Days Fork to Eclipse Mine (Moderate 7 miles round-trip)

Description:   This is a scenic, not-crowded hike through beautiful alpine forests and meadows. I hiked it on Labor Day  weekend, and only saw 3 other people.

Trailhead:  From the bottom of Big Cottonwood Canyon (The 711 store) drive 9.7 miles up the Canyon and look for the Spruces Campground on your right. During camping season you have to pay to park there, so I just parked on the road and walked in.  I thought I knew where the trailhead was, but I didn't, and since I am one of those guys that doesn't like to ask for directions, I added an extra mile to the hike, walking around the campground!  From the toll booth, go to your right then enter the one way road, and go to your left past some restrooms. Look for Group Camp area 1 (not single campsite 1!)  Just past this you will see a baseball diamond. The trailhead is just past the baseball diamond, and is well-marked.  (GPS Coordinates N40* 38.456' W111* 38.307')  

The Hike:  The first 1/4 mile is fairly steep.  As it levels off, you will see a trail to your left which goes to Greens Basin. That is a nice hike,  (See post http://talesfrommytrekkingpoles.blogspot.com/2012/11/greens-basin.html) but not the way to the Eclipse Mine.  The trail is easy to follow, and goes straight for a while, then has some steep switchbacks to your right, where you pass an old mine that was not on my topo map, then levels out somewhat and eventually comes to the Eclipse Mine (GPS Coordinates N 40* 36.151' W111* 38.295')  This is a cool area with lots of old mining equipment. I then headed back the way I came.

I would love to get this old gear home, but I think it would take a helicopter!  It is about 5 feet in diameter.

More old mine equipment.

Why I love this hike!

Giant old trees

Trailhead sign near baseball diamond

Beginning of the trail.

Lake Solitude (again) (3.5 miles round trip, easy)

Description:
      I have blogged on this hike before.  This is one of my favorite hikes, especially when hiking with my sweet wife. It is scenic, lots of shade, good chance to see moose, especially at dawn and dusk. It is  fairly flat, with an elevation gain of only 320 feet. There used to be a steep climb to the lake, but a couple of years ago, the trail was rerouted to make it much easier.This is the hike that inspired me to start a hiking blog!

Directions to trailhead:
     From the bottom of Big Cottonwood Canyon,  (The 7-11 Store) drive almost to the top of the canyon, 14.5 miles.  Turn  right into the parking lot across from the little store (or park in the store lot if that lot is full). This is the Silver lake lot, and Visitors Center. There are restrooms there if needed (Outhouse-type outside, and nice ones in the Visitors Center if it is open).
The hike:
     Go to the right of the Visitors Center and go around the boardwalk. If you go to the right, it is a little shorter, maybe 1/3 mile to the trail to the lakes.  On the far side, you will see a large trail sign  in a wide opening in the trees (unless it has been removed for the season.) Turn right at the sign, follow the trail a short distance to a fork in the trail, and signs pointing to Lake Solitude to the right, and Twin Lakes to the left. (Unless the signs have been removed for winter).  The trail is fairly easy to follow, and there are signs to get you to the lake where there are options.  On the way back I like to continue the rest of the way around Silver Lake. This will make the hike just over 3 miles round trip.
     There is a geocache there that I hid about 10 years ago. It is called Rock Solitude.
http://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCQ6DG_rock-solidtude?guid=e40a7151-207c-4038-9949-191b2a35388a

The geocache container.

The underside of geocache container.

A little touch of Fall at Lake Solitude.

A squirrel kind enough to pose for me!

A fairly good shelter near Lake Solitude, to the left of the trail.

Silver Lake on the way back to the trailhead.

An interesting plaque near the parking lot.

Mount Timpanogos (Difficult, 14.8 miles round-trip)

Description:
     This is one of my all-time favorite hikes.  It is challenging, incredibly scenic, with great chances to see moose and mountain goats, and amazing views.  The big question people ask, is, "Which route shall I take, Timpooneke or Sundance?" I have tried both, and they are both nice, but I prefer Timpooneke, as it has more shade overall, and is a little easier, although you miss Emerald Lake unless you go way out of your way.  I ran into an expert on this trail. He is 73 years old, and hikes Timp 7 times a week! (He does not hike on Sundays, so he makes the hike twice on Wednesdays to make up for that!) He prefers the Timpooneke route as well, and almost never does the Sundance route.  Another question that is asked, is "How much water do I need?" I have found that I need every bit of 4 liters, but I freeze one water bottle, and hide it in the meadow near the junction to the toilet, then pick it up on my way down. That way, I have some nice cold water, but do not have to carry it all the way to the summit. It is a good idea to write the date on it, so if someone finds it they know it is not just discarded from some earlier date.  Some people bring a water filter, but by the time I get to where there is water to filter, I am so close to the trailhead that I just want to press on, so I no longer carry a filter.  You will want to start early in the morning, as it is a long hike.  We started hiking at 5:30. Bring a headlamp or flashlight!
Trailhead:
     From Salt Lake City, take I 15 South over the Point of the Mountain and take the Highland/Alpine Exit (Exit 284) and turn left (East) following the signs to Timponogos Cave. The toll booth will likely be closed, but stop and pick up an envelope to put the fee in ($6 for a 3 day pass when I went).  There are envelopes at the trailhead, but if the lot is full, and you have to park on the road, you don't want to have to walk clear back to your car to hang the tag showing you paid). The lot can fill very early, as many people begin at 2 or 3 in the morning to summit before sunrise.   Turn right into the Timpooneke Campground which is about 18 miles from I 15. Stay to your right, and the road takes you  to the trailhead which you will see on your left, and it  has restrooms and a water tap.  Sign the register, and you are on your way!  The trail is fairly obvious, but in the dark, some places can be confusing.  If you seem to come to a dead end, just backtrack a little and look for the main trail.  After the saddle, follow cairns for the safest way up.  Again, if you get on a portion that looks very difficult or dangerous, just look around for a better way.  I have seen children as young as 5 years old at the top, so it is not a technically difficult climb.

You do not have to be at the summit to enjoy the sunrise.

Junction to the toilet. 

August 17, and still peak wildflower season.

We saw dozens of mountain goats up close.

This mountain goat is named Ben, and is on his 716th climb!

So fun to watch them effortlessly climb!

View from the shack

Large moose we saw on the way up and on the way down.