Sept 27 - Desolation Lake (to Wasatch Crest)

Took the day off today to make my yearly Fall hike to Desolation Lake in Big Cottonwood Canyon and then extend the hike another 1/2 mile to reach the Wasatch Crest. The Crest is the ridge of the Wasatch Mountains that separates Big Cottonwood and Park City (i.e., the Wasatch Back).

In total the hike is 3.5 miles and 1900ft (9280ft) to Desolation Lake and another 1/2 mile and 500 feet to the Crest.

Sunny morning. The colors near the trail head will be good just not sure what they will be around the lake. And will there still be snow around?

Cool morning when I start. Lots of yellow aspen around but they are all in the shade. Will be much "brighter" on the way out.

I do spot a few Purple Asters and one Geranium in bloom.

I'm almost at the Dog Lake or Desolation Lake trail split -- looks like it will be a very colorful day!

At the split, I start the remaining 1.9 miles of the hike.

Getting glimpses of snowy mountains to the south as I head thru the forest.

I pass thru a beautiful meadow.

There's still a bit of snow along shady southern edges of the meadow.

Then a bit more uphill - there are moose tracks along the side of the trail heading in the opposite direction.

Soon I see some snowy mountains views nearby but the view down canyon are so much better!

I pop out of the trees and enter another very colorful meadow - my hopes for color at the Lake are getting higher.

And there's a little snow along the trail.

But when I arrive at the  Desolation Lake meadow, I'm a little disappointed as most of the trees have already dropped their leaves. :(

But the area is still so beautiful! Especially with the snow!

I make my way to the lake.

And then circle the lake.

After completing the loop, I start my way up the hill and thru the trees to the Wasatch Crest.

When I get to the Crest and turn around - wow! There's so much color - so pretty!

This is exactly why I come here in the Fall.

I make my along the Crest to get a better view of Desolation Lake below.

I can't believe how much snow are on the mountains!

I turn and look down towards Park City - amazing!

It's so clear I can see the snowy Uinta Mountains to the east.

I see a Milbert's Tortoiseshell flying along the ridge.

I then make my way back to my lunch spot on the ridge. Can't pick a better spot with amazing views in both directions.

Time to head back down.

Much brighter Fall colors as I make my way down.

I see a Mourning Cloak and Mylitta Crescent on my way back.

Wonderful day!

Sept 25 - Twin Lake Pass (Big Cottonwood Canyon)

Heading out to find the snow! I'm not sure how much actually fell (the ski resorts aren't open yet so there's no "official" measurement yet) but it's time to tromp thru the first snowfall of the season. I know I won't be heading thru fresh snow - I'm sure many folks got to it on Fri/Sat - but it's still snow! And most (if not all of it) will be gone in the next few days.

My plan is to head up to Twin Lakes to see a perfect combo of snow and Fall colors. If things feel good, I'm going to try to make it to Twin Lakes Pass for the first time. That is IF I can find the trail (after 2 missed attempts to find the trail this year, I'm hoping 3 is a charm today.) The Pass is about 1 mile farther and 500 higher in elevation than the Lakes (9993 ft).

Chilly morning (40s in the valley) but very sunny. As I head up the canyon, I'm not sure where the snow will actually start but I'm watching. I pass the Mill D South trail head, no snow on the ground but the peaks (Kessler, etc) are so beautifully snow covered.

It isn't until I reach the ski resorts at the head of the canyon before I see more snow covered peaks! It's just after 9am and there's still plenty of parking at Silver Lake (but filling up fast).

It's sunny and a crisp 33 degrees.

I walk around the Visitor's Center to this awesome view!

As I walk around the right side of the meadow, there's still frost in the shadier spots. The boardwalk is icy but not snow covered.

I reach the little bridge

And then continue around.

I reach the Twin Lakes trail and start my way up thru the aspen. The snow/rain did cause many of the leaves to fall as the trail is covered with yellow leaves and some of the trees are bare. But there's still plenty of leaves on the trees for a beautiful walk.

I reach the ridge and start to cross. Several Pikas calling this morning. I manage to get a good look at one that is sitting on the edge of the trail.

The views of Silver Lake below are really nice this morning.

The uphill portion to Twin Lakes is a bit snowy/icy. I usually take the steeper but less rocky dirt path but it's still covered in snow, so I take the rocky road.

Definitely, not quiet a morning as all the snow laying on the branches is melting. Lots of dripping noises. And there's also rustling of vegetation as clumps of snow crash to the ground.

I reach the dam.

And head around it. Surprised to see I'm the only one around to enjoy these wonderful views.

I've got plenty of time and my feet are warm so I head up the right side of the lake heading hopefully to Twin Lake Pass.

I reach the intersection with the trail coming up from Lake Solitude.

And make my way thru about 6 inches of snow to my favorite "perch" above the Lakes.

I head back to the road; there are vehicle tracks and many people tracks heading up the hill. I make my way up looking for that spur trail to the Pass. I can start to see the ski lift so I'm running out of luck finding that spur trail.

Around a rocky formation, I see footprints in the snow heading up to a ridge. Maybe that's the trail I'm looking for, maybe not. But it's worth a try. I head up the little hill and when I get to the top, BINGO! I've found the trail up to the Pass!!!

I start across the snow covered trail following the footprints and enjoying the incredible views of the lakes and surrounding area along the way!!

My destination: Twin Lakes Pass is right in front of me.

