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Stump Hollow - Peter Sinks, 22 September, 2024
Eight hikers (Dave W, Jane, Dave P, Kamren, Susan, Teresa, Brent, and Ralph (leader)) met at Smith’s Marketplace and carpooled 28 miles through Logan Canyon to the Beaver Junction Picnic Area & Winter Trailhead parking lot. After donning our gear, we began the hike at about 9:00 am.
After crossing the highway, we took a group photo at the Stump Hollow Trailhead and noticed frost on the ground. The air temperature was chilly but provided almost perfect hiking conditions. As we began the hike, we encountered a couple hikers and a few bikers, including bikers on e-bikes that are illegal on this trail. About a quarter mile up the trail we diverted to the newer trail bypassing the drainage bottom used by mountain bikers. The two sections merge after about 2/3 of a mile. The trail winds its way through the mixed forest of lodgepole pine, aspen and Douglas Fir. The group stopped a few times along the initial climb to view the fall colors and some of the peaks of the Bear River Range to the west. After two long switchbacks, a climb of about 1300 feet, and about 3 miles we emerged onto a ridge overlooking Brush and Logan Canyons. A short time before we reached the ridge, we encountered a motorcyclist who was on this non-motorized trail and had him turn back.
We stopped for a short rest and enjoyed great views of the Bear River Range. Easily observable were Mount Jardine, Mount Elmer, Naomi Peak, Mount Gog, Mount Magog, Steam Mill Peak, and Doubletop Mountain. Bright yellow aspen and red canyon maple leaves decorated the mountain sides of the Bear River Range.
We continued along the ridge for about another 1.25 miles to the high point above Peter Sinks and then down to Peter Sinks. Peter Sinks sits at an elevation of 8,164 feet and is a natural limestone sinkhole about one-half mile in diameter. It has no outlet to drain water or air so cold air pools in the basin on calm, cloudless nights. It is one of the coldest places in the contiguous United States. The lowest temperature of -69.3 ºF was recorded in 1985. After reaching a large cairn along the trail within the sink, we found a spot with nice-sized rock seating to eat lunch. We started lunch at about 12:30 and spent about 30 minutes before we began our return trip. The temperature within Peter Sinks was 24°F at 5:00 am this morning but was about 60°F as we ate lunch.
On the return we encountered another lost motorcyclist on the trail. We stopped at a patch of aspen that was not noticed on the way up but showed bright yellow leaves from the sun angle in the afternoon. The group took the opportunity to mark the new section of trail at the bottom so we could more easily identify the trail for upcoming winter snowshoe outings. We arrived at the parking lot about 3:40 pm and returned to Logan.
While on the hike we encountered two hikers, several mountain bikers and a couple of motorcyclists. Wildlife encountered during the day included chipmunks, ravens, red-tailed hawks, and a grouse that accompanied us for a short section of the trail.
Trip Summary:
- Eight hikers: Brent J., Dave W, Dave P, Jane, Kamren, Susan, Teresa, and Ralph (leader).
- Drove 28 miles to the Beaver Junction Picnic Area and Winter Trailhead
- Started hiking at 9:00 am; lunch from 12:30 to 1:00 pm; completed hike at 3:40 pm.
- Great hiking conditions: bluebird day, mild temperatures, fall colors, little to no wind and no bugs.
- Approximately 9.8 miles and 1,600 feet of elevation gain
Thanks
to Ralph for the narrative, photos and GPS data, and
Dave P, Dave W, and Jane for photos..
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| The Stump
Hollow trailhead |
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| We avoided
ruts and berms of the old jeep trail (left) by
walking on the lesser-used "official" trail
alignment (right) |
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| A couple of
tree stands overlooked a trailside spring |
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| Admiring distant peaks of the Bear
River Range |
White Pine Canyon with Mt. Magog
(left) and Mt. Gog (right) |
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| Mount Gog and "Bullen Hole Peak" |
Doubletop Mountain |
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| The main ridge of the Bear River Range | |||
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| New features:
a cairn marking a route to Horse Lake and an
unauthorized mountain bike trail not far from
Peter Sinks |
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| Approaching Peter Sinks |
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| Our lunch spot overlooking the sinks | |||
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| Grouse |
Raven |
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| Blue and gold | |||
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| More fall
colors |
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| Signs near the
trailhead clearly identify this as a "NO E-BIKE"
trail |
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Our GPS track shows about 9.8 miles
and.1600 feet of ascent.
You can look at our route using Google
Earth or download our GPS file.
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