Oct 11 - Catherine's Pass and beyond

Heading to one of my favorites this morning - Catherine's Pass (and beyond). Sunny morning and a little cool (but still above normal). The drive up Little Cottonwood canyon was beautiful -- about 1/2 way up the canyon the aspens by the road are now in full yellow -- will look awesome when the sun gets high enough.

Plenty of room in the parking lot this morning - but more cars than I expected.

It's in the low 50s which isn't bad especially when hiking uphill but the wind is really blowing (and it's still shady) so on goes the fleece.

Catherine's Pass is a one mile (800ft) hike up to 10,200 ft.

I'm surprised to see a few purple asters at the beginning of the trail still in bloom. They are the only ones I see today. Lots of brown vegetation and fluffy seed heads.

I'm constantly looking for moose (especially in the valley below) and deer. When I get to the big meadow I see movement on the other side of the meadow. There's a deer (doe) coming down the slope towards the meadow. Boy, is she hard to see! I'm looking for additional deer but she seems to be solo this morning.

I stop to look back towards the basin.

I get arrive at Catherine's Pass expecting to several people (based on the cars in the lot) but there is only a group of 3 guys. I stop briefly to have a look see. Most of views below are still in the morning shadows but I do see some tree color beyond where Lake Mary should be (she all dried up for the 2nd year in the a row).

I start my way up to Sunset Pass. Really windy now, starting to think about putting on the wind breaker but warm sunshine seems to be doing the trick for now. I get to the Pass and look out towards the east/southeast. It's still in the morning haze but I can see Mt Timpanogos, over to Heber City, .... wonderful as always.

I continue to the south, around the ridge of the Albion Basin, toward Devil's Castle and the Supreme Lift.

Beautiful views down into the basin and the surrounding mountains but super windy and chilly, time to dig that wind breaker out.

I get to the ridge at around 10,400 feet and walk around and enjoy the views. I see 6 Clouded Sulphers braving the windy conditions.

Great views of Sugarloaf, Bald Mt and Superior from the Lift.

And a nice trio of Devil's Castle, Sugarloaf and Bald Mt.

I take a short break looking towards the northeast with Sunset Peak and Heber City in my views.

Time to start heading back. I'm almost back to Sunset Peak when I spot 2 Checkered Whites flying around. Hardy little critters -- but then we've had near record setting temps almost continuously since Sept --- there should be some snow up here already but nothing.

On the way down to Catherine's Pass, I stop near Sunset Pass for some, now sunny, views down on Catherine's Lake and the surrounding area.

I get back to Catherine's Pass and this is a first for me, absolutely no one there!!

On the way down, I find a low growing BallonFlower (it looks like a miniature one).

The views are much better now as the trail is now in the sun!

Awesome day!