July 3 - Catherine's Pass (Little Cottonwood Canyon)

Sunny day with highs in the 90s.

Heading up Little Cottonwood Canyon to hike to and above Catherine's Pass. My hope is to reach Devil's Castle but that will determined by snow because I'm sure there's still some hanging around.

The drive up the canyon is uneventful until I come up to the Red Pine Trail's parking. It's just after 7am and the parking lot is packed and cars lined up on both sides of the road for probably a 1/4 mile already. Craziness!

I'm now worried about the Catherine's Pass parking because it's very limited - maybe 25 spots. And there's no shuttle this year because of the virus. But I'm hoping that because the flowers are not in bloom yet, perhaps people are less interested. I'm hoping.

I reach the pay station and the guy agrees Red Pine is insane but says there are only a few people up top. Yea! I pay my $8 fee and head up.

Plenty of parking!!

I gear up and head out into a very windy day.

Devil's Castle is looking great this morning. (Photo taken on the way down.)

There are a flowers in bloom (Paintbrush, King Desert Parsley, Wallflower, Cushion Phlox, Groundsel, etc) but not many of them yet. Lots of green though and some snow especially in the gullies.

Before long, I reach the meadow. No critters visible this morning

but tons of yellow buttercups! Lovely!

One last climb and I'm at the Pass looking down on Lake Catherine.

Lots of chipmunks scurrying around this morning.

Time to climb up to Sunset Pass. Fortunately, there's no snow to deal with.

Soon I reach my favorite viewpoint and stop for a bit

before continuing to Sunset Pass. Always love the view from here; it's the reason I climb here.

Just no flowers yet but that's what I expected. But I do find deer tracks.

I continue towards Devil's Castle passing Sulphur Paintbrush

and plenty of buttercups.

I only walked 30-50 before taking a detour from another view (with snow) of Mt Timp.

Then I continue on my way. I really don't get far because after the little downhill, there's snow blocking the trail. It's only a 30 foot spot but just unwilling to cross because I'm afraid that there will be more ahead. So this is my stopping point for the day.

I head back to my view over Lake Catherine and take a rest.

There's 3 Clark's Nutcrackers making lots of noise and flying by.

Then it's back down to Catherine's Pass finding this cute flower.

and down to the car.

Not as many people as I expected; a positive consequence of having no shuttles running but I have another run-in with a large group of people spotted on a tight corner. Several "excuse mes" couldn't get everyone to move -- totally clueless.

Besides that, awesome day!