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Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ:ATVI) is a great company. It has fantastic growth potential, a popular lineup of games, and a history of capitalizing on strong franchises. This year will continue the trend for the gamemaker, which, at its current price, offers a cheap buying opportunity.
In the short term, profit growth will be driven by the large lineup of major titles that are to be released this year. In the long term, this growth will be protected by the creation of new franchises.
Short Term Growth
Growth this year will be driven by one of the largest release lineups in the history of ATVI. Activision will release two major games - Skylanders: Giants and Call of Duty 9 - while continuing to build and support Call of Duty: Elite (as well as a lineup of smaller games that will not be discussed). Blizzard will release two games - Diablo III and another that has yet to be named - but the possibility of more releases was mentioned in their recent earnings call.
Skylanders: Giants is the sequel to last year's Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure and the second of Activision's additions to the fourteen-year-old Spyro franchise. It will build on the innovative collectible figurines that provide easy, mobile character storage and access to special in-game activities. Very strong sales of Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure has raised expectations for this sequel. Time will tell how it performs, but Activision has a history of nurturing and growing franchises. Additional bonuses: the figurines have a higher profit margin than Activision's other games.
Very few details have been released about Call of Duty 9, though there have been clues that it will be titled Call of Duty: Black Ops 2. The Call of Duty franchise has been an annual success for Activision, breaking successive entertainment launch records in 2009, 2010, and 2011. Some critics have claimed that Activision has focused on "reiteration over innovation," but during the recent earnings call, it was described as containing "meaningful innovation." There is every reason to expect this game to live up to and exceed its predecessors.
Tied to the Call of Duty series is Call of Duty: Elite, a player network which allows for the creation of public profiles, social networking, and skill rankings. Subscription membership is a key growth area. Subscribers pay $49.99 annually to unlock many more benefits, most notably monthly downloadable content and player competitions. It officially launched November 8 of last year and already has over 7 million members, of which roughly 20% are subscribers. This percentage is expected to increase as more downloadable content becomes available and should spike each month when new material is released.
Blizzard's first release since 2010 will be Diablo III and is expected to be a major success. The last release in the Diablo series was an expansion to Diablo II in 2001, yet the series has maintained a popular following. Currently in Beta testing and scheduled for a Q2 release, it is one of the most anticipated computer games of the year. Parallels can be drawn between this release and the release of Starcraft II in 2010 - both came out more than a decade after the preceding installment, both maintained strong followings, both have significantly overlapping player bases -indicating that Diablo III will post high sales numbers.
The second game that Blizzard will be releasing this year has yet to be announced, but will be either World of Warcraft: Panderia or Starcraft II: Heart of the Swarm. Despite World of Warcraft nearing the end of its lifecycle and no longer generating much excitement, it still had 10.2 million subscribers at the end of 2011, giving the latest expansion a large customer base. There is significantly more anticipation surrounding Starcraft II's expansion, though without the captive audience of World of Warcraft, it may not sell as well. Whichever is released, they should both perform solidly if not spectacularly.
Long Term Growth
As successful as ATVI's major franchises are, they are not merely resting on their laurels. Though the Skylanders series has shown early promise, it is too soon to determine just how well it will do in the long term. More significant, is the new massively multiplayer online game from Blizzard, codenamed Titan.
No tangible information has been released about Titan, just generalities about its expected success, its strong development team, and the amount of fun it is to play. As Blizzard's COO, Paul Sams, says:
I believe [it's] the most ambitious thing we've ever attempted… We have some of our most talented and most experienced developers on that team. Many of the people that built World of Warcraft are full time on that other team… We're very confident in that product. It's an awesome one… We're playing it already. It is a total ball to play.
It has been rumored to be a more casual game than prior Blizzard titles, though this has not been commented on and likely will not be confirmed or denied until late this year at the earliest.
The existing franchises of ATVI will continue to be supported with more games, expansions, and downloadable content being released in the years to come.
With a trailing P/E of 13.0, growing annual dividend, and active stock buyback program, ATVI is undervalued at its current price.
Forward guidance from the earnings call indicates an EPS of $0.94 - compared to $0.93 in FY2011 - however "as [they]'ve done historically, [they] begin the year with a reasonably conservative approach." It is highly likely that, as in previous years, ATVI will beat its guidance.
ATVI first paid a regular $0.15 dividend in 2010, which increased to $0.165 in 2011, and $0.18 in 2012. This 1.5% yield, while not notably large, is an indicator of ATVI's emphasis on returning shareholder value.
ATVI has historically had a very active stock buyback program and this year is no exception. On March 31st, a $1.5B buyback program will expire - of which approximately $825M had been used by the end of December. On April 1st a new program will begin, this time authorized for up to $1B.
As with any company, none of this is set in stone and potential may fail to transform into success. But as it stands now, the potential is there and ATVI has a history of exceeding expectations. When taken with the low price and emphasis on returning value to shareholders, this is a stock worth owning in 2012.
Disclosure: I am long ATVI.


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|Home > Documentation > Configuring and administering > Configuring services > Adding JARs to the Geronimo repository
The server keeps common Java libraries in a repository using the same directory structure and naming conventions prompted by the Apache Maven project. If your Java EE asset depends on a library that is not already in the repository, you can update the repository to include the new library from console or using deployer command, and define the dependency in your Java EE asset's deployment plan. In this section, we'll show you how to do it via the Admin Console.
For adding archives or jars to the repository the Repository Viewer portlet is available by selecting Server > Repository on the Console Navigation menu on the left hand side. The Repository Viewer portlet illustrated in the following figure displays the artifacts installed in the server's repository. The layout of the repository is the same as that used by Apache Maven making it possible to easily copy files over.
