Oct 24 - White Pine Lake

Forecast is for a 79 degree day in the valley - way above normal. But it's a great day to finally get up to White Pine Lake in Little Cottonwood Canyon (before the temperature bottom falls out and the snow starts flying up there).

Warmish morning - mid-50s and very windy. The Scrub Oak on the Foothills are in full autumn colors - dark reds and oranges. But after driving a little into Little Cottonwood Canyon (and gaining some elevation), Fall is over. The leaves have fallen (yes, there are a few stranglers) and just the skeletons of the trees are visible. Stark reality that winter will get here ... eventually.

White Pine Lake shares the White Pine Trailhead with the Red Pine Lake and Maybird Lakes trails. I've been to both Red Pine and Maybird Lakes earlier this year. The trail to all 3 lakes share the same path for the first 0.8 miles before White Pine splits off to the left.

The trailhead was in 50s but it seemed really cold -- perhaps because the sun was not high enough but I started out with my fleece and gloves on.

Along the trail, the trees are leafless, the fallen aspen leaves covering the trail. I see only one Aster Plant in bloom on this first part of the trail. However, there are still green understory plants and some a golden color.

I finally get to the trail split and start my new adventure. The trip to White Pine Lake is around 4.9 miles with an elevation gain of 2400ft.(Starts at 7698ft.) It seems the hardest part of the trail will be mile 3 were it gains around 1000ft in 1 mile.

The trail follows an old mining road built in the early 1900s so its nice and wide and easy to follow. (And no vehicles are allowed.) The trail ascends on basically a switchback to a canyon overlook and a great view of the city this morning. (A moose has been here recently because there is a pile scat here.)

The trail continues upward thru a forest (a mix of conifers and aspen). The trail is mostly in the shade with peeks of sun here and there.

As the trail climbs, it weaves along several switchbacks - some long, some short -- some with good looks over a valley with mountains

and others thru thick forest and still others through meadows.

I cross a small creek (actually the creek crosses the trail). There's some ice around it from the cold night but there's no snow here.

Around 3.5 miles, I come out of the forest into a rocky (big boulder) glacial bowl and the climbing begins -- but the scenery is so rugged and pretty. This is the serous climb part of the trail.

I'm actually surrounded by mountains at this point - to my left, a meadow going up the mountain; ahead of me and to the right, boulder field and rocky mountains. And they keep getting closer and bigger. The trail to my right is a steep slope to the valley below. Its pretty funny that among all those boulders is a little island of evergreens.

The trail is now weaving itself through the boulder fields and up switchbacks to the final ridge. Quite honestly, I'm a little tanked at this point but I keep going, stopping to rest and enjoy views.

It's in the 40s up here and very windy. (It's time for another layer.)

Finally, I'm at the ridge (whew!). The trail levels a bit --- and what an incredible view everywhere.

I only wish the sun was higher in the sky so I have a better of the mountains to the south - they're pretty craggy. (Just have to come back in the summer.)

I traverse the ridge and spot White Pine Lake below. Not looking forward to going downhill to get to the lake (actually its the going back up is the part I'm not looking forward to), but I came this far, down I go.

The lake nestled in between some mountains. On the northern end is a dam.

The water is pretty low but there's enough to still be pretty. There's a path on the eastern side that leads to the dam so I head on down.

I pass-by the 2 ladies I passed early on trail only to have them pass me back up on that steep section. They said they were happy that I made it -- so was I. (Although I was struggling, I did make the 5 miles in just under 3 hours; my hiking books say it should take an average person/average pace 3.5 hours --- so I'm above average! :)

Got up to the dam

and looked down the other side, just a steep valley. There was a nice little camp at the dam and a trail that went off to the west after crossing the dam (I think this goes to Red Pine Lake).

I thought about lunch here but it was directly in the strong wind so I move back up the lake to a less windy spot. After over 5 miles, it was nice to sit down on a sunny rock by the lake.

While I was there, an ATV with 2 guys arrived. Thought no vehicles were allowed but they worked for the electric company that "owns" the lake. They were there to shut the dam for the winter.

The 2 ladies ask them if there was another way down to the trail below -- instead of climbing back up only to go back down. They said there was one through a boulder field. They asked if I wanted to join them - I declined (I'm not a mountain goat rather be on known trail.)

So we both left opposite directions. I climbed my 200 ft back to the ridge -- and the views were even more incredible with the higher sun and afternoon shadows.

I keep looking for the ladies crossing below for the mile or so down the switchbacks but saw only a pika scrambling along the rocks - stopping to scratch his face on a rock.

I continue downward.

Thought the ATV would pass me by at some -- its 5 miles to the TH -- but never saw them.

When I got back to my car, the ladies car was still there - I hope their "easier" route wasn't a bust.

Incredible day! Incredible views!