The Southern Utah Rock Club is off once again for their Spring Rockhounding event. This time in Search of Utah, Topaz at Topaz Mountain, located west of Delta Utah. We've camped and rockhound in the surrounding area before, but this is the first chance that I've had to seriously layout some TOPO maps and capture a list of ranked peaks and exciting sights nearby.

I've marked 13 ranked peaks in the immediate area, including Topaz Mountain. I don't hope to climb all of them this trip, but I'm excited by the prospect of reaching the top of 5-7 peaks over the next three days of hiking.

Linda and Sean left early Thursday morning, taking the RPod trailer and ATV with them in the back of the truck. After work and after I've put together a meal or two for us to enjoy this weekend, I'll follow. In Delta, topping off the gas tank, I receive a text from Linda informing me that the quad is dead. She can jump-start the ATV, but the minute she pulls off the jumper cables, the engine dies. Not off to a good start as these things go, but I'm hopeful it is an easy fix.

Setting up camp, Linda shows me a dozen bug bites she has received already from the swarming nats and mosquitoes. I spray a layer of industrial-strength bug spay over my skin and clothes. I, not Linda, that the bugs usually seem to enjoy, so her having received bites could mean serious trouble for me.

Friday morning, I take the quad back to Delta and replace the battery. We fly helicopters on Mars but can't make an ATV battery that lasts a whole year. I ride the quad around the area and find Sean walking back down the road after a very successful day of rockhounding in the stream beds for Topaz. We enjoy an evening of food and visiting around the trailer with two triple-wick citronella candles burning to help keep the bugs at bay.

Mining activity on the south side of UNP6173

Saturday morning, I load my pack and hiking poles on the ATV and get ready to leave to climb some mountain peaks. My excitement to ascend 5-7 peaks has tapered down to 2-3 as I climb on board the quad. Linda, Sean, and the rest of the rock club are heading to a dig further up the mountain. A local company will blast a site for the group to work. From what Sean said, it will be busting rocks open with hammers and chisels after the blast. Fun.

Hiking the wash to the high saddle of UNP6173

After a short backtrack to get me on the right road, I ride along the bumpy road in front of UNP6173. It is a stunning peak, rugged, rocky, with a clear summit point. I park on a slight rise near the southern side of the mountain. Here a prominent ridgeline and wash create a workable series of shelves through the cliff bands to a high saddle. The way is steep, and the rocky scree makes footing difficult in spots, but the climb is enjoyable, and the view from the high saddle is spectacular.

The mountain top sits directly behind a false summit near the saddle as I cut across the eastern face. Through a short series of rock bands, I reach the top. I drop my pack and take a water bottle when "boom" I hear the first of two 10:00 am blasting that the rock club will be working. I don't see any dust, but I can see directly into the Topaz Mountain "bowl" and spot our group camping site near the entrance from my vantage point.

Downclimbing the wash and rocky scree are more complicated, but I arrive back at the ATV in short order. The ATV path continues south, and I follow the road around two additional peaks listed on my map. These peaks are too large for me to climb today, so I double back at the "Fat Sheep" trail and head toward UNP5740.

UNP6173 summit view of UNP6042 and UNP6658

Another trail leads to a high saddle between UNP5740 and some surrounding minor peaks. Many of these trails exist to help miners reach their claims as I spot several claim markers and open shafts for exploration. Picking up my pack once again, I leave two bottles of water near the quad. This hike should be short and sweet as I make my way along the ridgeline to the summit. The path forms a large "U" shape as a large wash cuts the mountain in half. Almost noon, the temperature is hot as I reach the peak. I don't linger at the summit but take a few pictures and drop down an adjacent ridgeline back to my ride.

Trail view of UNP5740 summit across the wash

The camp is buzzing with excitement after a day's worth of sledgehammer swinging with both Linda and Sean finding exceptional specimens of Topaz. The enthusiasm quickly gives way to exhaustion as everyone retires to their camps for an early bedtime.

At home, Linda and Sean proudly display their hard work

See CalTOPO map of area here.