Here are the meaning for each field on Repository Viewer portlet:
In order to avoid problems with trying to load the same native library more than once per jvm lifetime, you need to put code that loads native libraries (such as many db drivers) into a classloader plugin that can be shared among all the datasource plugins that need the classes.
To use an artifact in an application, let's take the first one from the list as an example, you will need to add a <dependency> element under <dependencies> in the <environment> element in the application's deployment plan. Here is an excerpt of how a deployment plan would look like:
Besides using the console to add an archive into Geronimo repository, you can do the same thing using command
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|Privacy Policy - Copyright © 2003-2011, The Apache Software Foundation, Licensed under ASL 2.0.

subset: commoncrawl


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"Right here, in this conference room," said a woman in her early twenties to Leymah Gbowee, Nobel Peace prize winner. "Only around five or six women are black, among a hundred or so. As a black woman yourself, what do you think we should do about the exclusion of black women from spaces like this?"
After years of speaking in conferences about her experience in the women's peace movement in Liberia, Leymah had the answer at the tip of her tongue. Standing on the stage in her motley trademark dress and headdress, she looked at the young black woman straight in the eyes and assertively answered he charged question.
"We are all women, and we must stand together as women. We should not look at the colors between us, but fight together as a gender for each other's' interest. That is the way to inclusion."
Leymah knows all about unity. In that particular moment, she was talking about intersectionality, which is just really another word for unity – more specifically, unity of women.
That's how she brought peace to her country during the Liberia civil war. Leymah looked at others as well as herself. She recognized that though all women suffer because of their gender, all women have their own personal difficulties well. And though personal focus might change from woman to woman, the answer is to stick together and help each other overcome all hardships.
When Leymah yelled and protested against the civil war in Liberia, she rallied both Christian and Muslim women together to reach one goal – peace. They handed out flyers that illiterate women could understand, with simple drawings that conveyed their message. They were tired of violence, murder, rape and longed for unity.
Together, they stopped a war by protesting and going on a sex strike. They changed their world.
I heard Leymah speak in a conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil called Real Women Who Transform (Mulheres Reais Que Transformam). She looked strong and determined, occupying her 'space' – as she says – confidently. It was impossible not to pay attention, but I think more people should have been there to listen, and that it's important to spread the message beyond that conference room. Brazil needs intersectionality more than anything, and that room was full of already successful women – women who were glad to meet such an inspirational icon, I am sure, but who didn't exactly need that incentive.
Brazil is a country of diversity. Slavery was only abolished in 1888 and as a destination of runaways and people looking for a new, better life, it is rich in both culture and racial diversity. According to the 2010 census, out of 191 million Brazilians, 15 million are black, 82 million mixed race, 2 million Asians and 817 million native indians.
Still, the majority of successful men and women are not of colour. Indian natives are treated horrifically by the people who colonized them hundreds of years ago. The president of the Human Rights and Minorities Committee is an outspoken homophobe, racist and sexist.
The culture of individuality in Brazil is dangerous and has to change. As a Brazilian woman, I believe it can start with us, just like it started with Leymah and her friends. It doesn't take much to be united, and look out for each other, no matter what our difficulties are – similar or completely different. It's time to stop calling each other slags, and start seeing that even in a small scale we can help each other be bigger and better in life.
Perhaps it is a little presumptuous to think that as a 22-year-old I can change anything on a global scale. However, I do believe I can change something in my space, just like Leymah did. She is an example to all of us, but I took a few months to understand what she was about; she kept saying "Stand in your own space, and change that before doing anything else. Plant your feet in your space and don't move until something changes."
Once it was pointed out to me that women don't support their own sports, and that's why they don't get nearly as much coverage in the media – men's football is mainly supported by mena. We should do the same for our gender!
We need unity, women. Wake up.
Photos taken and edited by Nicole Froio.


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(Photo courtesy of Emerging Technology Centers)
After trying it out in July, the Emerging Technology Centers has decided to make its networking happy hour a monthly event.
The Techy Thursday Happy Hour will be held next on Thursday, Aug. 14 at the ETC's Haven Street incubator, and the third Thursday every month after that, according to a release.
"As part of our outreach strategy we want to connect entrepreneurs, startups, investors, angels, business mentors, universities and the Baltimore tech community at-large," Jackie Albright, ETC's community and program manager, said in the release.
The happy hour is free to attend, though attendees are asked to RSVP online.
In addition to brokering connections and providing brews, the ETC may also include other local businesses.
"From great restaurants and chefs, to breweries, to farmers markets, to universities, the idea is to bring the Baltimore community together and find commonalities that tie us together, primarily, the notion that technology and innovation are necessary to make communities great and to keep our city growing and its citizens making a difference in our great state," Jorge E. Castillo, ETC's chief marketing officer in residence, said in the release.


