Nov 21 - Twin Lake (Big Cottonwood Canyon)

 Heavy frost last night, but a sunny day is forecast with a high near 50 degrees. Heading up to Twin Lakes for the final time in 2021.

When I arrive at Silver Lake, there are only a few cars in the lots. It's near 8am and temperatures are in the teens.

I gear up, with microspikes in my pockets, a knit hat on my head and my heavy duty gloves and  head out to the boardwalk. There's a packed layer of snow on the boardwalk, heavy hoar frost on the brush and lots of snow wherever I look. Fantastic!!

I head counterclockwise towards the foot bridge. It's so pretty with heavy frost on everything!

At the footbridge, the water almost all frozen except for some holes on the footbridge side of Silver Lake (it's the sunnier side).

I work my way around the lake to the trails. I see good paths to both Twin Lakes and Lake Solitude and start my way up to the switchback. Again packed snow on trail. The conifers are still covered in snow; looks very Christmas-y.

I reach the switchback. The rocky avalanche areas are covered in snow - so much for seeing Pikas this morning.

I brush the snow off a rock so I can put on my micro-spikes before starting the climb up to Twin Lakes.

The path to the lake is well-worn as I start the uphill trek stopping occasionally to enjoy the views. I have to because this is the closest I come to the views skiers enjoy.

Soon the dam is in-view.

And then around the dam. People aren't very adventurous at the lake because there's only a single path down to the lake. 

I make a new one ending up to my knee in snow in several spots. 

I end up on the "one" trail down to the lake where I brush off a rock and take a break to enjoy the views and silence. (The only noise the the snow making machines at Brighton.)

After a bit, I see some tracks heading down the lake so I head to the trail to follow some snowshoe treks. Whoever this person is, boy do they have large steps. :)

I end up 1/2 down the lake as the trail heads uphill. Again, I brush off a rock and take a break.

After a bit, I decide to head back down the lake and then uphill to where the trail from Lake Solitude comes out. As I head up, I meet a couple heading downhill; they came up from Lake Solitude perhaps I will head down that way.

There are some awesome views before I reach the Lake Solitude trail.

And of course, there's the nice views at the trail.

But my feet have been cold so I decide to head down in the sunshine instead of the shade of the Lake Solitude trail.

Downhill I go!


I meet 2 ladies coming up as I head down from the dam. (That's it 4 people today.)

Before long, I'm back at the switchback and then heading down to Silver Lake.

It's 10:30 and still few people here on such a great day!

I get back to my car, which has been sitting in the sun, and it says 29 degrees.

Awesome day!

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