Alexander Basin

Alexander Basin is a beautiful glacial bowl located just below Gobblers Knob in Millcreek Canyon.  The trailhead is found 7.8 miles up Millcreek Canyon road with ample parking on the south side of the road.  The trail into Alexander Basin has been described as "one of the steepest trails in the Wasatch" and I concur!  In just over 1 1/2 miles you climb 1640 feet.  The trail passes though three levels of wildflower filled meadows before actually reaching the glacial cirque.  My hiking day yesterday (August 13, 2014) was cool and overcast which could not have been more perfect for this type of hike.  I was pleasantly surprised to find many of my favorite wildflowers still looking gorgeous this late in the summer.  The trail starts out pleasant enough, but soon turns into a real butt burner!

In less than a mile the trail opens up for a very fine view back down canyon.  And the clouds parted for a little blue sky - I was expecting rain?

 

Cow Parsnip as tall as me! (5'7")

First Meadow

Fireweed abounds!

Second Meadow

Still looking beautiful!

Third Meadow

 Glacial Cirque
  

From this point you begin the climb of another 1000 feet to reach Gobblers Knob.  This is the glacial cirque.  And a view looking back from Alexander Basin.

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 Wildflower of the Week

This tall, striking plant is called Saw Groundsel and is often seen growing in groups in the open forest such as on the Alexander Basin trail.  It has a large cluster of small yellow flowers and the leaves are serrated much like a saw blade.  Bees love this plant.

For myself I hold no preferences among flowers

so long as they are wild, free, spontaneous!"

Ed Abbey

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******Miles hiked tally

beginning March 22, 2013
Beginning of this Blog
327.3

Granite Lakes Trail

Granite Lakes is a wonderful section of mountain trail that connects Lake Mary to Twin Lakes crossing along the base of Mount Millicent.  It must get it's name from the towering 15 foot granite cliff that the trail passes beneath.

Begin by hiking the Lake Mary trail in Big Cottonwood Canyon.  Just after reaching the large trail sign for Dog Lake, Lake Mary, Lake Katherine, Albion Basin you will come to a much smaller sign pointing out the trail to Twin Lakes at about .8 miles from the trailhead.

The trail continues on the right side of the Lake Mary dam.  First point of interest is an old cabin,  I would love to know the history of this cabin and if it is still used.  The views from it's boarded up window would be awesome.  The trail climbs up slightly from behind the cabin for a great view of Lake Mary then continues through forest and granite scree, beneath huge granite cliffs and at 2 miles arriving at Twin Lakes.

Spooky old tree near the cabin.

Paintbrush still very vivid in color!

Lake Mary

The trail winds through beautiful forest.

Granite scree before and after.

Did you know that the Limber Pine pictured below is a super durable tree?  It mostly grows where other conifers can't survive like on the very edge of cliffs.  The branches are so limber that they can be bent double without breaking (hence the name Limber Pine)  Limber Pine nuts are edible and squirrels love them, but they are not quite as tasty or nutritious as pinyon nuts.  -- just a fun fact I thought I would share.

Limber Pine

Another limber pine growing from the cliffs.

I was hiking solo today in the morning hours and had the most awesome wildlife encounters!

White crown sparrow.

Two mule deer sightings.

Very friendly pika.  He seemed to want his picture taken.

From Twin Lakes dam I followed an old service road down towards the Brighton ski resort parking area.  I had to bushwhack a little and came out at the Milly Express ski lift, crossing the huge parking lot back to my car for a hiking distance of just shy of 3 miles.  I loved this hike!!

Approaching Twin Lakes

A very cool old work truck was sitting in the Brighton parking lot waiting to be hauled away from the maintenance area so I just had to snap a picture!

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 Wildflower of the Week

Fireweed dominates the mountain landscape at this time of wildflower season .  You can not miss this beautiful, tall, bright pink plant.  It gets it's name from the plants ability to populate over burned and logged areas with a eye catching cover of pink to magenta flowers.

For myself I hold no preferences among flowers

so long as they are wild, free, spontaneous!"

