pleasant but unseasonable

We are stuck in a terrible (if you like winter, which we do, and if you like building up the watershed, which everyone should) weather pattern: dry and much warmer than we should be for the end of November.  There are about twelve ski runs in all of Utah to ski on right now.  The last storm of note was weeks ago and it hasn't even been cold enough for the resorts to blow snow.  Not good at all.  But after a couple of days of moping and going out for road rides/runs/beers on the patio, we decided that we needed to take a little hike at least.  H didn't want to go into the Cottonwood canyons for fear of seeing how little snow was up there so that left us with Millcreek Canyon (since none of us was up for the drive to Antelope Island).

On the Pipeline trail (no snow anywhere)

Despite our late start (we had to hunt up all the hiking gear that we had stowed away for the winter), the notoriously busy Millcreek was not that crowded, certainly not to summer levels.  We drove up to the Terraces parking areas, then walked back down the road to the Burch Hollow entrance to the Pipeline Trail.  We usually do this loop the other way - up via Terraces, along the ridge and down to Elbow Fork, then down-canyon via the Pipeline Trail - but decided to reverse it.  I always forget how much elevation the Pipeline Trail gains but those switchbacks reminded us in a hurry.  The trail was mostly dry (unfortunately) and when the sun peeked out from behind the clouds, it got pretty warm.

Looking down toward the Salt Lake Valley (no snow anywhere)

It was an on-leash day in Millcreek Canyon (dogs allowed off-leash on odd-numbered days; dogs on-leash/MTBs on trails on even-numbered days) but we didn't see any MTBs on the trails, and not that many dogs either.  We crossed the canyon road at the end of the Pipeline Trail - there were a fair number of MTBers and road cyclists on the road, taking advantage of the closed gates and no automobile traffic - and headed up the Elbow Fork trail, climbing up and then following the ridge west towards the Terraces end.  It was quite peaceful with few other hikers and no road noise from below.  It's pretty easy walking too, even with the few steep parts and the side-hill sections, and H quickly got ahead of me.

H on Elbow Fork bridge (there's a little snow)

H had to wait for me even more right at the end when I stopped to pat a chunky and very friendly puggle - who had also gotten some pats from H on his way through.  We walked out together through the Terraces picnic areas, then paused for a post-hike beer, as one does.  It wasn't the nicest day for a hike, and we'd certainly rather be skiing, but getting outside is always a good way to shake out the cobwebs.

Seasonal tidbit:  We got more snow in September than we have in both October and November together.  Yeesh.