Utah, Salt Lake City area

[spoolup]

If in SLC and do not want to travel far, hit up big cotton wood. I live in Murray, about 10 minutes from SLC downtown, Big Cotton wood is 10 minutes from my doorstep. There are numerous spots to hang. My personal fav is Lake Blanche. I have added some photos to try and impress you from my trip there in 2011. I usually get up there 3-4 times a year. In May there will likely be snow up there, but should not be that bad, check the weather for the solitude ski resort lifts. The elevation is about the same and only 3-4 miles apart. They also have cameras to give you and idea. If you come, look me up on here and I will see what I can do to head up with you.

Looking into the canyon where you will start.


Morning, and some guys fishing


Morning, prior to the sun hitting sundial peak


Sun just hitting sundial peak, heading down the canyon


View from my hammock.


There are many other great places up here to go that are only minutes not 2 hours to drive. But I will never say a bad thing about mirror lake highway.

[dman]

OK, that is just awesome spoolup. Now I know I wont have to stay with relatives when I go up north. Can we get a little more info on the trail and such please?

[spoolup]

No worries, sorry I should have put is up there earlier. Here are few links.

In this first trail info, you can see the map at the bottom, I live where the "C" is in cottonwood west. I can honestly get to the trail head in 10-15 minutes. Dont get me wrong, almost every hike in big cottonwood is nice, but this is my favorite. Look me up prior to your trip and Ill see what I can do.

If I am busy, one word of advise. There was a rock slide a few years back. On 2 of the crossings you can see the trail on the other side of the side (10-30 ft), The last one, you can not, there is rock as far as the eye can see, Do not cross, climb up the rock slide about 10 feet, the trail will magically appear going south (right) instead of the north you were just heading. Every time I go there are 2-20 people standing at this dead end wondering WTF happened and where to go.

http://www.utah.com/hike/lake-blanche-trail
http://climb-utah.com/WM/blanche.htm
http://alltrails.com/trail/us/utah/lake-blanche-trail
http://www.localhikes.com/Hikes/Lake_Blanche_7160.asp
http://www.summitpost.org/mill-b-sou...blanche/408237

[streamline]

This is exactly what I was hoping for spoolup! Thank you so much. I will definitely look you up when in the area. I was wondering if going to the ground was a safer bet in the area, but your reassurance is making me hope for a better nights sleep.

Any suggestions for getting out for and afternoon out and back for after working hours? I am going to be there for at least 5 days and unlike the others I will be with, I do not enjoy hanging out in the hotel room to catch up on emails.

[brooklynkayak]

I am a fan of the books "Hiking the Wasatch" or "60 Hikes Within 60 Miles - Salt Lake City:
http://www.amazon.com/Hiking-The-Was...ref=pd_sim_b_1
http://www.amazon.com/60-Hikes-Withi...ref=pd_sim_b_2

They're not necessary, but something to read on the plain.

[spoolup]

2nd book is awesome, have it on the shelf. There are many day hikes in the area, big cottonwood, little cottonwood, millcreek, then some just on the benches. On you may like is twin lakes, its up near one of the ski resorts. My daughter first did it at age 6, great to just get the kids on the trail, have fun, then hit the ski joints on the way down. The porcupine grill is popular. Another in particular just off of I80 and I215 is spudellis, pizza is good if you order an entire pie, by the slice is a gamble. but their desert is AWESOME, best deep fried desert 2 years in a row. My daughter loves the deep fried ice cream, next off ramp is bruges waffles. The sugarhouse is my daughter favorite, where I like the torpedo topped with chocolate and bananas. Google for reviews. You WILL NOT be dissapointed.

Look me up brother, I and many others on here will show you around.

[Scarab]

Just gonna echo what Spoolup said.

Lake Blanche (and hike) is awesome!

[streamline]

I am getting stoked on this trip. Thank you again everyone for your pointers and suggestions.

[spoolup]

Glad to hear, I will say however I miss the east coast where you are from, I lived in Jacksonville NC for 3 years while in the Marines. East coast is so much different than here.

Here is another spot about 1-1.5 miles further up the canyon. Its called desolation lake. Its a good day hike, but I wanted to try out my 0* hammock gear insulation.

Hopefully I can get out there as well. Still have miles of trials left to explore.






Yes Im a multicam junkie. Think I own just about anything possible in multicam.

[streamline]

Beautiful.