Sept 11 - Desolation Lake (Big Cottonwood Canyon)

Sunny day today, highs near 90. But its rather pleasant as I head up Big Cottonwood Canyon. It's hard to see as the morning sun is right in my eyes but leaves are changing up the canyon. I can see red, yellow and some orange -- still lots of green though.

I'm heading to Desolation Lake - a 3.5 mile 2000ft elevation change one way to Desolation Lake. Add another 1/2 mile and ~500 feet to get Wasatch Crest Ridge - the mountain spine that separates the Wasatch Front (Salt Lake City County side) and the Wasatch Back (Summit County - Park City, Heber City etc).

I did this hike last year on Sept 25. I had lots of leaf color but there were also a lot of leafless trees.

At the trailhead, there were only a few cars in the lot (it's Friday and school's in session -- nothing surprising here). Looking around, it's far from peak colors yet -- still a lot of green and only patches of color. But I have over 2000ft to climb, no telling what's happening up there. And it's time to find out.

The trail passes thru a mostly a mix of conifers, aspen, and oak. The vegetation is pretty dry and most of the flowers are gone. But I do see a few yellow composites, geraniums, purple asters and mint blooming along the trail.

The trail climbs and parallels the road for a bit before turning and heading up a valley.

It's a little weird that many of the aspen at the beginning part of the trail seem a bit leafless but as I climb higher, they have lots of leaves.

As always, looking for moose but not finding them nor do I see any deer.

I do see a Clark's Nutcracker land in the trees. Many birds are flying around this morning and there's a lot of movement in the dry grasses near the trail as I pass. I never see the critters - could be lizards, chipmunks, etc --- definitely very stealth this morning.

At about 1.5 miles, I reach the split in the trail. Left heads up to Dog Lake and to the right, in a bout 2 miles is Desolation Lake. I'm heading right.

I'm mostly walking thru trees but there are a couple of nice meadows in fall-like colors.

I know I'm not that far from the lake when I turn a corner and start seeing some brilliant yellow leaves. It's sooo pretty!

The lake has plenty of water and is nestled on two sides by close mountains. And the reflections of the yellow leaves are awesome!

I head down to the lake. I see some smaller hoof prints - mostly likely deer -- and smaller larger (somewhat fresh) hoof prints -- either Elk or Moose. I would love to see a UT Elk -- haven't been lucky yet.

Time to head up thru the masses of yellow to the ridge.

I'm surprised to see a Mylitta Crescent nectaring on a little patch of asters.

There's a Field Crescent too! Not all peaceful as they chase each other around.

Heading up there the yellow aspen is really pretty!

I pop out on the ridge with a great view of the Lake

and the Salt Lake valley.

Unfortunately, it's not as clear as last year when I could see the Great Salt Lake too!

I leave the trail too walk up to the ridge and look down on Park City, Hwy 80 and the Uinta Mountains in the distance. Very pretty but I'm definitely a little early -- lots of green down there.

I find a shady spot near a tree on the ridge and have lunch looking east.

And down the spine.

Time to start heading down.

On the way down, there are more butterflies out -- I see more Mylittas, a few Mustard Whites and Clouded Sulphers, a Skipper and Hoary & Satyr Commas.

No animals other than a lone chipmunk.

Great hike -- lovely Falls Colors (and the best is still yet to arrive).