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Within an hour or two from downtown Salt Lake City, there are hundreds of miles of trails, as well as several worthwhile peaks to summit. Options exist for every level of hiker, making it the ideal
I wanted to highlight five different aspects of why Salt Lake City is such an awesome hiking hub, from the perspective of someone mainly interested in doing non-technical day hikes (which don't require you to have an ice
I could easily have expanded each set of examples from seven to ten, but these should serve as a good
7 Best Scenic Mountain Roads
Everyone has to
1. Alpine Loop Scenic Byway
* 20 miles long (connects mouth of American Fork Canyon with Provo Canyon Road)
* Highest Elevation: 8,080 feet
The Alpine Loop behind Mount Timpanogos features some of the best scenery in the Wasatch. Doing the full loop, you'll drive through American Fork Canyon on the north end and Provo Canyon on the south end. American Fork Canyon has some impressive limestone cliffs towering above, and the Provo Canyon side is just as impressive with several waterfalls, the most notable of which is Bridal Veil Falls. For those short on time, the drive from American Fork Canyon to the top of the loop (at the loop turnoff just before the turnoff for Cascade Springs) is particularly scenic, especially in the fall when the road is surrounded by red maples at the lower elevations and by yellow aspens higher up. Driving up to Silver Flat Reservoir (where the water level is full in the spring, but drops as summer progresses) along the rough dirt road that splits off to the north after Tibble Fork Reservoir (doable, but not recommended for passenger cars) rewards you with one of the best possible views of the Timpanogos Massif, and for those brave enough to take their high-clearance vehicles on more rugged terrain, the Timpooneke Road wrapping around the north side of Timp offers additional opportunities to explore.
2. Squaw Peak Road
* 28 miles long (from Provo Canyon to Hobble Creek Canyon)
* Highest Elevation: 8,550 feet
To get a nice bird's eye view from the mountains above Provo, check out the Squaw Peak Road. Most people take the right fork after six miles and stop at the scenic overlook at 6,673 feet, but if you take the left fork the road turns to dirt and continues winding south underneath Cascade Mountain and Provo Peak to the east. The road gets rougher the higher you go, so a high clearance 4-wheel drive vehicle is recommended. It tops out at around 8,550 feet at a point just behind (to the east of) Buckley Mountain, and then starts the descent into Hobble Creek Canyon to the southeast. It's definitely worth a trip if you've got a vehicle that's up to the task.
3. Butterfield Canyon Road
* 10 miles long (from start of canyon to top of road near West Mountain summit)
* Highest Elevation: 9,000 feet
Butterfield Canyon Road, starting west of the town of Herriman in the southwest corner of the Salt Lake Valley, is paved up until the pass that connects with Middle Canyon Road coming up from the town of Tooele to the west. From the pass (where there are a few available parking spots and trailheads for trails leading south towards the Butterfields Peaks and other mountains), a dirt road leads north to the top of West Mountain. It's a little rough, but fine for passenger cars. While you're not surrounded by panoramic views of rugged cliffs on the way up like many of the other roads listed here (it mostly goes through more gentle, forested terrain), you do get an awesome view from the top of the road, where there is a big open dirt area big enough for several dozen cars to park. From the top you can look out at many of the major Wasatch peaks to the east on the other side of the valley, extending all the way from the town of Bountiful to the north down to the town of Provo to the south.
4. Nebo Loop Scenic Byway
* 34 miles long (connects South Canyon Road near Payson with Salt Creek Canyon Road near Nephi)
* Highest Elevation: 9,300 feet
This road, perhaps more than any other, gives the sense of being much higher up than the surrounding terrain. The best part is probably the section extending from Payson Lakes in the north to the Devils Garden lookout near the south end. In several spots are views of forested areas far below to the east, with Mount Nebo standing proudly above the road to the west. Mount Nebo is the highest peak in the Wasatch Mountains and the most prominent peak around, which you definitely notice as you do this drive. The maples down lower and aspens higher up make this a great drive to do in the fall, and since this road is farther from Salt Lake City than the others it is typically less crowded.
5. Little Cottonwood Canyon Scenic Byway
* 11 miles long (from mouth of canyon to top of road near Albion Basin campgrounds)
* Highest Elevation: 9,400 feet
Little Cottonwood Canyon is surrounded by some of the highest and most impressive peaks in the Wasatch Mountains. To the north is the Cottonwood Ridge, where the terrain is so steep that there are few trails leading up this way, and to the south is the Alpine Ridge, where most of the Wasatch 11,000-foot peaks are found. Higher up in the canyon are the ski resorts of Snowbird and Alta, which can receive over 700 inches of snow in a good snow year, as well as scenic Albion Basin, which might just be the prettiest place in the Wasatch. The last part of the road leading up into Albion Basin past the mini-town of Alta transitions to dirt (but very well maintained and passable for any vehicle), and since this area is so popular there are free shuttles during summer weekends and holidays to get people to the usually already full parking lots at the Catherine Pass and Cecret Lake trailheads. In late summer there are all sorts of wildflowers in the basin, and on most hikes you're likely to see moose in the area.
6. Big Cottonwood Canyon Scenic Byway
* 17 miles long (from mouth of canyon to top of road at Guardsman Pass)
* Highest Elevation: 9,700 feet
Near the lower parts of Big Cottonwood Canyon are impressive cliffs towering over the various picnic sites, and higher up in the canyon towards the ski resorts of Solitude and Brighton the canyon opens up more. Before you get to the Brighton parking lot you can turn north onto another road that will lead you all the way up to Guardsman Pass, and in this area are many big groves of aspen trees which turn from green to yellow in the fall. Guardsman Pass marks the highest paved road in the Wasatch, and a rough dirt road also leads from there down to Park City on the other side.
7. Mirror Lake Scenic Byway
* 35 miles long (from town of Kamas to Ruth Lake Trailhead)
* Highest Elevation: 10,715 feet
7 Best Lake Hikes
Most everyone loves
1. Ruth Lake
* Drive Time From SLC: 1 hour, 37 minutes
* Distance: 1.5 miles roundtrip
* Ruth Lake Trailhead: 10,150 feet
* Ruth Lake Elevation: 10,350 feet
* Elevation Gain: 200 feet
* Effort Required: 1/10
2. Cecret Lake
* Drive Time From SLC: 51 minutes
* Distance: 1.6 miles roundtrip
* Cecret Lake Trailhead: 9,400 feet
* Cecret Lake Elevation: 9,880 feet
* Elevation Gain: 480 feet
* Effort Required: 1/10
For the little amount of effort required, this is probably the most scenic hike that you can do in the Wasatch. Starting in beautiful Albion Basin, the trail winds past some campgrounds, through some wildflower-filled meadows, and then up a steeper rocky trail up to the lake. The parking lot at the trailhead fills up pretty quickly, even on weekdays, so arrive early if you want to avoid the crowds.
