May 1 - Silver Lake (Big Cottonwood Canyon)

It's a high wind warning day. Winds as high as 70mph started blowing last night and are continuing today. The winds blew my original plans of hiking up Grandeaur Peak today. So today became a scouting mission of Big Cottonwood Canyon to see what the snow situation (and hiking opportunities) looks like. All I know is that there's still 70-90inches of snow at the ski resorts, I know nothing of what lays a little lower in elevation.

Other than the winds, its a mostly sunny day with highs in the high 50s.

I initially try to hike the Little Cottonwood trail (hoping to see butterflies) but even though it's May 1st the main parking is still closed. Time to head to Big Cottonwood canyon.

This is the first time I've been in Big Cottonwood Canyon in over 2 months. Spring has definitely sprung in the canyon as I see lots of fresh light green leaves on the trees and brush. I do not see any roadside flowers yet but they'll be here soon.

The canyon is snow-free for the first several miles except when I look up to the peaks. Lots of cars parked at the S-turn as people try to get to Lake Blanche or Broads Fork. The trail low looks clear but guaranteed it's much snowy higher up. Might be worth trying soon to see far I get.

A little higher up at the Mill D parking, the ground it pretty much snow-free, however, the higher peaks like Kessler Peak are covered in snow. Looks like the trip to Dog Lake on Mill D North should be pretty clear.

As I get closer to the resorts, as expected, I run into a lot of snow. Strange to see all this snow and no skiers as the resorts here closed a couple of weeks ago. But the advantage, there's minimal people around.

I'm heading to basically the end of the canyon at Nordic Center. My goal is just to walk around Silver Lake.

As I pull in the parking, I'm really surprised to see on 3 other cars. It's such a beautiful day, I don't understand; if one can't ski, it's not worth heading to the snowy mts? All the better for me. :)

It's around 38 degrees and partly sunny.

I walk around the building to the packed former snowshoe trail. The mountains are so pretty!!

The snow covers everything. I make my way counterclockwise around the snow covered lake.

I arrive at the bridge where there's a little open water on both the right

and left sides.

I continue to the end of the western edge. I look right and  see a snowshoe track heading west. I decide to follow it; perhaps I can get to the "ledge" high over the lake.

Now, with each step, I sink 1-3 inches in snow (this is just the softer snow; there's probably at least 3 feet of snow still on the ground). A little further along and another snowshoe track breaks south heading up to the "ledge". I'm heading up.

There are some really deep tracks along the trail. I'm trying to decide if these are moose or just a human that likes to be knee deep in snow. I get my answer as I finally see a pretty clean hoof print; definitely moose.

Just before I get to the "ledge", a lady is coming down. She's says she just went across the "ledge" but not to Twin Lakes. That's my goal too!

The last step up to the "ledge" is a 3-4 footer requiring a little crawling. (Brrr on the hands.)

But as I walk along, the view is definitely worth the wet, cold feet!

I stay just bit before it's time to head down.

I'm sinking deeper into the snow on the way down but make it down without issues.

Then I continue around the lake.

A quick stop on the dock yields a wonderful view.

Before continuing around lake.

Beautiful fun day in the mountains! Who needs flowers on May Day! Happy May Day!