Dec 20 - Red/White Pine Trail (Snowshoe)

It snowed like crazy yesterday (started out as freezing rain) -- even the airport was basically closed for a period of time. But we got about 6-7 inches of new snow --so today is a good day for my 1st snowshoe event of this winter.

My target is Little Cottonwood Canyon Trail. I've been on it plenty of times hiking (but this time there will be no bikers). And its really not back-country hiking (so its safer).

Its still a bit hazy this morning -- supposed to be partly clouded with snow Fri night/Sat. I take the turn off for the trailhead and the gate is down = trail is closed. Shoot. Now what.

I start to head back home but decide to head up Little Cottonwood to the White & Red Pine Trailhead. I'm planning to go only to the creek where the Red and White Pine trails split. Its about a mile with some elevation. (There are tons of folks heading to the ski resorts - I've never seen so many people of this road.)

There are a couple of cars in the parking area. Pretty hazy/foggy. The trees look fantastic as the snow (2-4in) is laying on each branch.

The avalanche danger beacons are not blinking so I strap on my shoes and head off into the wilderness.

Its so beautiful here -- aspen, pines, bushes all covered in snow. Its very quiet -- just a few birds chirping occasionally. I'm walking in a some path that appears to be made by cross-country skiers.

I come to the first bridge at the start of the trail. The bridge is covered in snow except a padded down trail over the top.

It's just pristine -- no one that made the tracks before me, disturbed the 4inches of snow that still covers the handrails. The flowing creek -- breaks the silence. The rocks in the stream are covered in snow as well. It looks ... like the perfect winter scene.

I see a few rabbit tracks and what I think maybe moose tracks on the trail (or they could be ski poles). I follow the trail uphill through the forest. The meadow below is hard to see in the haze and I know I'm surrounded by mts but I can't see them either -- just white and trees.

There are a few bushes that have red berries -- and all covered in snow (the theme of the day).

The sky is starting to open up as there are peeks of blue. The contrast of the blue sky and the white snow is perfect.

I get to my destination, the 2nd creek. I can hear it flowing but it is simply covered in snow.

There are a few open holes in the snow where I can see water.

The foot trail to Red Pine Lake goes up a bit and over another footbridge but the trail is not broken -- I'm actually not sure how one would find the footbridge in this snow (and keep dry feet). Instead, the trail goes across the lower part of the creek. Its a bit eerie to walk across -- I hear and see the water. But I go across -- hey its only a couple of inches in the summer anyhow in this section.

This is turnaround time. I meet 3 snowshoers and 2 xcountry skiiers aheading up while I head down.

The sun is coming out now (and even more blue sky). The meadow is now visible

And I can see peeks of the surrounding mountains -- its so pretty.

There is part of me that wishes I waited a couple of hours before I walked this just because of the sun/blue sky but I think I got right, because I got a taste of both worlds today - a pure white and blue-ing up -- both equally wonderful.

The trail is definitely different now than on the way up.