Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Hiking Season...

I took my first hike of the season on Sunday. We headed up Broads Fork in Big Cottonwood Canyon. I say up, because like most of out local hikes, there was a substantial elevation gain(~2000 ft)so the hike was a good work out as well as reminder that I need to work out more!
The trail was pretty steep and still snow packed in places. At about 9000 ft, we came to meadow that sported lovely views of the surrounding peaks. We chose to stop here, as the trail was getting pretty snowy.

Most everything in the meadow was still pretty brown and dead, with the exception of these beautiful alpine wild flowers, clearly the first of the season. The leaves and petals of this plant seemed thick and waxy, I suspect it was well prepared to survive the early season extreme environmental variation.
You know me, I needed a good macro shot.
The view from Broads Fork, down Big Cottonwood Canyon, across the Salt Lake Valley to the Oquirrh Mountains on the other side.

2 comments:

Ellen said...

Wonderful, wonderful pictures, Linda. Thanks for the hike - ahhhh, I feel so much better now.

Carol Clayton said...

So pretty! I really miss living up there!!!