Sunny morning today; temperature are in the 40s when I leave around 8:30.
As I close in on Park City, it's snowing! Not from the sky but from snow making machines at one of the resorts. Not sure their testing the machine out or actually trying to lay a base. But since many of the ski resorts just released tentative opening date around the Nov 19th so perhaps its the latter.
Driving by the Jordanelle Reservoir heading to Kamas, I brake for 2 deer crossing the highway.
Oh no, my nice sunny day has a big dark cloud hanging over Kamas. Just the one cloud; blue sky everywhere else. I'm hoping the cloud moves away from Mirror Lake Hwy area. I arrive in Kamas and my sunny day is gone....for now (hopefully).
The drive, despite the naked trees, is pretty as always. There's no snow on the ground here but I'm not expecting it. (The elevation is around 6400ft.) But in the distance, I get glimpses of snow on the Uinta Mts.
A few chipmunks scamper across the road. And then I come to a quick stop as a deer crosses.
My first stop is the Provo River Falls (9350ft) with the sun partially out. The first falls is the biggest.
It's still flowing but there is some ice on the bottom pool of water.
I walk down the trail
to the next waterfall.
This one has a trickle waterfall on the non-trail side. Icicles formed last night are still visible.
And then the final falls.
Time to continue on up to Bald Mt Pass.
Soon I can see Bald Mt and Murdock Mt -- not much snow on them but I'm looking at the sunny side; there may be snow on the other side. And then I reach Bald Mt Pass (10,700ft). I pass the overlook because I'm back under the cloud again.
There's snow on the ground now - just a few inches. Now its downhill to Mirror Lake (10,000ft).
I reach the side road to the Lake. Thankfully the downhill road is snow-free....until the bottom where there's a section of ice. My car slides a bit but I get down safely.
Now this is why I came today instead of Saturday - there's only one car in the parking lot!
At only 37 degrees and cloudy, it's so crisp and fresh out! (The sun is coming though.)
I head down to the lake. It's frozen on this side but open on the other. The ice is not very thick; I put my foot on it and there are bubbles and cracking noises. On top of the ice there are tiny scattered white snow flakes - very cool looking.
I start my way around the mile loop.
Love the early morning's crystallized snow
On the other side of the lake, I finally get to open water. Lovely reflections.
And I'm seeing more birds now. There are Woodpeckers (Hairy Woodpecker I believe)
Gray Jays
And a Mallard pair!
Also nice to see traditional signs of child's play in the snow :)
Wonderful stop!
Onward to Ruth Lake (10,300 ft) which is several miles further down the road towards Evanston WY.
I arrive to an empty parking lot (yea!).
Plenty of snow here but the other people have already blazed the trail thru the forest. The trail is a perfect Fall combo of snow packed, icy, dry, and muddy. It's only 3/4 mile to the Lake.
Lots of trees and tons of rocks - such a pretty landscape.
When I turn around, there are lovely views of Hayden Peak.
I arrive at a large meadow. The evening's frost has already burned off but there is lots of water (some frozen).
Next come a lake (unnamed as far as I know). It's mostly frozen with some cool star shapes in the ice.
And some circles. Not sure how or why but it's pretty cool.
I continue around the lake; there's a great view of Hayden Peak from the other side.
And onto Ruth Lake.
Ruth Lake (like the other) is mostly frozen but it does have more open water especially along the edges.
I find a few trout in the open water by the shoreline.
I continue around the lake to the far side. Again, Hayden Peak is the focal point.
And I see a few more trout.
The trail ends without a good place for lunch so I backtrack to a nice log with a great view for lunch.
In the distance a large dark cloud appears to be heading my way so it's time to head back to the car.
I see more Gray Jays on the way back to my car.
On the drive back, I make one last stop just after Pass Lake (I'm not sure the name of this lake) for a nice shot of the snowy side of a few peaks. Perfect!
Awesome day!
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