Utah Adventure 2023

 Cloudy morning and 29 degrees. The sun is supposed to come out at some point today; hoping sooner than later. The plan is to hike the Gravel Pit trail up to Beacon Hill providing the bison will let me. I arrive on the causeway and it's gray and 26 degrees. The mountains are covered in a couple of inches of snow which looks awesome! On the ground, it's clear. The water has dropped along the causeway with just pockets of water on the south side. I pass a Kestrel perched on a road marker not far from the entrance. About high way across, I see something on the frozen Great Salt Lake. It's moving and it's a coyote!! I stops as I pull up and doesn't move while I watch. After a bit, it's time to move on. Quiet the rest of the way across. There are some birds but the big group of Shovelers is not there today. There is also a small stretch on the south side that appears pink. I reach the Island and head south towards the Ranch. There's no critter in the VC area; act...

Sunny day with highs near 60. (They say it might be a record high.)  Heading up BCC one last time for the year (probably) because I found out that Silver Lake to Lake Solitude is still open. I thought they'd close it when Solitude opened last Friday. So I'm happy for one more hike in the mountains before the snow comes. And it did come yesterday. But Alta is only reporting 3 inches so I should be good. I leave my house around 7:30 and arrive at Silver Lake around 8am. Just one other car in the lot and it's 28 degrees. I put on my microspikes and make my way to the boardwalk.  Man is it pretty out here!!All that nice fresh snow on the peaks. I so want to head up to Twin Lakes but my hip's been saying no for a while now so Lake Solitude it is. The boardwalk is clear except for a frosty layer. The lake is all iced up but a few tiny openings under the footbridge. There are tracks on the ice. I think they would be beaver but they look like duck tracks. Very strange.' Oh!...

 Sunny day with temps in the low 50s. 6 more inches of snow this week in the mountains. The Solitude Resort open a couple of runs on Friday so I'm heading to hike to Willow Lake for one last time this year. Thought about heading to Lake Solitude/Silver Lake but with the resort open, not sure those trails will still be opened. With sunrise now just before 7am (thanks to the time change), I'm off just after 7am. I pass a fire, that has just been put out, at the gravel pit just from BCC canyon. Fire trunks still there managing the smoke. Quiet drive up the canyon. About mid-canyon, the south side of the road looks so beautiful with snow on the pine trees. The north side is pretty bare. I arrive at Willow Lake parking and I'm the only one there. It's 14 degree - like last week - but there is snow on the ground. I put on the micro-spikes and start up the trail. Yes, there is snow on the ground and I do need the micro-spikes because the trail is mostly packed snow/ice with a ...

Partly sunny with highs in the mid-60s forecast. Heading to Willow Lake today. Nothing exciting I know but with all the options, I think it is the best. Especially since I have to be home by 1:30 for an appoint. And with the late start times due to sunrise, it'll work. I head out just before 8am. Easy drive up the canyon, I believe hiking season is done, at least during the weekday. There are no runner or bikers along the way. I arrive and there are 2 cars already parked. It's early so I'm thinking they are probably hunters. It's 39 degrees as I start up the track. Not much has changed since Sunday except it's warmer and it's totally quiet. The snow has melted and there are now sections of trail that are muddy. Thankfully it's still cool enough that the mud is pretty solid. I make my way up the trail enjoying what's left of the aster seed heads and the views. Love all the naked aspens. Soon I'm at the meadow. Still quiet and no moose, deer, etc. Befo...

Sunny day with highs in the low 60s; perfect day for a vacation day and a hike (especially since we've had several days in the 40s). My original plans was to hike up to the White Pine Cirque today but when I woke up, I just wasn't feeling it so I decide to head to Twin Lakes. With 9inches of snow earlier this week, I'm probably heading directly to the lake with micro-spikes on feet. But I'll have to see when I arrive. Well, just like Willow Lake surprised me on with the lack of snow, so does Silver Lake; happily surprised that is. It's 29 degrees on arrival and partly sunny (but then the sun is just rising above the mountains. Happy to see that the Silver Lake parking is fully open; no more construction stuff. But the boardwalk is not fully complete. I can't wait until next year. I put the micro-spikes on even the parking is clear anticipating the boardwalk might be icy. But other than by the VC, it's pretty clear (just small patches especially on the footbr...

 Sunny morning BUT it's coooold. 29 degrees when I leave my house just before 8am. Sun has risen 15 minutes ago but it going to be awhile before it makes it over the mountains. I'm heading up BCC this morning to hike Willow Lake (Lake Solitude if there's too much so on the side of the road; we had 9 inches of snow earlier this week). Snow is pretty much up on the peaks until after Mill D. But there's not much on the ground and the roadsides are clear. So when I roll up on Willow Lake parking, it's a go!! It's 14 degrees in the shade - brrrr!. I gear up and start up the trail. (I don't know if I need them, but I have my microspikes on.) Darn it, as soon as I exit my car, another car pulls-up; sure hope that go the other direction. There's just a light dusting of snow on the trail (micro-spikes definitely overkill at this point but you never know).  The Aspens are bare - naked trees -- but the visibility is awesome (including the moon)! I can hear that the...

Well by the time I get back to the parking lot, the low clouds are gone and it's a beautiful day to hike the 1 mile to Timpanogos Falls. I hike the trail thru the forest, cross the bridge and start up the trail. And I'm going to say Wow! Hard to believe it will get better as I get closer! I quickly get stopped by a Satyr Comma. Then it's just hiking up to the Falls. There are still some purple asters along the trail but it's mostly dried seed heads. Finally, I see the Falls! Not much farther. But the trail gets a bit steeper but I'm just here to enjoy myself. And here's the Falls! Incredible! After a brief break, it's time to head back. I don't get far because the view it incredible! Awesome day!