3. Lake Catherine
* Drive Time From SLC: 45 minutes
* Distance: 4 miles roundtrip
* Brighton Lakes Trailhead: 8,750 feet
* Catherine Lake Elevation: 9,950 feet
* Elevation Gain: 1,200 feet
* Effort Required: 2/10
This trail will take you past three scenic lakes. Starting at the south end of the Brighton ski area parking lot, you'll walk up underneath a couple chair lifts, then after 450 vertical feet you'll cut to the right (southwest) into a short forested section. A short time later you'll arrive at Lake Mary, which is actually a man-made dam, with Mount Millicent, Mount Wolverine, and Sunset Peak in the background. Keep going along the gradual trail to arrive at Lake Martha, and then hike up one last steep section to get to Lake Catherine. Since it's higher than most trails in the Wasatch, the wildflowers are usually at their peak a little later here (August in a normal snow year)
4. American Fork Silver Lake
* Drive Time From SLC: 1 hour, 9 minutes
* Distance: 3.5 miles roundtrip
* Silver Lake Trailhead: 7,550 feet
* Silver Lake Elevation: 9,000 feet
* Elevation Gain: 1,450 feet
* Effort Required: 2/10
This trail starts at the parking lot near the north end of the scenic Silver Lake Flat Reservoir (which requires you to drive up a moderate dirt road), where you start out with a nice view of the Mount Timpanogos massif looking back to the south. Above some aspen groves the trail traverses a couple long switchbacks, and a little while farther the trail steepens just below the lake. Silver Lake is nestled below several impressive granite cliffs south of White Baldy.
5. Ibantik Lake
* Drive Time From SLC: 1 hour, 29 minutes
* Distance: 7 miles one way
* Crystal Lake Trailhead: 10,049 feet
* Ibantik Lake Elevation: 10,100 feet
* Elevation Gain: 1,100 feet
* Effort Required: 3/10
6. Maybird Lake
* Drive Time From SLC: 36 minutes
* Distance: 7.5 miles roundtrip
* White Pine Trailhead: 7,650 feet
* Maybird Lake Elevation: 9,750 feet
* Elevation Gain: 2,100 feet
* Effort Required: 3/10
7. Lake Blanche
* Drive Time From SLC: 28 minutes
* Distance: 6 miles roundtrip
* Mill B South Fork Trailhead: 6,200 feet
* Lake Blanche Elevation: 8,920 feet
* Elevation Gain: 2,720 feet
* Effort Required: 4/10
Some of the trails on these hikes are also used to get to peaks mentioned in the other lists below, so if you wanted to add a couple more mutually exclusive trails, or if lakes aren't necessarily your thing, then you could look into visiting one of the waterfalls below:
7 Best Peak Hikes
Among the mountains on this list are three of the four nearby Ultra-Prominence Peaks (mountains with at least 5,000 feet of prominence) that are doable as day hikes (apologies to Flattop Mountain in the Oquirrh Range, but Mount Nebo, Mount Timpanogos, and Deseret Peak are more impressive). Almost all of these peaks have well-defined trails the entire way, meaning there is no route-finding to speak of, even for Mount Nebo and Mount Raymond where the trails become fainter near the summit. Box Elder Peak is the only walk-up in which the trail completely disappears on the final parts of the north ridge below the summit. While Mount Raymond's northeast ridge does have a few places that require using your hands for some short easy scrambling moves (there were just too many good scrambles to choose from, so I bumped it down to this list), it is not very sustained, hence its inclusion here.
1. Bald Mountain ~
* Drive Time From SLC: 1 hour, 32 minutes
* Distance: 2.8 miles roundtrip
* Bald Mountain Trailhead: 10,764 feet
* Summit Elevation: 11,947 feet
* Elevation Gain: 1,185 feet
* Technical Difficulty: Class 1
* Effort Required: 3/10
Located at the western edge of the Uinta Mountains, this is the best bang for your buck trail hike peak around since it gives awesome views (especially of the dozens of nearby lakes) for minimal effort. The trail is short enough that most anyone can make it to the top, but you'll want to keep a close eye on younger children near the sheer cliffs dropping down to the east below the summit. Also, be aware that afternoon lightning storms are more common in this area.
2. Mount Raymond ~
* Drive Time From SLC: 35 minutes
* Distance: 8 miles roundtrip
* Butler Fork Trailhead: 7,080 feet
* Summit Elevation: 10,241 feet
* Elevation Gain: 3,161 feet
* Technical Difficulty: Class 2+
* Effort Required: 5/10
3. Deseret Peak
* Drive Time From SLC: 1 hour, 16 minutes
* Distance: 7 miles roundtrip
* Loop Campground Trailhead: 7,470 feet
* Summit Elevation: 11,031 feet
* Elevation Gain: 3,600 feet
* Technical Difficulty: Class 1+
* Effort Required: 5/10
Located above an alpine oasis in the Stansbury Mountains, this peak offers unique views of the desert terrain to the west and the salt flats around the southwest corner of the Great Salt Lake. For the best experience on the mountain, go up the South Willow Trail and down the Pockets Fork Trail for a nice loop (the stats above are for this route).
