White Pine Lake

This is one of my new favorite hikes! The trailhead is in Little Cottonwood Canyon.  From where I parked, the hike was 11 miles round trip. I met some interesting fellow hikers. On the way up, I met two elderly men. The younger one was 83 years old, wearing a 1970's blue jumpsuit. The older one was 89 years old, wearing Khaki pants and matching long sleeved shirt. The younger one had hiked King's Peak, (the highest mountain in Utah) 13 times! I related to him the story about my son-in-law's scout troop hiking up to King's Peak a couple of years ago. One boy, usually very energetic was looking very tired, and resting more than the others. When they got to their first night's camping spot, he unloaded a GIANT watermelon from his backpack to share with the troop!
     When I reached White Pine Lake, there was a girl, maybe 25 years old, 125 pounds, (you will see in a moment why this is significant), that had hiked up there alone, and was setting up her tent. She had all brand new high quality equipment; Big Agnes 3 man tent, Gregory backpack and sleeping bag, butane stove with HUGE canister of fuel (enough for an entire scout troop for a week!), water pump, CANS of food, and a cot. I asked her how much her pack weighed and she said 80 pounds! I am amazed that a 125 pound person could haul up a pack that weighed 2/3 her weight!  (The recommended max is 1/4 your body weight).  She told me she is going to study up on lightweight backpacking!
     On my way down, I encountered the two elderly  hikers again. The older one said, "Why the heck is everyone taking these zigzag trails?! When I hiked up here as a scout 74 years ago, we just went straight up the mountain, and that's just what I am going to do this time!" I did not read about them in the Sunday paper, so I assume they made it ok. I hope I am hiking at that age!