The area received snow on Monday & Tuesday and although it has since been sunny and warmer, I'm expecting to see snow.
The drive up Little Cottonwood is much less "colorful" as most of the leaves have fallen. Just a few yellow aspen are still holding their leaves.
There are almost no signs of this week's snow (except the shadier sides of the higher peaks). But there are some big chunks of snow along the road thru Alta towards the Summer Road.
I arrive at the Summer Road and am surprised to see the gate is closed. I'm not sure if it's just for the morning or it's closed for the season. (Perhaps the snow has made the road too wet and muddy for vehicles.)
A little disappointing but all is not loss as there the Albion Basin Trail to walk. It's no longer a short (< 1 mile) walk to Cecret Lake but a 1.5 mile (1100 ft) walk up thru the Basin's meadows just to get start the actual trail to Cecret Lake. (Total is 2.25 miles and 1520ft one way to the Lake which sits around 9900ft.)
It's sunny and in the 50s when I start around 10am. It's a mix of snow and clear ground as I start up.
The trail is also a combo of clear, muddy, snow-packed and/or icy. But the snow is good as I find rabbit, coyote and deer tracks.
As I enter the big meadow, I get my first views of Devils Castle and Sugarloaf.
I make my way up thru the meadow and to the Cecret Lift. From there I enter a forest again. As I enter, I'm greeted by a beautiful hawk flying over the trees.
There are a few chipmunks running around the forest floor.
I get to the Supreme Lift and start my way up thru a couple of inches of snow to Cecret Lake.
Soon the views of Devil's Castle return.
And I begin my way up the switchbacks getting higher over the meadow below.
And then I'm at Cecret Lake! The lake is mostly open but a small area of ice is on her surface. A snowy Sugarloaf Mt towers over the lake.
The views of Devils Castle unfortunately have the glare of the rising sun.
On the other side of the lake, I find a nice rock to sit for lunch.
Time to head down.
In the big meadow, I see a Milbert's Tortioseshell flying just over the tips of the dry flower stalks.
Awesome day!
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