4. Ben Lomond ~
* Drive Time From SLC: 55 minutes
* Distance: 16 miles roundtrip
* North Ogden Divide Trailhead: 6,200 feet
* Summit Elevation: 9,712 feet
* Elevation Gain: 3,512 feet
* Technical Difficulty: Class 1+
* Effort Required: 6/10
Towering over the city of Ogden, the summit of this well-known peak can be accessed via the long but gentle Skyline Trail. From the top there are impressive views of the slightly higher Willard Peak to the north and Willard Bay down below to the west.
5. Mount Nebo ~
* Drive Time From SLC: 1 hour, 43 minutes
* Distance: 9 miles roundtrip
* North Route Trailhead: 9,200 feet
* Summit Elevation: 11,928 feet
* Elevation Gain: 3,400 feet
* Technical Difficulty: Class 2
* Effort Required: 6/10
6. Mount Timpanogos ~
* Drive Time From SLC: 54 minutes
* Distance: 15 miles roundtrip
* Timpooneke Trailhead: 7,360 feet
* Summit Elevation: 11,750 feet
* Elevation Gain: 4,400 feet
* Technical Difficulty: Class 1+
* Effort Required: 7/10
* Drive Time From SLC: 55 minutes
* Distance: 10 miles roundtrip
* Deer Creek Trailhead: 6,780 feet
* Summit Elevation: 11,101 feet
* Elevation Gain: 4,500 feet
* Technical Difficulty: Class 2
* Effort Required: 7/10
7 Best Peak Scrambles
The Big Cottonwood Canyon and Little Cottonwood Canyon area of the Wasatch showcases what I feel is the best selling point of all when it comes to why the Salt Lake City area is unmatched as a day hiking hub. The sheer abundance of quality non-technical scrambles located in such a small geographical area made it hard to narrow this list down to seven peaks, and others may completely disagree on which ones are the best, but of the scrambles listed below you won't find a stinker in the bunch. They all have terrain on which some class 3 scrambling is required (easy climbing with the aid of your hands), and a few of them require a couple more difficult class 4 moves, which for most people will involve down-climbing while facing into the mountain, hence the "+" part of the 3+ technical rating. Lone Peak and Twin Peaks are a cut above the other SLC day hikes mentioned here in terms of the amount of energy you'll need to expend to obtain the summit, but if exposure (the amount of air beneath your feet on the steepest section of scrambling) is the main deterrent, then here's my biased order of the following hikes listed from least exposed to most exposed: Mount Olympus, Mount Superior, Pfeifferhorn, Sundial Peak, Lone Peak, Broads Fork Twin Peaks, & Devil's Castle.
1. Devil's Castle ~
* Drive Time From SLC: 51 minutes
* Distance: 3.6 miles roundtrip
* Cecret Lake Trailhead: 9,400 feet
* Summit Elevation: 10,920 feet
* Elevation Gain: 1,520 feet
* Technical Difficulty: Class 3+
* Effort Required: 4/10
This peak provides the best bang for your buck of any scramble around. Getting to the top and back can be done relatively quickly (going past the previously mentioned Cecret Lake), but the scramble over the three main summits is among the most technically-demanding of any of the Wasatch peaks (getting to the highest middle summit from the west requires some very exposed class 4 moves over and around a knife-edge ridge). Albion Basin is heavily-visited in late summer, when the bright wildflowers offer a stark contrast to the intimidating north face above.
2. Mount Olympus
* Drive Time From SLC: 18 minutes
* Distance: 7 miles roundtrip
* Tolcat Canyon Trailhead: 4,840 feet
* Summit Elevation: 9,026 feet
* Elevation Gain: 4,200 feet
* Technical Difficulty: Class 3
* Effort Required: 6/10
Rising straight up above the east side of the Salt Lake Valley, this popular mountain is the most easily accessible of any of the other mountains on this list (which is saying something, considering how close the mountains are to the cities on the Wasatch Front). The reward for getting up the steep trail and doing a little easy scrambling at the top is one of the best summit views of any peak in the range, with many of the centrally located Wasatch 11ers visible to the south.
3. Mount Superior ~
* Drive Time From SLC: 41 minutes
* Distance: 5.6 miles roundtrip
* Cardiff Pass Trailhead: 8,640 feet
* Summit Elevation: 11,132 feet
* Elevation Gain: 2,750 feet
* Technical Difficulty: Class 3
* Effort Required: 6/10
4. Sundial Peak ~
* Drive Time From SLC: 28 minutes
* Distance: 9 miles roundtrip
* Mill B South Fork Trailhead: 6,200 feet
* Summit Elevation: 10,320 feet
* Elevation Gain: 4,150 feet
* Technical Difficulty: Class 3
* Effort Required: 7/10
5. Pfeifferhorn ~
* Drive Time From SLC: 36 minutes
* Distance: 10 miles roundtrip
* White Pine Trailhead: 7,626 feet
* Summit Elevation: 11,326 feet
* Elevation Gain: 3,700 feet
* Technical Difficulty: Class 3
* Effort Required: 7/10
Nicknamed the "Little Matterhorn", this impressive peak is located in the heart of the Wasatch. The main trail goes past scenic Red Pine Lake (sharing its initial approach with that of the previously mentioned Maybird Lake), with some boulder-hopping needed to reach the Alpine Ridge above and a short section of scrambling before the final ascent to the summit. There are great views to the south towards Box Elder Peak and Mount Timpanogos, to the west towards the rest of the Alpine Ridge, and north towards the Cottonwood Ridge.
