Trip Report: Remembering Shelley: Mt. Olympus Memorial Hike (**updated time & mtg location**)


Remembering Shelley: Mt. Olympus Memorial Hike (**updated time & mtg location**)
By Steph Stamm
HIKE 06/07/2026 MSD
On Sunday, June 7, eighteen members and friends of the Wasatch Mountain Club gathered at the Mt. Olympus trailhead to honor the memory of fellow WMC member and accomplished mountaineer Shelley Johannesen.

Before the hike began, Shelley's partner, Dave, joined us to share well wishes and pose for a group photo. Although frostbite injuries sustained during the recent Makalu expedition prevented him from hiking with us, it meant a great deal to have him there to see us off. We also unveiled a commemorative banner featuring Shelley, which accompanied us throughout the day.

The weather seemed to cooperate for the occasion. Despite the June forecast, cloud cover and temperatures in the mid-70s provided a welcome reprieve from the heat, making for pleasant hiking conditions on one of the Wasatch Front's most demanding trails.

The hike itself reflected the spirit in which it was organized: supportive, inclusive, and community-focused. Participants encouraged one another up the steep trail, and nearly everyone who started the hike successfully reached the summit. For many, the accomplishment felt especially meaningful knowing that Mt. Olympus had been the last training hike Shelley and Dave completed together before departing for their Himalayan expedition.

At the summit, we gathered for photos and took time to reflect on Shelley's adventurous spirit, strength, and love of the mountains. We placed the commemorative banner in the summit register box along with a fresh summit log, filling its first pages with memories, gratitude, and messages in Shelley's honor.

While the day was marked by loss, it was also a celebration of the community Shelley helped build and the inspiration she provided to so many climbers and adventurers. Reaching the summit together felt like a fitting tribute to a remarkable mountaineer whose impact will continue to be felt on trails and peaks throughout the Wasatch and beyond.

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