The Red Hill

Every place I've lived has one -- some topographically dominant feature that can be seen anywhere in town. In the area I grew up in, it was Blue Peak. I remember sitting in 7th grade health class and having a perfect unobstructed view out the classroom window at the massive blue cliff standing above all else, and imagining what it would be like to stand on top.

Every time I'd drive into Cache Valley where I went to school for several years, I would size up Logan Peak, planning the best route up.

In Las Vegas, Frenchman Mountain was the setting for many adventurous daydreams.

Over the years, I've often thought that the Native Americans that lived in these same valleys for centuries also must have looked up to these same places with awe and wonderment, and that they too desired to see what awaited the beholder on top.



Well, if you've ever been to Cedar City, the first thing to grab your attention is what is officially called The Red Hill. It isn't the tallest peak around, but its blood-red color and its abrupt rising just east of town make it quite imposing. I've hiked all around the thing, seeing it from just about every angle, but I never attempted to scale it until now. With the abundance of rock art and other artifacts in the surrounding area, I had a hunch that there might be something special up on top.



The ascent is fairly straight forward from the west side of the peak with just a bit of bouldering near the top.

I couldn't believe my eyes when I pulled myself up onto the tallest block of sandstone along the summit and found an ancient, worn spiral glyph carved into the stone. I also couldn't believe that some one had been so careless to have painted graffiti right over the top of it!



It was a great hike anyway, and the steep and snowy backside descent into a scenic little strike valley was a blast.

Stop thinking about what lies on top of that majestic peak outside your office window, and resolve to climb it. You never know what you might find.