Blue Peak, King of the Northern Oquirrhs

At 9360 feet, Blue Peak (a.k.a. Nelson Peak) is not the most impressive peak in the state, nor is it even the highest peak in the Oquirrh Mountains - which divide the Salt Lake and Tooele Valleys. But being the high point above my hometown of Erda, I often daydreamed about climbing to the top of the peak's angled massive ledge of blue limestone. I again summitted Blue Peak on July 4th via Bates Canyon on the west side of the range, which would be about my third time on top.

There is still this huge stone structure on top and I still can't figure out its purpose. The view into the copper pit to the south is always impressive.
A closer look at Blue Peak's massive cliff of Pennsylvanian limestone. It's chock-full of fossilized sea shells - it's hard to imagine this used to be at the bottom of a warm, tropical sea.

There were more types of wildflowers than I could keep track of and they were often waist deep.

Still a patch of snow or two near the top.
The old Bates Canyon jeep road. The BLM closed the canyon to motorized vehicles several years ago and it has now reverted to a narrow singletrack and is perfect for travel on a mountain bike.
Above is what's left of the larger Bates cabin - completely burned away except for the tin roof. This is what the cabin looked like about two years ago. Just 15 years ago this cabin was in excellent repair and a good place to spend the night, if you could handle the mice scurrying across your face!

Below are a few of my favorite images of where I will always call home:

Click the play button to see a panoramic view from Blue Peak.