Sunset and Pioneer Peaks from Albion Basin

I began this hike from the Catherine Pass Trailhead near the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon, 14.1 miles from the 7-11 at the bottom of Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons.  It was an easy 2 miles or so up to Catherine Pass.  I then headed up the ridge to Sunset Peak, stopping to find a geocache, "By the Way," http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=f8b05ccd-fe89-4c2f-a279-20be59702b2d. The ammo box was open, so I signed the log and closed it up tightly. On the way, I chatted with a retired Air Force Pilot from Virginia, and his wife and, his mother who was from England.  The hike to the summit is not difficult, and exposure is not bad.  Shortly after I reached the summit, a 72-year-old man from Farmington came up behind me.  He was a retired plant pathologist, and he identified a patch of "Bearberry" bushes growing near the summit.  I then continued on to Pioneer Peak, and found another geocache, "Ten Year Hike," http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=1937e750-3449-48e0-a617-0afc3c82a267.
The view from here was great, and I stopped in the shade to eat an early lunch.
     I then returned back the way I had come, reascending Sunset Peak.  On the way down Sunset Peak, I saw what at first appeared to be a young woman helping an elderly couple slowly down the trail, but when I got closer, I found that the elderly couple were helping the young woman down the trail! She had fallen, and injured herself.  I got out my first aid kit and patched her up.  Instead of going back to Catherine Pass, I cut over to Supreme Peak and did 3 more geocaches, ending up just below Cecret Lake. I then returned along the road to my original trailhead.  I had hiked 6.21 miles and ascended 2,655 feet in a leisurely  4 1/2 hours (3 1/4 hours moving time), a very enjoyable hike.

Trekking Poles resting on some interesting
geology along the trail.

Wildflowers illuminated by the rising sun.

View of Lakes Catherine and Mary on the way up
to Sunset Peak. (Martha is hidden from view)

View of Sunset Peak and Mount Timpanogos
from Pioneer Peak.

View of Lakes Martha and Mary, with Silver Lake in the back,
taken atop Pioneer Peak.

Returning to the trailhead.