Everest Ridge is most well known as a popular winter mountaineering route in Utah County. It’s one of the most prominent ridges on the Timpanogos Massif. It’s become more and more popular to do when it is dry in the summer. The route entails of starting at Dry Canyon Trailhead in Orem at around 5,500 feet of altitude. Go up the Dry Canyon trail through a dramatic rocky canyon and follow the trail to the saddle of Big Baldy. From here you have a few options, start bushwhacking up the mountain to get to the standard route, or you can traverse along the terraces into the drainage just South of the ridge and find a “trail” that will take you onto the ridge. Once on the ridge you’ll find a few third to fourth class scrambles that are easily bypassed. At around 11,500 feet in altitude you’ll hit the crux of the route, an imposing 15 foot cliff band. In the winter most people traverse around it but when it’s dry the scree is too unstable and would be more dangerous. After scrambling up this and doing another scramble that is easier and shorter, you’ll run into a trail. Follow the trail North and you’ll reach the summit shack. Most people will go down the backside trails and hitch a ride or shuttle back to their start point in the valley. This route is just retracing your route back down to the Trailhead. Everyone’s route may differ from the saddle to around 9,500 feet of altitude. The main thing is doing the ridge and tagging the saddle of Big Baldy on the way up while starting and ending at the Dry Canyon Trailhead.
