Bridger Peak

Bridger Peak
County: Rich
Peak elevation: 9,255'
One way hiking distance: ~1 mile
Elevation gain: ~1000'
Date hiked: July 27, 2008

Interesting notes from Summit Post:
"Within Utah, Bridger Peak claims title to the lowest county highpoint, while in the US, it claims title to the highest "runt" county highpoint (Bridger Peak is the highest of the lowest county within a state)."
"Rich county's current population is estimated at 2100 people (2004 census), making it the third lowest in Utah behind Piute, and Dagget counties."
"Rich is also home to Utah's coolest average temperature throughout the county: 41 degrees."

The last statement, about the average temp, was confirmed when we took a tour of Minnetonka Cave while we were staying at Bear Lake last weekend. The tour guide said that the temperature of any cave is the average temperature of the surrounding area above ground. The temp inside the cave was about 40 F.

So the hike was short, but steep for the first half mile or so. I think it took us about 45 minutes to get to the top. We drove on highway 89 on our way home from Bear Lake, where we were staying in a cabin for the weekend with our friends the Grants and the Olsens, and just a mile or so after Bear Lake Summit we went north on Swan Flat Rd. Swan Flat was a pretty good dirt road that takes you clear up to less than a mile from the peak. We parked where we found the ATV trail that heads up the mountain. If you see the sign for the Idaho state line then you've gone too far. So the ATV trail takes you about half the way up the mountain, and when that trail starts to head east, you need to bushwack your way to the top. There aren't a lot of trees to go through, just weeds. I got lots of those stupid seeds that stick to your socks on me. Very annoying. Like SummitPost says, at the top there is a pile of rocks and a register. There was no pen or pencil, so I didn't sign the register. It was also missing its lid. This hike was not really the coolest county highpoint hike, but there are worse. It is something to do while your staying at Bear Lake. This was Milo's first county highpoint! Good job buddy! He did pretty good in his backpack. He started getting fussy on the way to the top, so I took him out and just carried him for about 10 or 15 minutes. He slept for most of the way down.