Blog | Alex Strickland

A few more photos from the hike to the summit of Mt. Olympus last weekend. All converted to black and white.

Mount Olympus may not be the tallest peak in Utah, or even the Wasatch front, for that matter. But it’s the most dominant feature in the ring of mountains that surround the city, and it’s a damn tough hike. Three miles up, gaining 4,250 feet along the way, followed by a knee-jarring descent down the same route.

After a very nice trip along one of Utah’s most famous autumn drives last year, we knew we’d have to come back. The trees have been a bit parched and so weren’t treated to an incredible color display, but it was still an impressive road.

Riding in or around Park City, UT means riding at or around 8,000-10,000 feet. That’s all well and good, except when you’re out of shape to begin with. A few frames from a nice — if exhausting — ride.

Fall may be arriving a bit ahead of schedule here in Utah, but it sure is pretty.

Went up to Park City yesterday not realizing it was the penultimate stage of the Tour of Utah. We were there in time to catch the pro race, and so got to see the big boys ride insanely fast on a narrow criterium course around downtown Park City. Utah native Jeff Louder took the top spot after a pretty dominating performance and American Levi Leipheimer — Go Montana! — retained the overall lead heading into today’s final stage.

Cruised out to my city’s namesake tonight to wedge myself in between the wedding and fashion photographers for a few landscape shots. The crazy landscape and nice light make it a natural location for a certain style of photo, but I can’t help but feel bad for the models and soon-to-be-newlyweds who have to spend time out there. It smells a bit like you’re at the beach… in hell. The salt flats are so dry (and sulfuric) that if you accidentally kick up a bit of the surface, it sounds like glass shattering. Not exactly inviting.

With snow melting out of the high country pretty fast now, the first real hike of the year took me up Utah’s Grandeur Peak. At 8,299 ft. above sea level and only about 3 miles from a paved road, it’s considered one of the easiest summits around Salt Lake City and still provides a spectacular view. Also did a bit of riding this week, which has left me with a partially torn MCL and doctor’s orders to have no fun for the next few weeks.

Photos all taken w/ a Nikon 10.5mm fisheye lens, which I borrowed for the weekend.

So, the lens wasn’t technically wide enough to get the moon too. But it was still an awfully pretty scene.