first time back

The last time we were up at Alta was the last time we went skiing: Sunday, March 8, 2020, right before the pandemic changed everything.  It had been an abrupt end to the ski season (to everything, really) and we never got the chance to bid adieu to winter-time Alta.  So when we found ourselves in SLC for a weekend, we decided to put some elevation on our legs and revisit our Little Cottonwood Canyon stomping grounds.  This meant that Milton had to stay home, as no dogs are allowed in the canyon.  We left him a guilt biscuit in his food bowl as we slipped away early.

The Butterfly still apparent on Mt. Superior

It was a gorgeous morning, cool and clear, as we parked in the main Snowbird lot, one of only a handful of cars.  Although the White Pine trailhead had been absolutely packed - before 7:30 a.m. - traffic was light enough up where we were that we saw a couple of mule deer nonchalantly crossing the canyon road.  Birds were starting to call and the creeks were still tumbling full of water as we walked through Snowbird's resort center and followed the Bypass Road up to Alta.

Very pretty rose-colored paintbrush

Hiking at ski areas means one thing: it's gonna be steep.  We took the access road up Collins Gulch, which starts out steep with a vengeance.  The first section, going up along Corkscrew to the angle station, is just brutal.  After that it eases up a little, as the drainage widens and the road is able to cross the slopes in switchbacks.  The road was dry at the base but got more snow covered in the east- and north-facing sections as we went higher.

Still enough snow to ski Main Chute

but it gets bony further down

We passed one hiker on those wide switchbacks and then said hello to a trailrunner as we got to the top of the Collins lift.  The runner went down and we continued up the EBT to the trail accessing Baldy.  This is where most of the skiers bootpack up if they're going to ski Baldy.  Honestly, the first section is sketchy enough with dry rock and hiking boots on; I can't imagine trying to get up it with ski boots, carrying skis.  Once you get past that scramble section, however, it is a nice, if steepish, dirt path up to the summit.  We crossed paths with one solo hiker here, him going down as we went up.

Action shot!

On the way up we had debated whether we should hike down the front face of Snowbird or take the tram down.  From the top of Baldy, it was clear that the trams were running yet (they started at 10:30 a.m.), so the decision was made for us.  Plus, that meant that we didn't have any more up to do - downhill all the way back to the car.

Another view of the Superior Butterfly, 

from elevation (and also H)

About a third of the way down, it was evident why we prefer to hike up Snowbird and ride the tram down: it is so friggin' steep.  We took the Peruvian Gulch hiking trail, interspersed with some sections of the access road, and my quads, knees, hips and toes were loudly complaining before we'd gone a mile.  It's very steep, especially the trail, and the dirt and gravel underfoot are often loose, resulting in slips, slides and skids.  For someone like me who is not light on her feet, it can be treacherous - even for a dirt road!

Still some snow near the top of the Peruvian chairlift

Generally speaking, we were still a little early for the summer's profusion of wildflowers but they are starting to come out here and there, waiting for the snow to recede.  When we got back to the car, we realized that the usual hordes were delayed this summer too: usually, by noon, the Snowbird parking lots would be packed with tourists, MTBers, hikers and locals looking to escape the summer's heat.  Due to the pandemic, there will be no lift-served MTBing at the 'Bird this summer and they are reducing the number of people allowed in each tram car.  It was shocking to stand in the parking lot, drinking our post-hike beers, and not having any people to people-watch.  It's safer this way, I know, and I certainly appreciated not having to share the trails with very many other people, but it still takes some getting used to.

Hike stats:  8.75 miles; moving 3:19/2.6 m.p.h.; overall 3:49/2.3 m.p.h.; 2,840' elevation