Heading up Big Cottonwood Canyon to the Mill D South parking lot. It's mid-canyon (~7500 ft) so 80 inches of snow didn't fall there but I'm sure a significant amount did.
Sunny skies when I leave my house around 9am.
The drive up Big Cottonwood is beautiful. I thought the snow would have fallen/melted off the pines but they are still covered. Almost looks like it just snowed except the road are plowed and dry. Awesome!
I arrive at the roadside trail head and its sunny, blue skies and 17 degrees. (Brrrrrr).
I head off around the gate blocking the road to the actual trail head and across the bridge. Beautiful morning!!!
I head up snow packed road enjoying the wintery scenery. The plowed snow along the sides of the road are up to my chest. And except for the cars heading up to the ski resorts, it's quiet out. It's still early perhaps the birds are not awake yet (or still huddling from the cold).
Half way up the road, a squirrel scampers up the snow pile on the side of the road. He's quick this morning but I do manage to get a decent look at him.
Continuing on, Kessler Peak comes into view - snowy and bright against the blue sky.
(My destination is the meadow at her base.)
I finally reach the actual trail head and cross the stream.
So far the trail has been snow packed as I expected from all the foot traffic heading to/from Donut Falls and then the backcountry and x-country skiers. But I'm hoping the rest of the trail is the same because I did not bring my snowshoes. And I'm in luck - it's not hard packed as the other trail, but it's pretty close. Yea!! So up through the snow-covered trees I go!
I reach the point of the trail where there's a small creek flowing along the left (east) side of the trail. Today, there's is no sign of the creek - it's snow covered and quiet.
I continue up and up.
Finally, I reach the bottom of the meadow!
I'm finally in the sun (love the warmth)! And that sun is glistening of the snow; look like crystals! And of course, the view is incredible as the sun is just rising above the mountain peaks! Love it!
The trail is even less packed now. I'm sinking about ankle deep with almost every step; just trying to reach mid-meadow. When I reach it, I stop to enjoy!
East
West
The silence is broken briefly when a Clark's Nutcracker comes flying thru!
(And I can't forget the helicopters that fly occasionally dropping "lazy" skiers on top of peaks.)
Someday I'll be brave enough to continue on to the Cardiff Mine but for now, that's just a summer/fall destination for me.
The skies are turning cloudy; there's a small storm that's supposed to glance by this afternoon/tonight so it's time to head down
after one last look at the meadow.
Great day!
