The forecast is for a mostly cloudy day (high clouds) - but it will be near normal around 67 degrees. Not the sunny/blue sky day I prefer but it's good enough.
Cool start to the morning, around 47 at my house when I left just after 8am. Might need a 2nd layer as the trail starts around 6300ft and I'll be in the shade for a while. I did this trail for the 1st time last Oct (Oct 30 to be exact) after a snow fall in the higher elevations; so very pretty that day.
No snow today but I'm sure there'll be at least a bit of snow (from prior snow falls the last couple of weeks) on the peaks surrounding the lake.
The trail is 3.2 miles with an elevation gain of 2600 ft (highest point 8920 ft). Sundial Peak towers over Lake Blanche along with other peaks. There are also 2 other lakes to visit: Lake Lillian and Lake Florence. These 2 lakes tend to be less crowded because people just stop for some reason at Lake Blanche.
Plenty of spots in the parking area when I arrive (pays to come on a Wednesday).
The trail starts as an old paved road following Big Cottonwood Creek east for about a 1/4 mile. At that point, a right turn leads to the dirt trail heading south up to Lake Blanche. The trail is on the west side of the forested side canyon and follows a different creek flowing down from the Lake Blanche area. I pass a wonderful little waterfall.
I'm not on the west side long as a bridge crosses the creek to the east side where the trail remains all the way up to the lakes.
Although in the shade, there's no frost present just lots of Oaks in their Fall colors. There are still Yellow Aspen; mostly on the other side of the creek at this point.
The trail continues to follow the creek up the canyon. The flowing water sounds wonderful this morning. (Actually, it's the only noise I hear - no birds chirping today.)
Ahead, I get glimpses of the snowy mountains at my destination.
After a while the trail moves away from the creek and enters a large meadow. I start seeing the sun at this point (yea!)
I also get my first glimpse of Sundial Peak.
Not a great view as the sun is shining right behind the peak and right into my eyes.
I continue a little further only looking up occasionally because of the sun is glaring right into my eyes. I come around a little corner and look up, I see something that looks different/out of place; it look like a Mickey Mouse head. I stop about 20 ft short to get a better look. It's a baby moose!! And it's standing right in the middle of the trail looking at me. Very cool! (Good thing I looked up when I did; otherwise, I would have run into him and probably got the wrath of Mom.)
My first thought is "Cool! Pictures" but the second thought is "Where's Mom? I need to back up NOW!" And I do, still keeping an eye on the baby while scanning/listening for Mom.
(I find out when I get home (in a blurry picture), that the 2nd baby moose was actually closer to me then the 1st. I just couldn't see him.)
Soon I hear movement in the brush ahead of me to the right. I move back a little more (trying to find a big tree just in case). I still have the baby in view. Then a second baby walks in front of the first - Twins!!
But I still have no idea where Mom is. I wait a bit longer and then Mom crosses the trail (to the left side) in front of the babies. She's in the trees a few feet off the trail. I can barely see her.
As I'm waiting, 3 ladies are coming up the trail behind me. I tell them there's moose so they stop behind me. By now, the babies have moved off the trail. Mom and babies are still just off the trail. (The ladies tell me that there was another Mom and twins earlier on the trail - darn I missed it!)
One guy joins our little group waiting for the moose family to move off. After waiting a few minuts, one lady asks why we aren't passing; we tell her that moose can be very aggressive. But after waiting just a bit longer, she heads up the trail very slowly; we just wait. She's standing on the trail very near the moose and there's no reaction (no grunts, no signs of agitation on the Mom). So because we're hoping there's safety in numbers, we follow and then veer off the trail to give the Moose some extra room. At one point, the Mom turns and looks our way; we freeze. But she just continues to eat so we move on. Very exciting!
Continuing on, the views get better as I get closer to my destination.
At 1.5 miles, I reach the switchbacks up thru the Yellow Aspen. After several switchbacks, I reach my least favorite part of the trail; a small little scramble up a boulder field to reach the other part of the trail.
I make my way up. I'm on the final leg of the hike!!
Sundial Peak is ahead.
I'm crossing over this huge rock field - it looks awesome!
Soon, I see the dam signalling the arrival at the Lake area. Lake Blanche is ahead. Sundial Peak is still back lit with the hazy sun.
There's no snow on Sundial but the mountains to the right have snow.
There's still a few Fall colored trees around the Lake. Good reflections today despite the lack of a blue sky.
I follow the trail over the rocks above the lake moving toward the "other" Lake Blanche dam.
These rocks are wonderful as there's grooves/lines in the rocks from the glaciers pushing across at thousands of years ago.
Grasshoppers are still hopping around up there.
I reach the dam looking toward Dromedary Peaks.
I continue past dam towards Lake Lillian.
Then make a stop and a great view down canyon. I was down there about 2 hours ago.
I then make my way back towards Lake Blanche along the shore line of Lake Lillian - lovely reflections.
Back at Lake Blanche, I find a spot along the shore for lunch. Beautiful view!
Soon it's time to head home.
Trail looks "brighter" on the way down as it's in full sun now.
Awesome day!
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