6. Broads Fork Twin Peaks ~
* Drive Time From SLC: 28 minutes
* Distance: 10 miles roundtrip
* Broads Fork Trailhead: 6,200 feet
* Summit Elevation: 11,330 feet
* Elevation Gain: 5,200 feet
* Technical Difficulty: Class 3+
* Effort Required: 9/10
This is the highest peak on the Cottonwood Ridge, where the most difficult scrambling and some of the most rugged terrain in the Wasatch is found. The loose scree field leading up to the ridge from upper Broads Fork requires considerable effort to ascend, and the crux of the east ridge is a 20-foot, class 4 chimney climb. The views looking down on Big and Little Cottonwood Canyon make the struggle worth it, though. The idyllic lower meadow offers a rewarding destination for the more casual hiker.
7. Lone Peak ~
* Drive Time From SLC: 40 minutes
* Distance: 12.6 miles roundtrip
* Jacob's Ladder Trailhead: 5,600 feet
* Summit Elevation: 11,253 feet
* Elevation Gain: 5,700 feet
* Technical Difficulty: Class 3+
* Effort Required: 9/10
The seven hikes listed above have as their goal just a single summit, but there are several more difficult ridge scrambles combining multiple peaks in one shot. These are my personal favorites, offering the most rugged alpine scenery around:
7 Best Neighboring Day Hike Areas
There's a good reason why Salt Lake City was nicknamed the Crossroads of the West. Its central location in the western United States makes it the ideal spot from which to branch out and explore other impressive mountain ranges within the Rocky Mountain Chain, as well as other areas notable for their outstanding scenery. All of the areas listed below have that special "it" factor, where you can immediately sense that you're entering a special place upon driving in. While other areas may have peaks just as impressive as those listed below (such as the Wind River Range in Wyoming, for example), these ones offer easy access to the mountains and a wide variety of day hikes for every level of hiker. For me personally, it's been easier to schedule family trips to areas like these, since there are decent hotels nearby to sleep in and things to see for the wife and kids as well. Five of the areas listed below were easy to come up with since they are already national parks, but the San Juan Mountains of Colorado and Sawtooth Mountains of Idaho offer nice alternatives for those seeking more solitude away from the crowds. In coming up with this list I tried to consider areas that could be reached within a day's drive of Salt Lake City, so I again arbitrarily used the 12 hour requirement, tracking the time it takes to drive to a nearby town (if it's for a national park, it's just outside the boundaries since that's where there are generally more affordable hotel rates). From Salt Lake City it's possible to drive to any trailhead in the American Rockies or the Sierra Mountains in under 12 hours, with only some sections of the Cascade Mountains taking slightly longer to reach.
Salt Lake City is surrounded by other awesome hiking areas in every direction, all accessible in less than a day's drive.
I've also listed a single (usually well-known) must-do peak hike/scramble for each area, which will give you one of the most scenic and rewarding day hikes around. If you've already done some of the scrambles above or something equivalent to them then you shouldn't have any problems with these ones. Despite not really requiring much scrambling compared to the others and being much shorter in length, the Angels Landing hike is quite exposed and probably not a good idea for anyone with a debilitating fear of heights. Half Dome and Longs Peak will definitely require good conditioning to tackle in a single day, but the route-finding on their standard routes is easy enough that many brave souls attempt them as their first big peak hikes, despite the fact that there is a significant amount of scrambling below the summit of each one. The remaining hikes on the list require a bit more route-finding, so it may help to have at least one person in your group who is more experienced and confident with scrambling.
1. Zion National Park, UT
* Drive Time From SLC to Springdale, UT: 4 hours, 22 minutes
This is one of the more unique national parks in the country, with impressive cliffs rivaling those found in Yosemite. Although it's not necessarily a great draw for peak baggers, there are some great hikes here, especially along the popular Zion Canyon. Among the best slot canyons are Hidden Canyon, the Narrows, and the Subway, which involve wading in water and even a little scrambling. Despite all of the lush vegetation found between the steep sandstone cliffs, it does get quite hot here, so the best times to come are typically in late spring or early fall when it's cool but the flash flood danger is relatively low. Shuttles are required to get around Zion Canyon, but they're pretty good about being on time.
Angels Landing ~
* Drive Time From Springdale: 13 minutes
* Distance: 5 miles roundtrip
* Grotto Trailhead: 4,300 feet
* Summit Elevation: 5,785 feet
* Elevation Gain: 1,488 feet
* Technical Difficulty: Class 2+
* Effort Required: 4/10
Angels Landing is a great goal for those who want awesome views up and down Zion Canyon and aren't afraid of heights. After a short, steep hike from the canyon floor (with the impressive Great White Throne on the other side), the paved trail goes through a narrow canyon, and then switchbacks up Walter's Wiggles to Scout Lookout. This is where many people stop, as the last half mile is quite exposed, although the trail is well-maintained and does not really require any scrambling (the chains are more to comfort those wanting something to hold onto while gazing down the cliffs dropping a thousand feet on each side). The skinniest part of the trail is about the width of a sidewalk, but most of the time you're actually not that close to the cliffs themselves.
2. Glacier National Park, MT
* Drive Time From SLC to St. Mary, MT: 10 hours, 8 minutes
I'll be bold and say that Glacier National Park has the best views and scenery of any location in the lower 48 states. Not only is it one of the best places for viewing wildlife (it's easier to see grizzly bears here than anywhere else, which may or may not be incentive to get out into the backcountry => just be sure to carry bear spray), but the lake, waterfall, glacier, and mountain views here can't be beat. My personal favorite areas are Logan Pass and the Many Glacier area, as they probably offer the best starting points for some really nice day hikes, but there are other great areas as well. The only downside may be that the rock on most of the peaks is generally a little loose and crumbly, but once you get used to that it's not too bad.
