Hikes with Hal
Photography: Courtesy of Hal Compton
As Park City’s ski season winds down and another hiking season approaches, I relish and appreciate our four distinct seasons. For me, the thrill of skiing or snowboarding down the trails and slopes has worn thin! I long for a leisurely hike through a pine forest on trails lined with wildflowers and green plants of every variety.
My passion for hiking began in 1972 in Southern California, where I had a 31-year career with GTE. A friend introduced me to hiking and camping in northern California’s Sierra Mountains. Hiking wasn’t as convenient there as it is in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah, mainly because of the three- or four-hour drive to the trailhead. By the time I retired from my job in public relations and left California for Utah, I had climbed 76 Sierra peaks, including Mt. Whitney, the highest mountain in the continental United States. I left California with many happy memories of hiking and camping, but also a hard-earned, healthy respect for nature and the mountains. (In June 1986, I became lost alone overnight while hiking in the southern Sierras and thankfully lived to tell about it.)
I arrived in Park City in the fall of 1987 and was immediately impressed with the beauty of the nearby mountains. I began hiking the trails in the canyons of Red Pine, White Pine, Iron, Thaynes, Ontario and Woodside Gulch. The remains of the old mines and mills made it all the more interesting and enjoyable. I knew nothing of Park City’s mining history, so I purchased copies of all of the available books on the subject. I was also fortunate to become friends with local historians Marianne Cone and Sally Elliott, who accompanied me on many historical hikes.
Aside from a two-year hiatus while I served as an underground tour guide in the Ontario Mine for the Silver Mine Adventure, I’ve been leading historical hikes for groups such as UVSC Elderhostel, Park City Ambassadors, Park City Mountain Sports Club and the Park City Historical Society since 1992. Over the years, the hikes have become known as “Hikes Through History with Hal” — later shortened to “Hikes With Hal.”To prepare for hikes, I study local topographical maps and take a preliminary hike to make certain the trails are still safe and the featured historical sites still intact. Hikers enjoy the wildflowers, so I make certain I can properly identify them as we hike the area. In return, hikers are asked to understand the demands of the hike and not exceed their capabilities. Most importantly, they need to have proper hiking boots (no sneakers), appropriate clothing, sunscreen, insect repellent, food and plenty of water or a purification device.
Where appropriate, I recount historical stories on the hikes such as the Daly West Mine disaster that killed 34 miners; a face-to-face encounter with a huge moose; a man and his children trapped in a mine tunnel; and the strange story of Sam Hair and the John the Revelator Mine. What will the summer of 2007 bring?
Four hikes for the Park City Historical Society have already been planned. The only requirement is membership in the Park City Historical Society and a reservation. Call 435.649.7457 or view www.parkcityhistory.org.
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