Little Water Peak 9605

Little Water Peak at 9605 feet

I have not had a bad hike all summer . . . . . . until yesterday (big frowny face).  The hike began pleasant enough on the Little Water trail in Millcreek Canyon.  Little Water trail is found at the upper parking area at the end of Millcreek Canyon road and offers the shortest access to Dog Lake at 1.8 miles.  Our hiking objective was to bag Little Water Peak, the peak to the north of Dog Lake.  Once you reach the last sign for Dog Lake and before you descend to the lake there was a faint trail heading toward Little Water Peak on the left.  My hiking book said that "Little Water Peak is a relatively easy summit for hikers."  HA!  The faint trail we started soon deteriorated into no trail what so ever.  We never did find a trail which meant bushwacking the entire climb to the peak. (Bushwacking is defined as traveling through very rough country, right!)(And bushwacking is kind of a hiking no no!)  Add gale force winds and our hiking experience became BRUTAL!  The only consolation was getting some pretty good pictures to share.  The mountain views were impressive.

Beginning of Little Water Trail

Turn left toward Little Water Peak just after sign.

Trying to find the trail to Little Water Peak

Very nice views but still no sign of trail

Looking down at tiny Dog Lake

Quakies

Beautiful Quaking Aspens

Gnarled aspens from too much wind at the top

An elk - the only one we saw on this hike.

 Views From The Top

Reynolds Peak

Wind makes for a gorgeous sky

Clayton Peak on the far right

Antelope Island in the far distance

Having a snack at the top of Little Water - it's windy!!

Bushwacking our way up and down. 

Covered in prickly burrs!

Our hike today totaled 5.4 miles with an elevation gain of 2005 feet.  Little Water trail to Dog Lake is a very enjoyable hike, but I wouldn't climb Little Water Peak again.  Nearby Reynolds Peak has a much better trail and I would climb Reynolds again in a heartbeat.

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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

148.1

Deer Valley Resort (Hiking?)

Hiking trails at Deer Valley Resort???  Oh me of little faith ---- but lo and behold I found one.  And I could almost believe I was deep in the woods . . . .  except for the sound of construction going on all around me.  That and being surrounded by the million dollar homes of the rich and famous.  Deer Valley Resort does have official hiking trails available during summer operations from mid June through the first of September which require a chairlift ride to the top of the mountain.  Since I missed the summer season by a few weeks I had to wing it, but here is a sampling of my little hike today covering about 2.5 miles.

Some nice views!

The St. Regis Deer Valley.  Too bad I wasn't staying there!

Sneaking a peak at this home on the ski resort.

Same home with gorgeous carved totem.

Success!  Seems to be the status quo at Deer Valley.

Leaves changing color.

Started my hike just to the right of this lift.

A few wildflowers hanging in there.

Tis the season of Sunflowers!

Deer Valley from afar.

My overall assessment:  With so many great hiking trails in the Wasatch mountains, I would leave Deer Valley to the skiers.  However, if you happen to be in the neighborhood and are a crazy hiker person like me, you can find trails to explore and Deer Valley resort is interesting.  Maybe I'll give it another try next summer when the chairlift to the official hiking trails is operating.

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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

******Miles hiked tally     

beginning March 22, 2013

142.7

Lambs Canyon

I ventured off the regular canyons for hiking today and headed up Parleys Canyon (I-80) to Lambs Canyon, exit 137.  The Lambs Canyon trail takes you to the Millcreek Ridge/Lambs Canyon Pass and connects to the Elbow Fork trail coming up from Millcreek Canyon.  Both Lambs Canyon trail and Elbow Fork trail are part of the Great Western Trail system.  In case you didn't know the Great Western Trail runs from Canada to Mexico through five western states with Utah smack in the middle traversing a walloping 4,455 miles.  Cool right!!  The Lambs Canyon trailhead is found 1.6 miles from the freeway off ramp along a narrow, winding road.  There are restrooms and a small parking area directly across the road from the trailhead.
After crossing the stream, the trail climbs through fir, aspen and lush foliage for 2 miles before you reach the saddle which is the Millcreek Ridge or Lambs Canyon Pass at 8,133 feet.  The elevation gain is 1510, but thanks to several switchbacks it didn't seem overly steep.  The trail from Lambs Canyon is the only Forest Service hiking trail on the Parleys Canyon side of the ridge.  From the Millcreek Ridge you have great views of Granduer Peak and the Salt Lake Valley to the west and Gobblers Knob and Mount Raymond to the south.  Overall a very nice trail that I can highly recommend!

Grandeur Peak on the right.

Gobblers Knob and Mount Raymond

  Again mushrooms were plentiful and unique!

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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

******Miles hiked tally     

beginning March 22, 2013

140.2

 

Desolation Lake

Aaaaahhhhh!  Love hiking mountains in the fall!  The temperatures are cooler, mountain air is crisp, leaves begin to change into vibrant colors of orange, red and yellow.  Love it! Love it! Love it!  This weeks hiking destination was Desolation Lake.  The trail begins at the Mill D North Fork trailhead about 9 miles up Big Cottonwood Canyon.  Desolation Lake is a good sized mountain lake set in a crater-like bowl which was formed by a glacier a very, very long time ago.  The size of the lake depends on the amount of snow we get in the winter.  More snow, bigger lake.  The distance to Desolation Lake from the trailhead is 3.7 miles with an elevation gain of 1,960 feet.  Also be prepared to share the trail with mountain bikers coming down from Guardsman Pass along the "spine".  At 1.8 miles from trailhead you will come to a junction with Dog Lake 0.6 miles to the left and Desolation Lake 1.9 miles to the right.  The trail is  fairly steep from the junction for about half a mile but then becomes a more gradual up.  The lake sets at 9,220 feet elevation.  The trail will pass through open meadows, lovely aspen groves (just beginning to change color) and beautiful evergreen pine.  I always like to take the time to walk around the mountain lakes if possible - take in the view from all directions.  Here is some of what we saw along the way!

Someone carved a palm on an aspen!

 

A few wildflowers still blooming.

A perfect puff ball!

Thistle is a nuisance, but this one was pretty!

Mushrooms!

All Kinds

Arriving at Desolation Lake

Here is looking at Desolation lake from four different directions.

One last mountain view as we made our way back.  We hiked for about 8.2 miles today and got caught in the rain, but we were prepared so no big deal.

♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦

Peaks Bagged

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

******Miles hiked tally     

beginning March 22, 2013

136.2