Reynolds Mountain ~
* Drive Time From St. Mary: 32 minutes
* Distance: 6 miles roundtrip
* Hidden Lake Trailhead: 6,646 feet
* Summit Elevation: 9,125 feet
* Elevation Gain: 2,500 feet
* Technical Difficulty: Class 3
* Effort Required: 5/10
Reynolds Mountain is the horn-shaped peak presiding over Logan Pass at the top of the Going-to-the-Sun Road, which is probably the most scenic mountain road in the United States. Picking just one must-do hike in Glacier is impossible since there are so many other great peaks, but this one is nice since you get some amazing scenery for minimal effort, and it offers a brief glimpse into what some of the other longer, more difficult peak scrambles are like. This popular trail starts at the Logan Pass Visitor Center and proceeds up to a pass overlooking Hidden Lake. From the pass between Reynolds Mountain and Clements Mountain, take the faint trail breaking off to the south. You'll cross some snow as you traverse the east side of a little ridge, and then go right under the west face of the peak (with awesome views looking down towards Hidden Lake) as you circle around to the base of the southwest slopes between Dragon's Tail and Reynolds Mountain. The route goes up through some loose scree until a few hundred feet below the summit, cuts back to the west for some solid scrambling, and then loops back around to the east taking you to the summit, with some cool exposed cliffs below.
3. San Juan Mountains, CO
* Drive Time From SLC to Ouray, CO: 6 hours, 5 minutes
The San Juans are Colorado's finest range, and while the most impressive peaks in the Needle and Grenadier sub-ranges require
Mount Sneffels ~
* Drive Time From Ouray: 28 minutes
* Distance: 6 miles roundtrip
* Yankee Boy Basin Trailhead: 11,350 feet
* Summit Elevation: 14,150 feet
* Elevation Gain: 2,900 feet
* Technical Difficulty: Class 3
* Effort Required: 6/10
Mount Sneffels stands sentinel over the impressive northern escarpment of the San Juans, and is the clear monarch of the area. There is a very aesthetic approach from Blue Lakes Basin, but most opt to climb the peak using the shorter approach from Yankee Boy Basin, which is one of the best places to spot columbines (Colorado state flower). After driving up some exciting shelf sections of a dirt road and arriving at the lower trailhead (there's a restroom here), you can either continue driving up the rough road (if you've got a good 4WD vehicle) or just hike up it, which is better since you get to enjoy the scenery better. The Lavender Col standard route is loose and not as fun to ascend as descend, so I'd recommend scrambling up the much more enjoyable southwest ridge (class 3), and then hiking back down the standard route (class 2+, with one short class 3 move at V-notch) for an awesome scenic loop. After hiking to Blue Lakes Pass, the first part of the scramble weaves under sharp pinnacles through several gullies filled with loose rock. Higher up the ridge, the route opens up onto more solid rock, with some nice exposure as you approach the summit.
4. Yosemite National Park, CA
* Drive Time From SLC to El Portal, CA: 10 hours, 31 minutes
The home of big wall climbing has many things that you just can't find anywhere else, and it doesn't take long in Yosemite to see why it is what kick-started the great national park system. Among the unique sights you'll see are giant sequoias, awesome waterfalls (most impressive in the spring or early summer), and of course world-class granite walls which will challenge even the most skilled of climbers. The most popular area is Yosemite Valley, which gets very crowded in the summer, so for a more enjoyable experience it is best not to come during holidays or weekends. Tioga Road offers access to other nice day hiking areas such as Tuolumne Meadows and Tenaya Lake, which are typically less crowded.
Half Dome ~
* Drive Time From El Portal: 31 minutes
* Distance: 15.4 miles roundtrip
* Happy Isles Trailhead: 4,105 feet
* Summit Elevation: 8,842 feet
* Elevation Gain: 4,800 feet
* Technical Difficulty: Class 3
* Effort Required: 8/10
Half Dome is impressive from every angle you look at it, and is probably the most climbed peak in all of the Sierra Mountains, and maybe even the entire United States. As such, permits are required (which must be purchased well in advance in a lottery system on the www.recreation.gov
5. Sawtooth Mountains, ID
* Drive Time From SLC to Stanley, ID: 5 hours, 42 minutes
Located in central Idaho, the Sawtooth Mountains are a hidden gem, even among more knowledgeable hikers. The range is filled with countless pristine lakes and saw-shaped ridges (hence the name), with enough to keep anyone happily occupied. While many people choose to backpack here, there are still many worthwhile day hikes as well. While the Sawtooths don't have the elevation of some other areas, they are just as rugged as the peaks you'll find almost anywhere else, with views similar to the more popular Sierra or Teton Mountains. If you're craving incredible surroundings without the crowds, then this is the place for you.
Thompson Peak ~
* Drive Time From Stanley: 11 minutes
* Distance: 13 miles roundtrip
* Redfish Lake Trailhead: 6,560 feet
* Summit Elevation: 10,751 feet
* Elevation Gain: 4,250 feet
* Technical Difficulty: Class 3
* Effort Required: 8/10
Thompson Peak is the highest peak in the Sawtooths. The standard trail starts near Redfish Lake, with jaw-dropping views of jagged Heyburn Mountain and Horstmann Peak to the southwest as you hike along the gradual trail on the ridge above Fishhook Creek. After a few miles the trail steepens, traversing around the southwest slopes of Williams Peak. Upon reaching a meadow the trail disappears, so just keep moving southwest towards the un-named lake at 9,000 feet. From this beautiful lake you'll catch an awesome view of Thompson Peak to the southwest and its impressive east ridge. After moving west through loose talus past a couple large ponds, you can ascend the headwall between Thompson Peak and Williams Peak either on its south end (snow usually stays on this steep slope longer, giving a shorter but more difficult route to the summit) or north end (this takes you a little out of the way, but is technically easier and gives nice views of Thompson's north face from a distance). The route then circles around Thompson's west slopes through a couple snowfields, leading up to the saddle between Thompson Peak and Mickey's Spire. Follow the south ridge up into the south couloir, and then scramble a few hundred feet to the exposed summit.
