First Snowshoe Trip - Feb 3, 2013

Well I was ready on Saturday for snowshoeing at the Solitude Nordic Center up Big Cottonwood Canyon (near Brighton skiing). But forgot my map, first parking area was filled. I went up the road to the Solitude village but couldn't find anything so I gave up and came home. (Always remember the map.)

Drove back up on Sunday -- oh, the road up Big Cottonwood Canyon is a big curvy and narrow in spots. No looking out over cliffs -- just a few "Do Not Stop - Avanche Area"s. Saw plenty of snowshoeing and Xcountry skiiers pulled off the road (someday....)

There was a creek that the road paralleled in spots --- wanted so bad to stop and investigate but kept going. Well the next stop after the Solitude Village was the Center (and iconically, its basically the end of the road as it loops back at Brighton which is right there. :)

Got my pass ($5 for all day). [Oh by the ways, there are 10K of trails (well-marked).] Went back to my car to put on warm socks, hikers and grab my shoes. Had a bit of trouble putting the shoes on -- I think I had them on backwards...oh well. And off I went out the backdoor to a sea of white and then mountains to the left and in front (I know that means nothing but I haven't gotten oriented in the N-S direction yet.)

Started with the Silver Lake Trail (1K). The lake was frozen and snow covered. There were scattered trees (not in the lake of course) and in those areas, the snow was windswept (with little grooves).

The trail, well it was "broken" - I could've put my YakTrak on and did the same thing-- but it was cool - I was snowshoeing :).











I could see skiing on the mountains which is the direction I was heading. Then I hit the end of the lake and starting looping back. ALSO, little avalanches were present.




















This is where it started to get interesting because of the shadows of the trees, the little bumps in the snow, etc.

 Hooked up with the Cabin Loop Trail (1.5K) which goes past partially buried summer cabins. A little hilly here and I did, in spots, go off trail - I felt the need to "break snow" :). Body was nice and toasty but toes were frozen (and getting a blister on my right heel). So I finished the Cabin Loop and hooked back to the Silver Lake to finish it off.










Again the views and shadows were just wonderful.

That was my day. Since need to do the Creek Bottom Trail (which follows a creek), And the Solitude Trail -- first item is to buy snow boots.....