June 22 - Clayton Peak

This is a new area for me today - so I'm really excited. I actually tried on Saturday but when I got there, all the parking was taken. I supposed I could've parked along the road but quite honestly this road made my stomach turn - very steep drop-off and a curvy road. (The only other time that's happened to me was going to Mt Evans in CO - a total white-knuckler.) So trying to maneuver up there was totally out of the question. In fact instead of turning around, I started down the now gravel road to Park City. Fortunately for me, there was a closed side road and I was able to turn my car around (and not lose my breakfast). The exciting part of that journey was seeing an animal (maybe deer, elk -- possibly but unlikely moose) run across one of the mountain sides.

But I came back today!! The road I turn on is Guardsman Pass. It connects Big Cottonwood Canyon near the Brighton Ski Resort (i.e., end of the canyon) to Park City. The road is paved on the Big Cottonwood side but gravel towards Park City. The Pass is at elevation 9920 ft. The road is not maintained during the winter but is open for snowshoeing, x-country skiing and snow mobiles.

It's kinda sunny, kinda cloudy this morning -- about 54 degrees. I get there around 9:00 (same as yesterday) and there are only a few cars in the parking area. Yes, my stomach was turning even when parking because if you pull up too far, .... its a long way down. :)

It's a pretty view from the parking lot -- I can see the road for most of the way to Park City. Then its a heavy pine forest and some peaks. Across the road is a mountain -- bald, no trees -- with a trail going up it and along its side. Will have to investigate for a possible hike later this summer/fall.

Time to start this adventure.  There are actually 2 trails, one going left crossing the mountain, not sure where it goes but its not where I'm heading which is a 1/2 mile, 500 ft climb to Peak 10,420 (yes, its at an elevation of 10,420 ft). And its steep!!

The trail is a mix of dirt trail, dirt/rocks trail and rocky trail. I'm not blazing up the trail, just taking my time, making sure of good footing and looking and enjoying the sights. Lots of yellow wallflower, red paintbrush and a small white mustard plants (lots of them). There's also a plant with a yellow flower which looks like it may be from the Parsley family but the leaves of the plant don't resemble what I know as Parsley. (A lady I met later thought it may be from the Buckwheat family --  it was quite common.)

Lots of little side trails but they all connect back up to the main trail -- I think they just let people pick alternate routes in case they don't like where they are heading.

There's one flowery section that I really like looking towards Park City.

Its on a little hill which I took a side trail too (I'm hoping this is 10420 Peak -- because the trail from here, gets really steep!! But I don't think it is.)

There's a dead tree that looks quite pretty in the morning sky.

Still higher, there a section of yellow buttercups that blanket the slope. This section was under snow not too longer ago because there's still snow around.

Still climbing.

I'm high enough now I can see where the other trail at the start is heading, there's a nice lake down there. With a little island!

Still climbing and seeing more snow. Thankfully all of it so far is off the trail. I can now see a 2nd lake down below.

I can see 2 peaks, the one in front of me has snow blocking its path. So I go right trying to get around it and I get a sneak peak of the grand view that I'm heading towards -- not too shabby.

I make my way around the snow and back to a trail. I look back over the snow and the view is not too bad either.

The trail seems to be going around the peak -- I want to go up. I'm ready to make my own route when a find a side trail. I also meet 3 people (a man and 2 women) coming the opposite way along the main trail. I ask if this is Clayton Peak. They weren't sure but they all thought it was Peak 10420 (boy, it seemed I went further than a 1/2 mile!!) They said they were just around the corner enjoying the view and now heading back down.

I just continue up towards the Govt Marker at the top. And oh my, what a view!!

This overlooks the Solitude and part of the Brighton Ski resorts to the south. And I can see mountain tops that I can't see from below!

There's a couple of Western White butterflies flying -- at 10,420 ft!!! They are hilltopping!

There are a couple of peaks to my left. Clayton Peak is the one on the right.

And then there's the view back towards the parking area.

And the lake below.

But there's a couple of large cairns up the trail to my left so I head there.

The cairns are a little higher up but the view is the same -- spectacular!!

There's a chipmunk up there -- he seems larger than the one's below (probably a little extra fur to keep warm up there).

I work my way back down to the spot where I think the people I met a few minutes ago where resting. Not too shabby.

There's more snow to deal with on the trail so I think Clayton Peak will have to wait until another day.

I see a yellow/black swallowtail fly by me on the way down. It could be an Anise but it looked different - a little more black than an Anise. I would have loved to chase it but the trail is too steep and rocky for that.

I met a husband & wife on the way down -- they were on their way up. The man had a little girl 3'sh yr old on his back and the lady was carrying a baby. The little girl was cute because they saw 3 moose crossing the trail before they started up -- she was really excited! They told me that the side trail below headed down to one of the lakes I saw. I need to check that out.

I make it down and take the other trail which is nice and flat. I see another white butterfly -- this one's a Large Marble.

Lots of pretty patches of flowers along the way. Too bad its now cloudy because it would be interesting to see what bflies are out around 10K ft.

I make it to the lake. It's surrounded by pine. There is still snow in spots along the lake.

I was hoping to see some moose -- maybe next time.

This was fun! I want to come back in a few weeks when more flowers are blooming.