6. Rocky Mountain National Park, CO
* Drive Time From SLC to Estes Park, CO: 7 hours, 35 minutes
Many flatlanders heading west to the Rocky Mountains never venture past Colorado, as there are great hiking areas all throughout the state. Rocky Mountain National Park is one of those areas. Some of the more popular hikes in the Bear Lake area can get crowded (though farther away from the mountains than Salt Lake City, nearby Denver has more people), but the abundant scenery and wildlife is worth the price of admission, and there are many lesser known areas worth a look as well. Driving the Trail Ridge Road gives a glimpse into the extensive terrain above tree line, and will give you lots of ideas for places to hike as well.
Longs Peak ~
* Drive Time From Estes Park: 20 minutes
* Distance: 14 miles roundtrip
* Longs Peak Trailhead: 9,260 feet
* Summit Elevation: 14,259 feet
* Elevation Gain: 5,100 feet
* Technical Difficulty: Class 3
* Effort Required: 10/10
Longs Peak is a special mountain for me, as it is for many others, because it is the one that really gave me the hiking/climbing bug. As the most popular of the 58 14ers (peaks over 14,000 feet) in the state of Colorado, and also one of the more strenuous by its standard route, everyone hiking in the state should try this one at least once. There are many quality technical routes, the most notable of which are found on the famous Diamond, a 2,000 foot sheer rock face that is one of the highest big walls in North America. The standard Keyhole Route is long, with a significant amount of scrambling at the top, but bullseye symbols along the way make route-finding easy, and the views looking down into Glacier Gorge are great. After the Keyhole the route crosses a series of ledges, goes up a long steep gully called the Trough (at the top there is a big chockstone which most consider to be the crux of the route), goes past some steep cliffs dropping below the Narrows, and then ascends the final Homestretch, a 45 degree slope of slick granite with a couple tracks worn into the rock that help going up and down. Start early (before sunrise to be off of the summit by noon) to avoid thunderstorms.
7. Grand Teton National Park, WY
* Drive Time From SLC to Jackson, WY: 4 hours, 38 minutes
Any avid climber will eventually find their way to the iconic Tetons, which as a whole offer more challenging peaks and routes than anywhere else I've mentioned in such a condensed area. Even though most of the big peaks require technical climbing to achieve the summit (this is, after all, the birthplace of alpinism in the United States), there are some that can be reached by scrambling, and still some lower ones with trails to the top. There are also plenty of easy hikes starting in the valley below, which the whole family can enjoy. Most hikes up into these mountains require a lot of elevation gain, so you'll want to be in good shape for them, but the views of the range's many jagged and rugged peaks from up above make the extra work totally worth it.
Middle Teton ~
* Drive Time From Jackson: 34 minutes
* Distance: 15 miles roundtrip
* Lupine Meadows Trailhead: 6,732 feet
* Summit Elevation: 12,804 feet
* Elevation Gain: 6,100 feet
* Technical Difficulty: Class 3
* Effort Required: 10/10
Middle Teton is probably the easiest of the high peaks found in the park, which speaks to the overall ruggedness of the range since it still requires over 6,000 feet of elevation gain, most of which is over boulders and snow fields with no trail. The well-maintained trail up Garnet Canyon meanders around the run-off stream / falls coming down from the glaciers above until you get to a meadow where some choose to camp for the night. Continuing up the south fork of the canyon you will encounter various size boulders (some bigger than cars) and big patches of snow, none of which are steep enough to warrant the use of an ice axe though, as long as you're there late enough in the summer (August is best). Once at the saddle between South Teton and Middle Teton, the route turns north towards the southwest couloir, where some easy scrambling will get you to the exposed summit. From there the views of the surrounding peaks, especially the Grand Teton to the north, are amazing.
Other Hikes and Climbs
I'm curious what favorite hikes others may have picked that meet these same criteria, so feel free to add a comment in the section below, as there are still many other hikes and areas not mentioned here that I'd like to get out and see. Happy trails!


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Beyond the Great Wall May 18, 2011
"Let China sleep, for when she awakes, she will shake the world." – Napoleon Bonaparte
China's economic miracle over the past decades has astounded the world and no longer is it an emerging market, but one that has transpired to become a major player influencing global economic affairs. The 4th Kellogg Greater China Business Conference will address the challenges and opportunities that come from China's transition into a growth market with ambitions beyond its current borders and strengths.
Topics to be addressed include the international growth plans of China's domestic players, as well as how US-China economic relations will evolve as China becomes a more established player in international affairs. The conference will also discuss how local and international companies have worked to market products and services to the country's growing and more sophisticated consumer base in addition to the financing opportunities and how Chinese entities finance themselves.
The theme "China: Beyond the Great Wall" captures the emergence of China from its roots as a manufacturing base, to an innovator with global influence across industries with plans for developing outside its current boundaries.
May 18, 2011, Wednesday
kellogg school of
James L. Allen Center
Evanston, ILlinois