Cheops Pyramid 5206

[KwaiChang]

Hello all - I have this image taken a few years ago.

To your right, looking at the image, my left as I gaze back at you, in the lower middle of the screen - is that a view of Utah Flats area? Seems like alot more scree than I would have imagined.

To the very few of you who will really be able to answer this, when you hiked to Cheops Pyramid did you hike along the base of Platue and the base of the bridge to get to one of the shelfs of the Pyramid?

I appreciate any and all answers or comments.

An early Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Holidaze and a very Happy New Year to all's y'alls.

Kwai

I edited my question and I posted the wrong dang image!! This is the one I meant to post.

[joebartels]

Utah Flats is lower-right but it is mostly out of view in that photo.

Personally, I'd avoid the bridge.
Bridge view from plateau => [ photo ]

We hiked high up on the west and low on the east [ gps route ]

[KwaiChang]

@joebartels
DANG! Wrong picture!!!

[joebartels]

Glad you weren't contemplating the pre-edit

Utah Flats is middle & below view in the edit or blends in. It's not really a concern.
The eastern slope of Cheops in view is the common approach. Most hike low near the edge. It gets old and potentially one bad step from a bad day/life in a couple of spots but really more tedious/undesirable than scary. Forget the west if concerned about the east.

EDIT
what looks like scree is more like 1-3 ft boulders
the tiny never-ending pin cushion? cactus on upper-middle Utah Flats in sandals was the danger

[nonot]

the tiny never-ending pin cushion? cactus on upper-middle Utah Flats in sandals was the danger

I'd agree with that.

[SpiderLegs]

the tiny never-ending pin cushion

That's what tripped up my attempt. It was a wet 2018 and Utah Flats was lush, couldn't make out the trail and all of the cactus was well hidden. We tip toed across at a snail's pace.

[KwaiChang]

@SpiderLegs
I am hoping dry dry dry.....

[KwaiChang]

@joebartels
Hmmmm so that scree isn't scree but big ole rocks/boulders that I am navigating over and thru?

How many people do you think actually make it up there to either one, Pyramid or Plateau?

[joebartels]

I would not recommend either as introductory off-trail navigation and even less if solo. Aside from physical conditioning both have serious mental struggles. Bataan Death March up North Kaibab isn't screaming Cheops. Sorry, just looking out for your safety. You have some great triplogs, just been a while. Perhaps you've been holding back and pounded out some gnarly off-trail hikes in the past five years.

With the fair warning understood. If the initial 0.5mi/1K ascent up to Utah Flats from North Kaibab doesn't phase you, then you might have what it takes.

Hmmmm so that scree isn't scree but big ole rocks/boulders that I am navigating over and thru?

nothing of concern that I recall

In [ Cheops Pyramid 5206 ] , I hold firm on

This isn't a technically difficult hike. Yet everything compounded together will probably leave you mighty fatigued.

Albeit likely more tackled, [ Cheops Plateau ] is seriously more difficult, and IMO forget it if you gotta ask after reading the guide and triplogs

Pyramid success rate would seemingly be much higher than Plateau. If you do go, I guarantee those that have been to either will read your triplog to relive the experience.

[SpiderLegs]

Hmmmm so that scree isn't scree but big ole rocks/boulders that I am navigating over and thru?

How many people do you think actually make it up there to either one, Pyramid or Plateau?

Look up "Piano Alley" and look at the pictures to get a better idea. Wasn't super difficult, but two heads were better than one for route finding in my experience. Despite being our first time up there, my hiking partner from Idaho teaches orienteering classes and competes in orienteering events. He has a sixth sense on route finding in general.

The route up to Utah Flats if you continue takes you to Upper Phantom Creek, which appears to be visited on a weekly basis. We found fresh footprints most of the way up Utah Flats.

My experience is that everything needs to fall in place perfectly in order to summit Cheops in a day. On our post-hike breakdown of the day, what tripped us up was losing 5-10 minutes here and there due to various things. At the end of the day all of those small losses of time added up to a couple of hours. It was a tough decision to bail at the saddle just before climbing Cheops, but being older & wiser we knew it would be miserable coming down off Utah Flats potentially in the dark.

[joebartels]

Look up "Piano Alley"

KwaiChang was up Piano Alley on a multiday trip in 2014. If conditioning is on par and route-finding savvy, Pyramid seems attempt worthy.

[KwaiChang]

@SpiderLegs
Yeah my buddy and I were looking at the same thing a bunch of years back......do we do this and then do Piano Ally and the decent to Phantom in the dark? We also chose wisely. That and my mega dollah steak was waiting for me at Phantom.....same thing - a late start, 5-10 mins here, 5-10 mins there and before you know it ya have decisions decisions decisions.....

This time....well it is actually going to be 2 years from now (talk about advanced planning!!) we will be either camping over night one nite or preferably 2 nites. A room at Phantom one of the nights or both would be a plus. I wanna trek over to Ribbon Falls one last time and just scramble around down the canyon a wee bit as time permits. Not getting any younger and the trek from FL makes it interesting to say the least - it used to be NY!

I saw a peek of Piano so I think I have a decent idea of that scramble......my biggest question is do I go real low on the scree of Cheops or stay at the base of Cheops as much as possible?? Obviously I would be doing this on the east side.....seems from what Joe says stay on the east and stay high?

Thanks and Happy New Year!!!

[KwaiChang]

Sorry, just looking out for your safety. You have some great triplogs, just been a while. Perhaps you've been holding back and pounded out some gnarly off-trail hikes in the past five years.

Thanks appreciate it!! And sadly no gnarly hikes lately...specially in FL!

With the fair warning understood. If the initial 0.5mi/1K ascent up to Utah Flats from North Kaibab doesn't phase you, then you might have what it takes.

Yup - to me that part was easy....my partner not so much, I was in better shape than he was at the time.....

In [ Cheops Pyramid 5206 ], I hold firm on

Perfect!

Albeit likely more tackled, [ Cheops Plateau ] is seriously more difficult, and IMO forget it if you gotta ask after reading the guide and triplogs

Pyramid success rate would seemingly be much higher than Plateau. If you do go, I guarantee those that have been to either will read your triplog to relive the experience.

I am in agreement on Plateau - I would greatly benefit from someone whom has already gone as a hiking partner for that ascent....I def believe I can do it but no way on my own.....there would be vultures picking on my carcass for weeks.....

Pyramid is and has been my goal for years.....I actually started hiking - albeit flat ground and bridges and am up to 7 miles a day....that pesky work thing keeps getting in the way and I do want to preserve my marriage on the weekends. If in 2 years I am at my goal of being able to knock off 10 miles in 1.75 hours or so and putting in some ADK trail hiking then if everything lines up I will take a stab at this....obviously erring on the side of caution. At the very least I can say I made it back to the bottom, kicked around and back to the top.....

Thanks again and best wishes to all's y'alls in 2021. Stay well stay safe!