In early September I spent a week hiking several Utah prominence peaks and sampling Utah mountain ranges I had not yet visited. After hiking Abajo Peak I headed for Mount Ellen in the remote Henry Mountains south of Hanksville, Utah. Mount Ellen is an “ultra prominence peak” with 5842 feet of prominence. With 11522 feet of elevation it is the highest peak in the Henry Mountains.

I approached the Henry Mountains with some apprehension. I was not concerned about the summit route – I expected it to be a quite straightforward ridge walk. Instead, I was concerned with the remoteness of the range, the long drive on dirt and rock roads, and the possible isolation from help if I had mechanical issues.

I had good driving directions with me. After topping off fuel, I stopped at the BLM Office in Hanksville to learn more about the route and road conditions. The BLM staff assured me that the western approach road was in good shape and the easiest on tires. I left word with Linda that if I did not check back in with her in two days that she might call the BLM office to request they check on me.

I found the western approach road and began the drive in. The trailhead at Bull Creek Pass lies in the notch on the ridge near the center of the above photo. Mount Ellen, the high point of the Henry Mountains, is the broad summit left of that notch. The pointy peak to the left of Mount Ellen is Mount Ellen Peak. The trailhead lies 24 road miles from the highway. That afternoon I was driving in 19 miles to the McMillan Spring Campground to find a campsite.

[Read more…] about Mount Ellen, Utah, September 2015