After about a 1/4-1/2 mile thru the snow, I arrive at the Pass. It's so beautiful looking down on Twin Lakes (if only the electrical lines weren't in the way).

I turn the other way for a fantastic view down Little Cottonwood Canyon! I can see the Oquirrh Mts across the valley too!

It's a bit windy up here so I dig in my pack for my jacket so I can enjoy my efforts to get here.

Time to start my way back down thru the snow.

And then back down to the road.

I reach the Lake Solitude intersection and think about taking the trail past Lake Solitude on the way back but decide to just head back the way I came.

There are several people at the Lakes now and many more on their way up.

One last look down on Silver Lake

Before heading down to complete the loop around the lake.

Awesome day! And what a day for my first trip to Twin Lakes Pass!

Sept 24 - White Rock Trail Antelope Island

What a stormy last couple days here in UT! Lots of rain (over 4 inches in spots across the entire state), 3 tornadoes (that's a lot for UT), golf ball sized hail, etc ..... Even Antelope Island got hit yet again this year -- first the fire in July which they managed to protect the Ranch from but the storms and high winds took a shot at the Ranch and won -- knocking off the roof of the historic barn and collapsing one of the buildings. The Ranch is closed indefinitely. :(

Fortunately, at my house, I got the much needed rain (over 3 inches) but none of the strong storms. Oh, I can't forget snow in the higher elevations (5-12 inches)! If the clouds clear, it should be visible.

I so want to go play in the snow this morning but it's still raining in the valley and it's not suppose to clear until late morning/early afternoon. So I'm taking a chance and heading up a little north to Antelope Island hoping the storms will clear there first and I can get in a good hike.

So here goes nothing as I leave around 8:30am with it still raining in SLC. It stops raining the farther north I go but the dark clouds remain.

But as I pass thru the Antelope Island gate, there's clearing to the West (yea)!

And there's water in Farmington Bay!! (No more, dry and crusty lake bed - at least temporarily - thanks to all the rain.) It's so nice to see! And with all the clouds, it looks awesome! (Although it looks like dawn or dusk out.)

Even on the Great Salt Lake side! The water is so calm this morning, it's a mirror! Love these days!

As I get closer to the island, there are thousands and thousands of ducks (a moving island of them) in the Bay near the causeway. I've never seen so many!

I arrive on the island and head south towards the Ranch. Well, the bison that have been in this area have moved on. In fact I have to travel several miles before spotting a lone bison heading south.

I pass Frary Peak and then near the tree where the antelope have been hanging out all summer, there is a herd of Mule Deer. I count 10.

A mile or two farther down the road, I spot 4 more Mule Deer far in the distance.

Then there's a small herd of Mom and baby bison (about 10) moving south along the shoreline.

A little farther along, there's another herd of bison. This one is around 30 animals.

I'm not sure where the super herd of bison have gone but road is closed at the Mountain View trail (about a mile from the Ranch). Certainly looks like the cooler weather and rain has got the herd to finally move.

Time to head back north.

One the way back, I spot another lone bison laying down in the grasses at the Frary Peak turn-off.

And then just before I turn west towards the Ranch, I see a pronghorn ahead of me (down from the Visitor's Center). So I head north to get a better look at the lone pronghorn. It's just laying there.

So I turn around and as I do that, the Pronghorn stands.  I pull off the side of the road to see what he does. I get out of my car and stand by my driver's door to watch. The Pronghorn starts walking towards my car angling towards the road.

He keeps getting closer, stops for a scratch

And is almost at the road when the car in back of me decides its a "good" time to move their car. (They're going to scare the animal!) They pull just in front of me and guess what, they scare the antelope - instead of slow;y crossing the road, he runs across and then down the other side. (Just don't understand what people are thinking sometimes.)

Anyway, I then make my way to the White Rock Trail head. There are two groups of bison in the meadow. Around 12 in the meadow and 4 near the shoreline.

I start the trail still under cloud cover but the sun is just off to the west.

Some sunflowers are still blooming.

It's quiet out, just hearing the wind. A bit cool as its only 53 degrees.

The views are excellent!

West across the Salt Lake.

And north toward Buffalo Point.

I continue along the trail. I'm somewhere above the bison pens when I see movement in the distance. It's another lone Pronghorn!

I lose him in the sagebrush. Maybe I'll see him again as the trail gets closer. And yes, I soon spot some brown among the sagebrush; it's the Pronghorn again!

The sun is starting to peak out now.

White Rock Valley is now in view as I pass behind Beacon Hill.

Next thing I hear is a whoosh, whoosh, whoosh as a raven flaps to take flight passing overhead.

I finally get a good view of the valley and there's bison. I see a some herd along the larger loop trail and one in the middle of the meadow.

I head across the ridge. Farmington Bay looks awesome today despite the clouds!

I take the inner loop today and spot a Common Checkered Skipper along the way.

I also see a Kestrel perched on a rock looking into the valley.

It's so pretty since it sunny out now!

I'm on the last stretch to my car when I see a dragonfly.

I complete the trail and return to my car. After stopping for a Bison burger, I make my way around the Visitor's Center - there's a bison down by shore line - and back to the causeway.

The ducks (Shovelers I believe) are still there - just more spread out across the water now.

With a few shorebirds.

The water is still mirror-like. Incredible!!

Fantastic day! (And a wise choice as it still looks socked in by clouds in the valley.)