Big Springs Hollow Trail Nr. 059 – Professor on the Run

Shingle Mill Peak for my Birthday

July 22, 2018 professorontherun

It was my birthday today and although I don’t usually go out on Sundays my family was out of town and I was all by myself. So, I gave myself a peak for my bday. My plan was to tag Cascade Mountain. But dang, the climb up from Big Springs to the Cascade Saddle just killed me. I was so hot, so low on energy. When I got to the saddle and looked at how far away the peak was, I knew I didn’t have it in me. Bummer. After resting for a few minutes at the saddle I looked south and thought that Freedom or Shingle Mill Peaks looked doable. I headed off, missed the trail turn off and ended up following some terraces and then shwhacking up to the saddle between the two peaks. The ridge going up Freedom looked too sketchy for a solo outting. Class 3 climbing. So, I worked my way up to Shingle Mill, finding some cairns to follow along the way. A fun little peak. On the way down I took the north ridge – much better route than what I took up. I bombed down to Big Springs a bit too fast, beat my quads up good.

From the Cascade Saddle, looking north to the actual Cascade Summit

Looking south from the Cascade Saddle. Freedom Peak in the center (sun on it, rock/scree front) and Shingle Mill to its left

Freedom Peak ridge from the saddle to the north. Maybe with a friend, but wasn’t going to tackle it solo for my first summit.

Nice summit cairn on Shingle Mill Peak, looking east

SW, looking at Freedom Peak from Shingle Mill Peak

Looking North at the Cascade ridgeline from Shingle Mill Peak

Up and Over the Cascade Saddle

October 21, 2017 professorontherun

I live under the shadow of Cascade Mountain and one of my goals this year was to summit it. It is a long haul though – with a 5-7 mile approach to the saddle and then 3 miles up a trail-less ridgeline to the summit. That means a minimum of 16 miles roundtrip. With little water access, I was leaving this for the fall when the temps dropped. It looks like I waited too long though – or didn’t time it right.

Another history professor joined me for our morning start at Big Springs. About a mile up the Big Spring Hollow Trail we hit snow but it wasn’t bad – 2 inches max in the shady spots. We made it up the 7 miles to the saddle and the views were great. Unfortunately, the 1-2 inches of snow on the ridgeline made it pretty slick. All of the rocks that might turn ankles were slippery. Moreover, the main ridgeline was up in the clouds. We opted to call it a day with the saddle. Instead of going back down the east side, we dropped down into Rock Canyon. Gorgeous, but such a rough crummy trail in parts. It would be fine for hiking but annoying to run on.

Looking up towards the saddle from the Big Springs side.

Some Slow and Easy Rehab Runs

August 18, 2015 professorontherun

With muscle relaxants doing their work, I was advised to try some easy slow runs. The Dr. didn’t have to ask me twice!

Thursday I hit the some Orem/Lindon BST. It was great to get out and move, but I did it in the heat of the day and the temps really got to me!

Feeling good, I tried a new place on Friday – up Provo Canyon and to Big Springs, on the backside of the Cascade Ridge. I went up the Big Springs / Shingle Mills Trail and down the Big Springs Hollow Trail.

I picked the east side of the mtns in hopes of finding some more afternoon shade. Oops. The first mile was out in the open sun! A nice breeze kept me a lot cooler than the day before.

Looking up the canyon towards Big Spring

Monday night I tried out some twisty mtn. bike trails above Lindon. It was a BLAST! Between all the twists and turns, there was a lot of flattish runnable terrain. I will definitely add this loop to my regular rotation.

Professor on the Run

The Trail-Running Autobiography of a History Professor Who Thought He Hated Running

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