Heading out after work to enjoy some of that snow on a sunny, perfectly blue sky day with temperatures in the mid-30s.
Going up Big Cottonwood canyon to hike to the meadow on the Mill D South/Cardiff Mine trail. It's one of my favorite spots in the winter - very pretty and low avalanche risk.
The drive up the canyon is wonderful; lots of snow everywhere!
The trail starts at around 7500 ft. I'm only going up about a mile to the big meadow (plus the 1/2 mile walk to get to the trail since the road is closed in the winter). Got the snowshoes ready - though I don't think I'll need them as the back country/x-country skiers have probably worn a pretty good path by now.
I set off up the plowed road to the best views of the year! (Carrying my snow shoes at this point; it's a plowed road. Happy to see other folks returning with snow shoes in hand too.)
Soon a very snowy Mt Reynolds in coming into view - I can see ski tracks near the top.
The snow is still fresh looking.
I make it to bridge crossing
and then the actual trail. The skiers have definitely made a path but since I have them, I might as well put the snow shoes on.
And up I go through the still snowy conifers. I'm surprised to still see snow in the trees but I guess it still was pretty cloudy most of the day yesterday. I hear thumps as snow falls from the trees. And occasionally, it's a mini-snow storm as the flakes flutter down to the ground. Very pretty walk.
The stream alongside a portion of the trail is covered in snow; I can't even hear it flowing.
I can tell I'm closing in on the meadow when I see some peaks ahead of me.
And then I arrive (my favorite part of the hike, entering the meadow). Awesome!!
I make my way up about 1/2 way through the meadow before stopping to look around and up at Mt Reynolds.
Time to head back.
Awesome hike!
