American Fork Twin Peaks

American Fork Twin Peaks was a fun summit I sneaked into a family outing while we were at the Snowbird Ski Area Oktoberfest. We took the gondola up 3,000 feet to the top of Hidden Peak, where I left the family for the summit. I would meet them afterward in the kid's area down at the base. American Fork Twin is the highest peak in Salt Lake County, so it gets a bit of attention. I was a bit apprehensive about climbing it from this direction because I'd heard stories of it being steep and difficult class 3 climb.

The first step up Twin Peaks is the hardest, paying to get on a gondola ride. If you are a traditionalist, feel free to hike to the top of Hidden Peak, a 3, 000 foot gain. My mentality is always to take mans ingenuity whether it is a road, trail or gondola to the highest point. At the top of Hidden Peak, drop down a few hundred feet and start along the ridgeline. A trail exists most of the way along this ridge top. Before the real climbing begins, you'll hit the most difficult section, a few narrow rocky areas with a bit of exposure. Once past, you begin to climb up the north ridge. I thought the exposure was minimal with nice big rocks to work with and a trail in many areas. If you took the gondola, you should have lots of energy making quick work of this. At the top, you're on the lesser eastern peak. Drop down to the west on gentle terrain to a saddle, then ascending to the true summit. On top you are the highest thing in the region so enjoy.

Drive to the Snowbird ski area up Little Cottonwood Canyon. Have a bratwurst and get on the gondola. Enjoy this comfortable ride with a bunch of tourist yakking about the beauty of the Wasatch Mountains.