Snowbird Tram Ride

 

The family decided to spend the day up at Snowbird again today. Here are a few shots going up Little Cottonwood Canyon.

I take a picture of this waterfall almost every time I drive by it. I really want to get in closer, but can’t seem to find a trailhead. (DBP)

Drive By Photography.

While we were up here we decided to take the tram to the top of the mountain. I have issues with heights so I was a little nervous about doing it.

An amazing view down the canyon into the SL Valley.

Terrible shot passing the other tram going down.

As we neared the top the tram operator looked at my hands, then up at me.

“Is that a death grip?”

“Uh. er.. yes. yes it is. I don’t do heights very well.”

The tram took us up into a snowstorm!

After traveling 1.6 miles and 2900 feet higher we arrived at Hidden Peak (11,000 feet). View further up the canyon.

And the view down. Must be amazing without a snowstorm blowing.

View across the canyon.

I still can’t believe I rode that contraption up the mountain! PS. We were totally unprepared to be in well, snowy conditions. And I think this photo captured that in our expressions. BRRR! It was cold up there!

Wait! Come back! I’m cold!

View riding down.

The windows were a bit foggy.

And wet.

You know, I am really glad I did this today. It really wasn’t so bad. I didn’t have a panic attack, and I know I could do it again if I ever wanted to. I think I will on a more clear summer day one year. It was also really cool to go from perfectly dry mountain scenery into a snowstorm at the top of the mountains.

Little Cottonwood Creek.

Tram from below.

The other side.

Snowy peak.

We spent the rest of the day swimming and relaxing in the mountain. Boy do I love it up here!

Wonderful adventure today.

Scenic Drive: Emigration and East Canyons

 

I have lived here all of my life, and somehow I had never gone into Emigration Canyon. So today since we seem to be blessed with an extended fall season we decided to check it out.

I guess I see now why I haven't been up here before. It is a rather heavily developed canyon. You get up quite a ways before breaking out above the houses. (DBP)

Mountain Dell Reservoir.

Closer. Well, that about did it for Emigration Canyon. We could either turn right and go into Parleys Canyon, or we could go left and continue up East Canyon. (DBP)

DBP

Now this is a pretty canyon!

Band of aspens. (DBP)

Striped mountainside. (DBP)

We stopped at Big Mountain and decided to hike down the Great Western Trail a ways. You know, just to get a hike in.

It’s a little too smoggy still, but you can just make out the Salt Lake Valley below.

Pretty.

Loads and loads of color on our short little hike. We probably went down about a quarter mile or so then turned back to see what else was up here.

Colorful aspens speckled throughout the pines. (DBP)

East Reservoir. Looks kind of low. (DBP)

After East Reservoir it gets kind of boring. (DBP)

Orange hill. (DBP)

East Canyon lets you out near Echo. I thought about returning to that amazing cemetery, but decided to just keep going. Eventually we made our way back to I-80 in Parleys. (DBP)

The mouth of Parleys. (DBP)

I-80 above Sugerhouse. Lovely view of the valley. (DBP)

Meh. Nice little drive. There wasn’t much to it, but it was pretty. If you want to make it shorter, and prettier, I recommend turning back at East Reservoir. We were exploring today so wanted to see what else there was. turns out not a whole lot.haha. But that is the nature of exploring. You’re going to find some awesome stuff, but sometimes, you’re going to find a dud.

Emigration Canyon gets a 4, East Canyon a 9 (up to East Reservoir, after that it is kind of boring), so split the difference at 7 Squirrels.