June 15 - Alta Summer Road

 Another sunny day with temps in the 90s.

I think of heading up to do the Mormon Trail; I tried yesterday but got turned back due to road construction. But I decide to head up to Alta and walk the Summer Road and check out the snow situation. And maybe, walk the trail to Catherine's Pass.

Note: Little Cottonwood creek is still flowing strong.

I get an early start leaving around 7am and arriving around 7:30. It's cloudy and even if there were no clouds, the sun is below the peaks.

Looking around there's still a bunch of snow higher up but the lower ground is pretty clear.

I start up the road. Lots of birds singing.

Checking the flowers along the side of the road, it's still early season. But there is red columbine and meadow rue, wallflower and cinquefoil trying to bloom.

The walk is uneventful until I reach the views of the final long switchback. Beautiful! 

(And I find some White Columbine about ready to bloom!







I see my first 2 Marmots about 1/2 up that switchback. They are playing in the road. As I approach, they disappear uphill but there's a third on the other side chirping alarms calls.

I see several more on the way up 

but no Moose or Deer (or Porcupine).

Feet of snow in some spots still.

I reach the parking lot and meet a trail runner coming down the Catherine's Pass. I ask about trail conditions and he said there are large areas of snow but it very doable. Ok!

Well there is snow patch right at the start; I'll wait another week and hope they don't open the road yet.

Instead I just walk around enjoying the views and the morning!

Time to head down. More ground squirrels out now.

And surprise, on the 2nd to last, a deer crosses the road in front of me. It's a young buck and he stops to check me out. He's just a spike unlike the guy at Brighton a week ago.


He then disappears uphill.

Good day!

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