Red Pine Lake

I discovered another trail that I really, really like!  I actually liked the trail as much as the final destination - Red Pine Lake.  Maybe it was just that the conditions for hiking yesterday were absolutely PERFECT!  Red Pine Lake trail begins at the White Pine trailhead about 5.5 miles up Little Cottonwood Canyon just before you reach Snowbird Resort.  The first mile of the hike follows an old jeep road so it is pretty easy walking.  You will then come to the junction for White Pine Lake, first left and a smaller trail just past the sign leads to Red Pine Lake.  Another half miles brings you to spectacular views down the canyon toward the Salt Lake valley.  In approximately another 1 mile you will come to a junction and small sign with Red Pine Lake straight ahead and the trail to Maybird Lakes crosses the stream to the right.  This hike is only challenging because it is a long one.  We hike just over 7 miles with an elevation gain of 1940 feet.  The trail this time of year truly delivers a feast for your eyes!  The rock formations that crown the ridges of Red Pine canyon was another highlight of this trail.  If I were to do one thing different, it would probably be to hike this trail in the morning instead of late afternoon.  The sun was already sinking behind Pfeifferhorn when we got to the lake.  It took us 2 1/2 hours to hike to Red Pine Lake and 1 1/2 to hike down.

 Here are pictures!

Golden aspens - camera doesn't quite capture the beauty.

At the last junction - Red Pine Lake straight ahead.

Old mine tailings

On the northwest side of Red Pine Lake.

 

Hand print left on the wall a very long time ago.

View of Mount Superior

 It's October! and the Halloween caterpillars were on the trail!

This lovely creature is a Woolly Bear caterpillar (pyrrharctia isabella).  Folklore is that if the orange stripe is thick, the winter will be mild and if the orange stripe is narrow, the winter will be severe.  Looks a little narrow to me!  Bwah -ah-ah!

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Peaks Bagged 2013

1. Grandeur Peak ♦♦ 8299

2. Reynolds Peak ♦♦ 9422

3. South Guardsman Pass Peak ♦♦ 10,420

4. Mount Baldy ♦♦ 11,068

5. Mount Evergreen ♦♦ 9,840

6. Mount Tuscarora ♦♦ 10,660

7. Mount Wolverine ♦♦ 10,795

8. Sugarloaf Peak ♦♦ 11,051

9. Little Water Peak ♦♦ 9,605

******Miles hiked tally

beginning March 22, 2013

159.8





Brighton Lakes

"The indoor life is the next best thing to premature burial."  Ed Abbey

I somewhat agree with Mr. Abbey so I decided to do one of my all time favorite hikes yesterday - the trail from Lake Mary to Lake Catherine.  The trailhead is found at Brighton ski resort in Big Cottonwood Canyon.  This section of trail also happens to be part of the Great Western Trail. (Plus I was itching to see some snow - go ahead call me craZy!)

Part One ** Lake Mary

There was a good amount of snow and ice on the trail, but nothing to deter hikers.  We like to get our shoes wet and muddy.  It is only 1 mile to reach Lake Mary. 

Part Two ** Lake Martha

Only .3 miles east of Lake Mary sets pretty Lake Martha at the base of Mount Tuscarora.  Lake Martha doesn't get as much traffic as Lake Mary which makes it feel remote and so peaceful!  I love the island of pines on this lake.

Part Three ** Lake Catherine



 Another .7 miles along the Great Western Trail brings you to lovely Lake Catherine.  I love the section of trail from Lake Martha to Lake Catherine.  You have some fine views of Big Cottonwood canyon and Brighton Ski Resort.  

Lake Catherine sets at the base of Sunset Peak 10,648 which is a very easy peak to summit.  My roundtrip hike totaled 4.4 miles with an elevation gain of 1150 feet.  It is just so pretty in our canyons and I love taking pictures!

Along the Trail



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Peaks Bagged 2013

1. Grandeur Peak ♦♦ 8299

2. Reynolds Peak ♦♦ 9422

3. South Guardsman Pass Peak ♦♦ 10,420

4. Mount Baldy ♦♦ 11,068

5. Mount Evergreen ♦♦ 9,840

6. Mount Tuscarora ♦♦ 10,660

7. Mount Wolverine ♦♦ 10,795

8. Sugarloaf Peak ♦♦ 11,051

9. Little Water Peak ♦♦ 9,605

******Miles hiked tally

beginning March 22, 2013

152.5