Oct 28 - Desolation Trail to Salt Lake Overlook (Millcreek Canyon)

 I have the day off today. Normally, I'd head to the mountains but they've gotten close to 3 feet of snow this week including cloudy skies on Thursday. Thought about Antelope Island but decided to head up Millcreek Canyon to hike the Desolation Trail. There's definitely snow up there at the higher levels but don't know what to expect at the lower levels.

It's 29 degrees this morning. I'm not hiking early!

Finally leave my house after 1pm. It's still in the upper 30s in the parking lot. Not a lot of snow around the parking lot but I have my Yaktrak in my pack.

It's frozen ground as I start. Looks awesome in the little section before the trail. Snow is still on the pine and the sun is trying to peek thru.

As I start up it's mostly icy with patches of dirt/mud or frozen ground. Lots of snow still on the trees and it's melting down onto the trail.

I put my Yaktrax on at some point just getting too icy.

Quiet trip. Several sets of people on the way down.

Obviously no flowers hanging on at the point.

Higher up, it's snow packed which makes for easier walking.

It's just beautiful out even without the snow farther down the canyon.

I finally reach the overlook. A quick stop for Grandeur Peak

and then the actual overlook!

Fantastic as always.

I stop for a quick break before heading down.

I reach the bottom (the wooded area before the trail) and I'm hearing a musical tone (like a Tonet tooted). I stop and look around and see a Grey Bird - Townsend's Solitaire. (I've only seen these once before; it was on the Broads Fork trail and the bird's song stopped me as well.)



Awesome day!

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