Twin Lakes Pass Hike - July 21, 2012

Today we decided to go up to Alta Ski Resort for a hike. The wildflowers in July are really pretty and hopefully it won't be as hot as in the valley.  We chose to hike to Twin Lakes Pass. We hike to Twin Lakes from the Brighton side quite a bit, so we were looking forward to seeing the lake from a different perspective.

At the trailhead. Only 1.75 miles (according to the trail map) or 2.1 miles (according to the wooden sign at the trailhead) to go...

Hiking at Alta is very different than hiking at Brighton because of the huge mining history.  The trail James is on just wandered through two huge piles of old mine trailings (rocks that were removed from the mines and then crushed, then just piled up in big piles).

We stopped to check out a big rusty box.

And a cabin?

About 1/3 mile from the pass, we stopped to wait out a rain shower.  This clump of trees sheltered us from most of the raindrops.  Lincoln had extra clothes and James had a rain jacket (which we didn't use), but I was not prepared for rain at all. But I was prepared for lunch. We ate our picnic while watching the rain.

After the rain delay, family photo at the pass!  You can see the lake by our knees. 

This is Twin Lakes - it used to be two lakes, but the dam (at the far end) turned it into one lake.  We've skiied to this lake and hiked to this lake from Brighton.  A couple years ago, we hiked there on the 4th of July with Tia Hermana McCalvy and saw a mama and baby moose.  Today, because of the thunder and more rain headed our way, we just looked at the lakes from the pass.  We did see quite a few deer, but no moose this trip.

James and Lincoln - my outdoorsmen!

On the way back down, we stopped to wait out another quick rainstorm in another clump of pine trees.  I did have long pants in the backpack for Lincoln, but even in the rain, it wasn't too cold and we just put on his 'knee' socks.

What do you think about hiking in the rain, Lincoln?  His backpack came with a sun/rain screen, so he didn't get too wet when we did hike in the rain a bit.

See the lighter colored piles of dirt? Mine tailings.  The rusty old box we stopped at on the hike up was on top of the lowest of these rock piles.  And up on the next pile of dirt was another rusty old box.  So we decided to check it out.

It's not a "box"! It's a dump truck!

It has three axles, so I guess it had 6-wheel-drive?

Lincoln thought the engine was pretty interesting.

And finally back at the car again.  There was a replica mining box car, just the right height for Linc to stand in it... Where's Lincoln?

Peek-a-Boo!!!

With rain delays, we hiked 3.7 miles round-trip and it took us 3 1/2 hours or so. Yay for us!