Cardiff Pass Trail

I picked this hike because it has Cardiff in the name. I lived in Cardiff, Wales, for ten years, so seeing that name on a trail sign brought back a flood of memories. Naturally, I responded to this warm wave of nostalgia by choosing a hard, butt-burning hike.

Cardiff Peak is in Alta, where we usually go skiing in winter. We brought my friend, who’s a pro hiker. Unfortunately, dogs aren’t allowed on this trail, so our usual hiking supervisors had to stay home.

It was the Fourth of July, and it was hot. We started at 8:30 a.m., which felt early when we set the alarm and turned out to be decidedly late once the sun got going. If you hike this in summer, start around 6 a.m. Early early. There’s almost no shade, and the trail has plenty of steep climbing to keep you warm. As if the sun needed to help.

The climb is steep, which is exactly what I like—at least in theory. On the way up, there was plenty of moaning and complaining. Then we reached the top, and the views opened up on both sides of the mountain. Suddenly, all that dramatic suffering seemed almost worth it.

The final stretch was the hardest for me. I’m afraid of heights, and there’s a precipice on one side. Brrr. I focused on the trail, tried not to look down too much, and reminded myself that the view was supposed to be the reward.

At the top, we stopped for snacks and a little energy reboot. I’d definitely recommend this hike, but maybe not on a blazing summer day unless you get an early start and bring plenty of water.

The whole way up, I kept thinking about my life in Cardiff—and how I ended up hiking a mountain in Utah with Cardiff in its name. A pretty good view, with a side of nostalgia and a serious leg workout.