June 19 - Red Pine Lake (Little Cottonwood Canyon)

Heading to Red Pine Lake today. It's the earliest I've tried and honestly, I'm not expecting to see much snow.

The trail starts around 7600ft and after hiking 3.25 miles I'll reach the lake at 9600 ft.

The day is beautiful - supposed to be mid/upper 90s in the valley - the mountains will be cooler but an earlier start gets me to my destination before it gets too warm.

I get started just before 9am.

The first part of the trail is very shady (and a little cool) as its thick forest and because the sun is still behind the mountains.

I can hear rushing water as I approach the first bridge. These hot temperatures is hurrying the melting of the remaining snow in the higher elevations and the proof, the fast water flow.

I cross the bridge and head into a dappled sunlight as I continue up the trail to the next creek and the actual Red Pine Trail. (The trail I'm on is shared by the White Pine Lake, Maybird Lakes and Red Pine Lakes trails. At the next creek, about 0.8 miles ahead, White Pine splits off but Red and Maybird continue together for another 1.7 miles before they too split.)

I'm seeing lots of green vegetation. The abundant flowers are the White Geraniums but many shrubs in bloom as well, including the Thimbleberry (yummy!).

The trail is for the most part dry but in some spots, there is a little water running down the trail. (splash, splash)

Spot my first ground squirrel of the day. Actually, I only see a few today -- not sure where they all are -- other times I've been here, I've seen lots.

Baneberry,

Virgin's Bowers, a few red Paintbrush and White (Colorado) Columbine are blooming. Many of the Columbine are still in their rocket shaped buds and others in full bloom. I see a few that have a blueish tinge to them.

I get to the 2nd creek - again flowing fast - lovely waterfall.

I cross at the footbridge and enter a very wet forest. Seeing many ferns, Bitter Cress (w/ white flowers), and other plants.

A little further and I'm out of the wet woods and into a drier habitat - heading for the overlook.

New flowers here: a different species of Red Paintbrush, Larkspur, a lovely blue Penstemon, and Scarlet Gilia.

The views down Little Cottonwood Canyon are lovely.

Now the real climbing begins.

I can finally see the creek flowing down from Red Pine Lake rushing down the mountain - that means I'm getting close to the last footbridge - < 1 mile to go!

I reach the final footbridge and stop to enjoy the creek and the flowers in the wet area -- Shooting Star,

Columbine (not yet in bloom) and Elephanthead (about ready to bloom).

I continue on without crossing the bridge -- I'd be heading to Maybird Lakes if I crossed. (That's for another day.)

A little further up the trail, it's time for me to cross the creek on some rocks.

I start finding some snow near the trail and in the woods now.

The trail goes through a very rocky section before entering an opening with some decent views.

I start seeing early season buttercup and Spring Beautys.

The trail crosses two small sections of snow before reaching the lake.

I head to the near shore to get my first views. Not a lot of snow left on the mountains but still very pretty.

I follow the trail along the shoreline -- I can hear water running (the source of the creek I've been following) and want to find it.

I pass some rocky outcroppings and find some Wallflower, Paintbrush, and some some blue Penstemon.

I climb one of the outcropping to get a higher view.

And find the source of the creek. I make my way there and see the source of the creek from the lake as it tumbles down the mountain.

Its an interesting spot where the lake overflows. There a brick wall down the Northwest side of the lake holding in all the water from the valley below. Between me and the brick wall is water and the overflow heading downhill.

I could get to the brick dam by crossing about 5 end-to-end logs -- but not worth it. (I'll wait until the water is lower and I can cross without the logs.)

Behind the logs is where the overflow begins and the water rushes down the valley.

Time to head over to the other end - by the main trail.

Just a few flowers blooming along the way: Meadow Rue, Forget-Me-Knots, and Paintbrush.

I get to the other side and although there are no close mountains to close at, it's still very serene.

I make my way to the far end -- where the water overflowing  from Upper Pine lake (at least a portion of it) flows into Lower Pine Lake). It's really cozy here - a couple large boulder and flowing stream and great views down the lake. There still snow on the other side of the lake.

I had lunch here last year and I will this year but first it's time to find the water flowing down from Upper Pine Lake.

I cross the creek on a very wobbly log and follow a trail uphill. There's snow here -- a good amount in the wood sections where I'm headed.

But I pass on the trail and head over to the creek and follow it up as far as I'm willing to go. Pretty incredible.

I head back to my lunch spot, well for lunch.

Time to head back.

On the way down, besides slipping and falling in one of the two patches of snow on the trail (quite refreshing), I see a Mourning Cloak, a Sleepy Duskywing, Satyr Comma, Milbert's Tortoiseshell and a Field Crescent.

Awesome day!