Seeking home: looking southwest toward Provo canyon
Above the steep narrow chute that I have privately nicknamed 'wall street' the trail levels and heads south. This provides our first glimpse south into Provo Canyon -- at least it does on the days that Provo is visible. A few years ago I climbed up here with my cell phone and a small hand signal mirror. I called my kids and told them to look at the peak, then used the mirror (no more than two inches by three inches) to send flashes at my home. The kids excitedly reported that they could clearly see the flashes on the mountain peak. Imagine, a redirected patch of sunlight no bigger than the palm of my hand is clearly visible for many miles! Sunshine is powerful stuff.
The sun is clear and strong where I am today, but I cannot see my home below. As I watch, the smoke seems to be curling stronger and thicker even around the high peak where I stand.
From this point the trail ascends in long open switchbacks to the summit. One of the switchbacks carries hikers to within about 20 yards of the north edge of the mountain. A short side trip will put me on a ledge just below the summit with a view back to the east. I decide to look again at the mountains behind me.