Ed Abbey

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******Miles hiked tally

beginning March 22, 2013
Beginning of this Blog
319.9

Kanarra Creek Slot Canyon

Kanarra Creek is a wonderful twisting, turning slot canyon located just east of the tiny community of Kanarraville, Utah. (population about 350 souls)   Yet another great Utah treasure!!  Kanarraville is located about 12 miles southeast of Cedar City.  Take exit 51 from I-15 and drive south on old highway 91 which becomes main street for Kanarraville.  Once you reach 100 North drive east a few blocks until you arrive at the designated parking area for the Kanarra Creek trail.  The parking fee is $10 per vehicle.  The first mile and a half of the trail follows an old access road into Hurricane Cliffs, past the water tanks.  This section of the trail is hot and very dry in the summer months so it is best to get an early morning start. When you reach the really fun part of the trail you will be wading in water for the rest of the hike.  Highly recommend water shoes and neoprene socks to help prevent blisters on the feet.  It is really quite remarkable that hikers are allowed through this slot canyon because Kanarra Creek is the water supply for the community.  Please be respectful of this beautiful resource.  I do fear that the popularity of this hike may limit hiker access if we are not careful.  The highlight of hiking Kanarra Creek is the two waterfalls you must climb to continue through the slot canyon.  The first rock jam waterfall has a nifty ladder to help you climb up. The second waterfall is a little more precarious and requires a lot more effort especially climbing down.  Many people especially those hiking with children will turn around at the second waterfall.  We hiked about a mile beyond the second waterfall and in my opinion the best of the slot canyon was before the second waterfall.  There was evidence of flood damage in the slot canyon, not the place to be during a thunder storm.  Here are my best pictures.  Loved this hike and will be back with the family!

A rip roaring flood hit the canyon at some point.

On the trail!

Along Main Street Kanarraville.

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 Wildflower of the Week

There were not a lot of wildflowers on the Kanarra Creek Trail, but I did find this pretty one that I haven't seen before.  It is Chicory.  Chicory is a highly nutritious forage plant and the roots when dried, ground up and roasted is used as a coffee substitute.  I loved the purple, blue color and look closely at the flower petals to see five distinct "teeth" at the end of each petal.

For myself I hold no preferences among flowers

so long as they are wild, free, spontaneous!"

Ed Abbey

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******Miles hiked tally

beginning March 22, 2013
Beginning of this Blog
317

Cedar Breaks NM Alpine Pond Trail

Need a road trip for the summer?  That includes a little hiking in the coolness of mountains above 10,000 feet?  That is very easy to drive to?   Cedar Breaks National Monument will definitely fit the bill for such a road trip.  Cedar Breaks became a national monument in 1933 thanks to FDR.  You have to love forward thinking presidents!  At over 10,000 feet above sea level this giant amphitheater covers about 3 miles and is more than 2000 feet deep!  And in July the wildflowers abound!  The entrance fee is $4 for adults and children 15 and under are FREE.  Cedar Breaks also hosts many activities for the entire family to enjoy from wildflower festival to star parties in summer to guided snowshoe walks in winter.   There are only a couple of hiking trails to choose from at Cedar Breaks NM and the only one I have tried is the Alpine Pond Trail.

Brian Head is the peak in the background.

The Alpine Pond nature trail is a two mile double-loop trail through forest and beautiful meadows filled with wildflowers.  I like hiking it as a figure 8 loop.  Half way through the loop hike is a natural, spring fed alpine pond. (Take bug repellant!) The park provides a nice trail guide to take along which points out interesting features of the trail - well worth the $1 donation.  It is sad to see so many dead trees surrounding the pond destroyed by a beetle infestation beginning in 1992.

There must have been something interesting at the pond.

One of my all time favorite wildflowers at Cedar Breaks is the lavender columbines.  The larkspur, lupines and mountain bluebells were some of the healthiest plants I have ever seen!

Tall Larkspur!

Very healthy Lupine

Lush Mountain Bluebell

Here is a list of many of the other wildflowers you will find in the park. http://www.nps.gov/cebr/planyourvisit/upload/Wildflowers.pdf

Don't forget to look for bristle cone pines on the trail.  They are some of the oldest trees in America.

My favorite way to Cedar Breaks NM is to exit I-15 at Parowan, Utah and travel on highway 143 to Brian Head Ski Resort then take highway 148 to Cedar Breaks.  It's a beautiful drive!  Drive on to Cedar City on highway 14 - more beautiful!  Add an evening at Cedar City's famed Shakespeare Festival and you have the makings of an awesome summer weekend road trip!

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 Wildflower of the Week

This beautiful magenta colored wildflower is called Parry's Primrose.  It typically blooms high in the mountains and loves to have wet roots so you will find it on waterfall ledges and streamsides.  You will find this gorgeous plant near the sink hole on the Alpine Pond trail at Cedar Breaks NM.  But don't touch the plant because just lightly touching will bring out a very unpleasant odor.

For myself I hold no preferences among flowers

so long as they are wild, free, spontaneous!"

Ed Abbey

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

******Miles hiked tally

beginning March 22, 2013
Beginning of this Blog
310.8