Sunday, March 18, 2012

Mountain Trip, Saturday, Feb 25, 2012

I was getting a type of cabin fever, I guess, so I asked Jim if we could get out of town this particular weekend. I had had enough of the city and needed to see some natural scenery for a change. So even though it was warm and sunny in the valley we knew that a storm with snow was headed our way, and especially in the mountains. We decided to drive up Big Cottonwood Canyon from Salt Lake but missed the road and headed up Little Colttonwood Canyon first. This is our first view of the mountains.
We missed again and were on a side road heading up Little Cottonwood. We found this unusual building on this road. It looked abandoned. I wonder what it was used for?
Now we are really getting into the mountains. At least we finally saw snow! Hoorah!
This sign was a little scary, but fortunately the lights were not flashing! :-)
It looks like it might be snowing ahead in the mountains.
This is the parking lot at Alta, the highest ski resort on Little Cottonwood.
As you can see, it was really snowing on the top. The roads were snow covered and scary to me. Fortunately Jim wasn't scared to drive on them.
Look at the snow around this Snowpine Lodge!
Coming down from Alta, we saw the Snowbird Ski Resort.
As we are coming down we saw many signs like this. You aren't allowed to stop in these areas.
This sign is obvious, isn't it.
I was sure glad that Jim was driving!
Now that we are down from Little Cottonwood, you can see there is no snow here. Now we head north to go up Big Cottonwood Canyon.
I need to go back and check out this geology site for the Wasach Fault.
This is a side road going off from the main highway.
Both canyons go in and out of the Wasatch National Forests.
This is a road scene going up Big Cottonwood Canyon.
The creek runs beside the road.

We are starting to get into some snow on the mountains.
Here is another snow avalanche area sign.
There are so many beautiful mountain scenes like this.


They run shuttle buses from some of the parking lots at the base of the mountain.

These two cross-county skiers stop for some reason.
We pass Solitude Resort first on our trip up the mountain.
Now we really see some snow!
Here is the Brighton Resort sign at the top of the mountain. It is obviously snowing!
Look at the snow on the side of the road.
Thse skiers and snowboarders are awaiting the lift at Brighton.
A lot of car owners leave their wipers out like this so that snow & ice doesn't accumulate on them.
We thought this Spring Clearance Sign was funny since it was snowing so hard!
Here are two snowboarders heading up for the lifts.
Again, look at the walls of snow.

Here comes a snowplow. I was afraid they would bury us!
This is how close he was to us as he "flew" by.
How would you like to shovel this walk to this house?

These two are cross country skiers walking alongside the road.
We could not keep the ice off the windshield!
Coming down the mountain we noticed families sledding down this hill.
Look at this snowplow in our side mirror! See how close he is!
I thought he was going to run over us but fortunately he turned around a couple of yards ahead! Phew!
Snow scenes going back down the mountain.






I guess this is a lone hiker alongside of the road, maybe watching for a bus.
Aren't these scenes beautiful!



This is a fairly tight curve. Note the signs.

Another beautiful scene around every curve!


These photos are of the Big Cottonwood Canyon Stair Station, 1895. I assume it is for hydro power.





Another photographer gets out of the car to get some good shots!

These are pictures of a pretty little mountain stream.
This is the scens looking over the Salt Lake Valley toward the Quirrah, pronounced "oak-er", mountains which are on the west side of the valley.




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