Friday, February 13, 2015

Feb 13 - Dog Lake (Big Cottonwood Canyon)

Heading into the mountains for some snow (hopefully). Hiking to Dog Lake from Big Cottonwood Canyon - Spruces Campground is the winter trailhead.

Supposed to be another sunny day in the upper 50s; so heading into the mountains, it should be in the 40s. The trailhead is at an elevation of 7500 ft and the lake 8,700 ft. I will be at the lake in 2.7 miles.

It just barely 40 degrees when I get there - and happily very few cars in the parking lot - all the cars I saw were heading to the ski resorts. No snow in the parking lot - so I'm wondering how much snow will actually be on the trail. I'm figuring it will be all hard packed so I only have my YakTraks to give me extra grip.

I head off across the road and up and muddy embankment -- usually this is a bank of snow (not this year).

The trail here is really a road to some summer cabins. Its a mix of clear pavement and packed snow so the YakTrak go on. Pretty easy uphill thru the Douglas Fir.

The mountains across the street are snowy and look great this morning. I should get a better look further up the trail.

I finally get to the "real" trail and it starts to open up. I'm in between two hills (a little valley). Lots of naked aspen trees around. The hills across from me have very little snow (more sun exposure) but I'm surrounded by snow.

It's nice and peaceful. (Not even the sound of a bird chirping.)

The trail winds up the valley.

I spot an old bird's nest nestled in a small tree.

As I get higher, I get unobstructed views of the mountains behind me. Not a bad view.

I finally get to the stream. Most of it is covered in snow but it does peek out in spots. I can hear it gurgling.

I get to a fork in the trail. To the left is Dog Lake, to the right Desolation Lake. I've been to Desolation Lake this summer but never Dog Lake. I'm heading left and its a steep climb. The trail is still hard packed but it has more snow, probably from people kicking it up on the way down.

I finally get to the top and can see the snow covered lake. I was hoping there would be a nice mountain behind the lake but just lots of trees and a little hill.

There was a trail heading left around the lake and I took it. It headed up to a large opening and a peak. Reynolds Peak to be exact. Very cool!! I can see the ski prints of backcountry skiers coming down the peak.

Not a lot of people have been up here recently. I'm walking in sporadic footprints/snowshoe prints. I followed along for a little bit -- ended up over my knees in snow at times -- as it headed around the lake. But I stopped because I just didn't know where I was heading. Actually had a better view of the lake from here.

Time to head back -- and it's all downhill!!!!!

And those mountains at the start of the trail -- even more impressive now!

Great day!











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