY · Joined Jun 2013 · Points: 935

Early morning is good down low in the Cottonwoods during the hot months, been climbing in the Ogden area a lot this year, and it's been hot, but has had a nice cool wind that keeps your hands dry. Was just in the Uinta's this last weekend, was in the high 70's low 80's.

BigNobody · · all over, mostly Utah · Joined Nov 2013 · Points: 10
Mike Marmar wrote:High alpine areas like Uintas, Lone Peak, Hellgate, Tanners Gulch, Sundial, Red Pine, Hogum should all be good. Lower little cottonwood will be fine as long as it's not during a heatwave and you chase shade. Also some good shady spots in big cottonwood.
Err, if I remember correctly Hellgate faces south. You'd have to be up mighty early and plan on a short day. Lower Little is good from about 5am to 9am tops. It's been awhile since I tried to frizzle in that canyon in summer though.
Mike Marmar · · Salt Lake City, UT · Joined Aug 2013 · Points: 67

Good point about hellgate...could be tough on any day above 70 up there.

For lower lcc, there are lots of shady gullies that can be reasonably comfortable to climb up into the 80s.

Greg Gavin · · SLC, UT · Joined Oct 2008 · Points: 888

Tons of routes to do around Storm Mountain in BCC in the heat of the summer.

Tristan Mayfield · · SLC, UT · Joined Feb 2013 · Points: 345

I usually climb AF starting at about 7am and can go till 11am or noon. I did LCC the other day during that time and I thought it was fine as well.

BrokenChairs 88 · · Denver, CO · Joined Feb 2015 · Points: 240

Totally worth stopping in as long as you're not in the direct sun you can find places to climb. Pentapitch area, Coal Pit, anything up high like Mike said, Ferguson Canyon, The Sundial, etc just chase shade, altitude or start early. Stiffler's Mom on Coal Pit gets shade after 2 and is a great route and just a few hundred feet and one pitch up away is Sasquatch. Also there's Industrial Wall which stays pretty cool as well as Maybird Slide Area.

sfotex · · Sandy, UT · Joined Jul 2007 · Points: 225

Devil's Castle, Broads Fork, The Pile, Cecret Lake, White Pine....

ddriver · · SLC · Joined Jul 2007 · Points: 2,084

Mike was right the first time. Don't be afraid of lower and mid canyon climbing. Even with sun exposure Hellgate (~8600 ft) is generally fine.

G-Raw · · making my way to the sticks · Joined Jan 2013 · Points: 107

Thanks all for the replies. All helpful.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Northern Utah & Idaho
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