taking the low road

 The next time I got up to Alta for my "exercise loop," I did exactly what I did when I went to Cecret Lake.  Except I took the low road and didn't go to Cecret Lake, which was preferable all the way around.  As before, I parked above Albion Base and walked up the Summer Road until I could access Albion Meadows.  From there, I went up through the Sunnyside beginner area to the Catherine's Pass trailhead, then continued up to Catherine's Pass.  The morning was lovely and cool and there seemed to be slightly fewer people on the trail than the time before.

Heading towards the Apron

From the pass, I continued up to the trail junction for Sunset Peak and turned right to go to the top of Supreme.  In the week that had passed, they had gotten all the new lift towers installed, so that's progress, I guess.   I continued down the cat track/access road and again turned off on the trail that headed in towards Devil's Castle.  When I got in under the Apron, I got scolded by, and then was lucky enough to see, two busy pikas, scurrying about gathering grasses and other vegetation for the winter.  

Devil's Castle view

After I crossed that section, I kept to the right for the low road, where I'd seen some MTBers the last time.  This section of trail is pretty and shady and I had it all to myself.  Even though it looks so different this time of year, not covered in twenty-plus feet of snow, I eventually recognized where I was from having skied in there with H in years prior.  The trail brought me out well below the climb to Cecret Lake and although I did start to encounter people at this point, it wasn't nearly as many as the time before.

The low road

Now, having done both the high road and the low road (eight miles total hike), I can confidently say that in this case, I prefer the low road (contrary to Alta's unofficial motto - for traversing and etc. - to "get high and stay high).  

sixteen years

Happy moveiversary to us: we moved to Utah SIXTEEN YEARS AGO!!!  On every moveiversary, I like to do a year-end summary post; like last year and the year before, this year has also seemed a little diminished.  H again preferred to focus on his trail running, so we hardly did any hiking together.  I didn't get a ski pass this year and, to be honest, didn't miss it all that much.  We are very lucky people, we know this.  And despite getting older and set in our ways, we are lucky to be able to continue to be as active as we are.  Here's what this past year - we count our "years" from October through September, given when we arrived in Utah - looked like.

October - We always start our "year" with a vacation week (ten days, really) in Moab, with hiking and MTBing and H's really successful trail marathon, plus a coyote sighting on Pipe Dream, hanging with our neighbor and cheering on the Moab 240; bought a new washing machine.

November - First snowflakes in Moab and SLC; A doesn't get a ski pass but H does get to sublet the ski locker again; new bar (to us): The Midway; A starts baking in earnest; Thanksgiving in Moab; Alta opens with a 21" base.

December - Friendsgiving with E and K; the ski bus starts; skiing for H (cold and not much snow); A's college friend and her family are in town; Christmas in Moab (porcupine tracks in Mill Canyon).

January - H takes the week between Christmas and New Year's off to ski (crazy long lines); A makes a vegan Wellington for NYE dinner; snow; coyote sighting in Dimple Dell; H has a 3.5+ hour ski bus ride home one stormy ski day; MLK Jr. long weekend in Moab (hiking and it's cold).Fe

February - Skiing and long lift lines; A gets a new library card; M enjoys going to work with H; President's Day weekend in Moab (6.5 hours and hellish driving to get there); Alta finally gets some snow; skiing.

March - A goes to Maine for a week and H and M go to Moab, missing her terribly; we do our first Sandy garage tailgate (and get chilled); turning to spring in Moab; storms at Alta; skiing.

April - Days of unhealthy air in SLC; successful foccacia baking (!); spring skiing; Easter Jeep Safari in Moab; trees in bloom in SLC; wildflowers beginning in Moab; Utah Royals game; Alta closing weekend and 534 season inches at closing.

May - Traditional spring break week in Moab (flowers, hiking, cycling, seeing N and L when they're in town for a wedding, Moonflower Co-op and renew Sand Flats annual pass); backcountry/snowshoing day at Alta; Memorial Day weekend in Moab (cookout with C and F); Dimple Dell walks for A and H; H trail-runs and cycles.

June - Yardwork begins (overdue); Pride party at E and K's; Dimple Dell walks; starting to get hot; we make our hike list hahahaha; Juneteenth in Moab (M catches a ground squirrel); H trail-runs/cycles.

July - A hikes at Alta and Snowbird; CSA starts; July 4 holiday in Moab (hiking - including return to Gold Knob - and cycling, cooler than normal); H trail-runs/cycles; Pioneer Day holiday weekend in Moab (wildfires, bowling alley beers, cookout with C and F).

August - A goes to Maine for a week and H and M go to Moab, missing her terribly; Dimple Dell walks with M; A and H get summer colds; wildflowers in the Wasatch; A hikes at Alta (including ridge run); H trail-runs/cycles.

September - Labor Day weekend in Moab (hiking, cycling, yard work); A finds new trails to hike at Alta; backyard hangout with E and K; more time in Moab; Dimple Dell walks with M; A bakes strawberry jam bars; H trail-runs/cycles.

And now, October 3rd, happy new year!