But today, I'm heading to the mountains (w/ crutches in hand - much quicker to walk with them) to give my sister (who was kind enough to fly out to help me) a brief mountain experience.
Sunny day with temperatures heading into the 90s yet again.
First stop is up Big Cottonwood Canyon at Silver Lake. My sister has been here before but it's a wonderful place with an easy one mile loop around the lake. And there's always a chance to see moose here; if we're fortunate, it'll be my sister's first moose sighting.
The loop is my sister's walk; I'm only crutching my way down the right side and heading back. Got to save my energy for part 2 of the day.
It's a pleasant 59 degrees and sunny when we arrive.
The wet meadow is now green -- not many flowers though. Lots of birds singing this morning as we head down the boardwalk to the footbridge.
Mountains looking wonderful as always.
As I near the foot bridge, there are plenty of dragonflies out - but no butterflies :(
At the bridge, I see one trout in the water and there's a lone duck sitting on a log. (My sister is pretty into the nature thing this morning finding the duck particularly fascinating, noticing the birds and the texture differences in the pines vs aspens. Makes me happy as she really isn't an outdoor person.)
After crossing the bridge, I'm finding Purple Asters and some Fireweed in bloom. Oh no, the Fall is on it's way!
I make it to the lake view I'm looking for
and convince my sister to go at least a little further around the lake. I'll wait for her on some rocks a little ways back.
I have company on the rock as a little chipmunk comes for a brief visit before scurrying away. And a guy with a tripod and large camera stops to talk. He's seen Pika today up on the rock side. (I'm still waiting to see my first of the year.) We have a nice conversation about the missing Marmots. He said that the Marten population has increased and they've taken out the Marmots. Very interesting!
Well, my sister should have been back by now. I wander down the trail for a bit -- I guess she did do the loop!! So I start back passing a family of Mallards as I cross the footbridge again.
And she's very happy too as she saw a Mom deer with a fawn right next to the trail and a ground squirrel. There's a difference between just walking thru nature and experiencing; she's experiencing it today!!
That's an awesome start! Now onto Part 2 of the day, the Snowbird Tram to Hidden Peak - a place I've never been though I've seen Hidden Peak and the Tram at a distance from Germania Pass at Alta.
We head back down Big Cottonwood Canyon and then up Little Cottonwood to Snowbird. I get the Tram tickets
and soon we're heading up the mountain to Hidden Peak (11,000). We'll be there in about 8 minutes.
At first, we're over lots of green vegetation. Hey! There's a bull moose down there!! (The first moose for my sister!! Yea!)
And soon we're above the tree line and the landscape changes to craggy and rocky - in other words fantastic!! Still lots of yellow flowers blooming down there.
Getting closer!
At the top, there are incredible views everywhere.
Back to the smoke filled Salt Lake Valley.
Over towards Germania Pass with Sugarloaf Peak prominent and Devil's Castle in the background.
And I see a Frittillary flying!!!
I'd love to really walk around - it's dirt and rocks so I stick to the paved sections.
There are some huge chipmunks up here. Definitely well fed from the people who bring their lunches and snacks up here. I have to smile when one approaches a family eating lunch -- lots of screaming from Mom (and lesser from the kids). Too funny!
We hang out for a while and then it's time to head back down the mountain.
Awesome day! Nice to get into the mountains again but also great to spend some quality time with my sister showing her why I love the mountains so much. And the great thing is, she now understands! :)
