Well, since home alone and managed to get the weekend off of work I decided to spend it outdoors. Chose a location close to the valley, Lake Blanche, up Big Cottonwood Canyon. Lake Blanche is a high lake system that was dug out during the last ice age, which is VERY popular and you will easily run into atleast 20 people on the trail. However even with all this use it is still very clean, and hard to spot any litter lying about. One thing that most these day hikers do not realize is that there are actually 3 lakes up there, Lake Blanche which is about as far as most people go, but out of eyesight and 140 and 160 ft down in elevation are Lakes Florence and Lillian, Lillian being furthest away is where I will be camping.
Lake Blanche is at the base of very recognizable peak called Sundial Peak, and one look at it and you know why. There is always a great breeze up there to help cool you down after the 2.8 mile long 2800 ft elevation gain trek. I loaded up my Kifaru KU3700 pack with a hennessy hammock (explorer deluxe since Im a bigger guy) with a modified suspension system that allows it to be setup in about 30 seconds, a Jacks R Better Nest and hudson river down quilts, a small stove, Ti pot, a few meals, hanging bear bag system, my possibilities pouch, IFAK, water filter and MIOX, Dromedary bag, GPS, map. Compass, head lamp and flashlight, U dig it shovel, toiletries kit, camera, a few spare batteries, cool/ wet weather layers just incase, so be it the weather report says good, in the high mountains one will never know, then last a Ruger GP100 357 with 180gr Buffalo bore ammo in a wilderness safepacker (which is great since it looks like just a square pocket on your kit), again just in case, but hope its never EVER needed.. Total pack weight with water was about 45lbs.
Enough talking onto photos:
Trailhead signage
Abes spot
Far side of Lake Blanche with the picturesque sundial peak in background. Sure is DAM pretty up here.
The other 2 lesser known but just as nice lakes
Waterfall between the lakes and a fly fisherman
The canyon hiked thru, the all rock ledge is the start of the hike, which is a tight S curve about 4.5 miles up Big Cottonwood.
Far side of Lake Lillian on way to find camping spot, all these lakes have man made dams, I just look at this and think what a task it would be to build up here.
Lake Lillian atop the dam
My hanging spot, I left the nest loose to help keep the heat out during the remainder of the day while the sun sets, ended up not even using a rain fly, have a 12x10 hex tarp which even in a down pour keeps the hammock dry.
The view outside my hammock
The view inside the hammock, the top quilt has a foot box that can be filed built into it to prevent your feet from falling out during the night, you can also see the safepacker in Multicam. Temps were at 52 degrees when I last looked at 2AM, so I suspect they dropped a little more but I was plenty warm under there in underwear.
Morning shot, already enjoyed a 9grain cereal with milk and sugar with some coffee and just finished packing the bag when the sun started hitting the mountains.
Lake Lillian while still kind of dark
The Quakies I set up camp in
The waterfall and ridgeline
Still shaded and quite chilly canyon
Some guys fishing Lake Florence and some nice reflections
Speaking of reflections, Sundial off of Lake Blanche
Right before I start heading down the sun just barely hits sundial
Half way down and the canyon is still shaded. MUCH nicer than the climb I started at 1430 the day before. Too bad I had work or I would have started before sun-up.
Nice shot crossing Mill B South Fork
Hope no one minds the post, and thank you for the space. It sure was a great time out, ended up with 10.2 miles recorded on the GPS, elevation gain of 2950 ft (9050 ft). My legs feel a little sore and I still need to dry or wash gear and put it all away. But hope everyone enjoys the photos.
Lake Blanche is at the base of very recognizable peak called Sundial Peak, and one look at it and you know why. There is always a great breeze up there to help cool you down after the 2.8 mile long 2800 ft elevation gain trek. I loaded up my Kifaru KU3700 pack with a hennessy hammock (explorer deluxe since Im a bigger guy) with a modified suspension system that allows it to be setup in about 30 seconds, a Jacks R Better Nest and hudson river down quilts, a small stove, Ti pot, a few meals, hanging bear bag system, my possibilities pouch, IFAK, water filter and MIOX, Dromedary bag, GPS, map. Compass, head lamp and flashlight, U dig it shovel, toiletries kit, camera, a few spare batteries, cool/ wet weather layers just incase, so be it the weather report says good, in the high mountains one will never know, then last a Ruger GP100 357 with 180gr Buffalo bore ammo in a wilderness safepacker (which is great since it looks like just a square pocket on your kit), again just in case, but hope its never EVER needed.. Total pack weight with water was about 45lbs.
Enough talking onto photos:
Trailhead signage
Abes spot
Far side of Lake Blanche with the picturesque sundial peak in background. Sure is DAM pretty up here.
The other 2 lesser known but just as nice lakes
Waterfall between the lakes and a fly fisherman
The canyon hiked thru, the all rock ledge is the start of the hike, which is a tight S curve about 4.5 miles up Big Cottonwood.
Far side of Lake Lillian on way to find camping spot, all these lakes have man made dams, I just look at this and think what a task it would be to build up here.
Lake Lillian atop the dam
My hanging spot, I left the nest loose to help keep the heat out during the remainder of the day while the sun sets, ended up not even using a rain fly, have a 12x10 hex tarp which even in a down pour keeps the hammock dry.
The view outside my hammock
The view inside the hammock, the top quilt has a foot box that can be filed built into it to prevent your feet from falling out during the night, you can also see the safepacker in Multicam. Temps were at 52 degrees when I last looked at 2AM, so I suspect they dropped a little more but I was plenty warm under there in underwear.
Morning shot, already enjoyed a 9grain cereal with milk and sugar with some coffee and just finished packing the bag when the sun started hitting the mountains.
Lake Lillian while still kind of dark
The Quakies I set up camp in
The waterfall and ridgeline
Still shaded and quite chilly canyon
Some guys fishing Lake Florence and some nice reflections
Speaking of reflections, Sundial off of Lake Blanche
Right before I start heading down the sun just barely hits sundial
Half way down and the canyon is still shaded. MUCH nicer than the climb I started at 1430 the day before. Too bad I had work or I would have started before sun-up.
Nice shot crossing Mill B South Fork
Hope no one minds the post, and thank you for the space. It sure was a great time out, ended up with 10.2 miles recorded on the GPS, elevation gain of 2950 ft (9050 ft). My legs feel a little sore and I still need to dry or wash gear and put it all away. But hope everyone enjoys the photos.
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