Unfortunately, the mostly cloudy days streak continues in Salt Lake.
Heading up the canyon it's nothing but brown rock and brown naked trees on the south facing side (sunny side) of the canyon; it's a better (snowier) on the north facing side. But with only about 160 inches of snow this season, it's still pretty bare and pitiful looking.
I only going about 1/2 way up the canyon to the S-turn as I'm going to hike a portion of the Lake Blanche trail. Too late in the day for me to head all the way to the lake as I don't want to come down after sunset. So my goal is just to make it to the meadow (around the 2 mile mar) - I want to see Sundial Peak. Should take me a little over an hour to get there.
The entire trail is 3.2 miles with an elevation gain of 2600 ft (8920ft).
It's lightly cloudy (since a little blue sky bleeds through the clouds) as I start the trail around 2pm. The trail is snow packed as I follow Big Cottonwood creek east to the actual trail head.
The small waterfall is a bit icy today.
When I reach the trail, I turn south heading thru the trees towards Sundial Peak. (The creek splits here as well and the one branch heads all the way up to Lake Blanche (and the other 2 lakes nearby).
I'm sure in a "normal" winter, this low brush alongside the trail would not be visible but that's definitely not true this year but still lots of white.
It's not too far before I cross to the east side of the creek where I'll stay the rest of my hike.
And I get my first glimpse of my destination in the distance.
Beautiful and quiet the entire hike. Seeing deer tracks and eventually moose tracks as I get higher.
Constantly scanning for moose but not seeing any today.
I do find what looks like moose hair on the trail.
I stop several times to look around check to the view back towards Big Cottonwood Canyon.
But I continue on through the trees
along side the river gaining elevation with every step.
Soon I get my first glimpse of Sundial Peak and then I'm in the meadow with Sundial Peak in view!!
(Sundial Peak towers over Lake Blanche.)
Well my has been reached so this is my turnaround point (7700 ft) - only 1200ft left to go. (If we continue to the "no snow" weather pattern, I just might be back soon rather than later.)
Time to head back. Lots of clouds now down near the canyon road.
But they clear as I near the trail head.
Great day!
