Catherine Pass, Little Cottonwood Canyon- 7.14.2016

I had the evening free on Thursday and decided to hike up to Catherine Pass to see how the wildflowers are doing. I made my way up the trail from the car, and made a quick pace up the steep but short trail to the meadow. Once in the meadow, I saw a huge bull moose just laying out there. I did not want to disturb him, so I moved up the trail above him

I made the last four switchbacks and the pass very quickly. I sat on the pass for a while and took in the view. I shot some photo's then it was time to head down. The light was still pretty intense, but still managed to get a few shots on the way out. Great day hiking up there! Enjoy the pics, more adventures to come!

Ibantik Lake, Uinta Mountains- 7.8/9/10.2016

The last time I backpacked into Ibantik Lake, it was a solo trip for my birthday back in 2012. I decided it was time to return to this lake and get the photography I wanted the last time I was up there. I made my way in on Friday afternoon to a really busy trail head. I got the last place to park when I arrived. I put on the boots and pack, then made my way up to Wall Lake. I pushed on through up to Hope Lake, then made my way up to the pass. I took a quick break to shoot some photos, then descended the north side of the Notch. A considerable amount of trail work has been completed in this section compared to the last time I visited this area. All the big boulders you had to step over are gone, and the switchbacks are well graded. As I made my way towards my destination, the winds were howling. I did not mind, keeps the skeeters at bay. After dropping the last set of switchbacks, I found myself standing at Ibanitk Lake.

I was surprised at how many campers were up here. Almost all the spots were taken, but as luck would have it, the spot I was looking to get had no campers in it. I made my way around the lake and claimed my spot. I got camp set and proceeded to settle in for evening, waiting for my two friends who were coming in late via head lamps. Dinner and a fire were in order and I made myself comfortable as it had already been a long day. Dusk set in, then night was upon us, and my friends arrived at camp. They got set up for the weekend and we relaxed under the stars with a nice fire. We eventually turned in, but not before I got a nice shot of camp with a meteor caught in the last seconds of the frame with the Milly Way gleaming overhead.

Dawn came and we got up to more howling winds. This put a damper on fly fishing as it was just impossible to try to cast with 4o+ mph winds. We sat in the meadow below camp, which had some wind shelter, and took it all in. I think everyone was in lounging mode in the AM because of the long day all of us had. After quite a bit of R&R at camp, we decided to hike up to the cirque below Notch Peak. It was an awesome adventure up there. The wildflowers in this little basin were exploding. We climbed the moraine below the peak, with boulders the size of cars up in there. After a while, I made my way back down to camp and took a cat nap in my tent. Evening set in and the wind was still pounding us, so we decided to get dinner going in hopes of some evening fishing. But alas, the wind never let up until dark. I was having some issues on the first night shoots a star trail, but figured out the problem on my new timer and set one up and sat out at the lake under the big dipper as it rattled off the shots. I got a wild hair and hiked almost a mile out and back to the dam to get some full shots of the Milky Way. On the way back in the dark via my headlamp, I almost stepped on a porcupine! Yikes!

Sunday morning arrived as windy as the last. We awoke to clear skies, but very windy conditions. We made breakfast, then broke it down as the wind the last three days had taken its toll. The hike out was great and I did the pass in about 45 minutes which is really fast thanks to my ultralight set up I am packing in these days. On the pass, we all had celebratory beers as we took in 50+ MPH gusts which were intense to say the least. We took in the view, then decided to knock out the rest of the trail. We passed the lakes on the way out and eventually found ourselves at the car sitting in our camp chairs. It was a great trip out with good friends. Enjoy the pics and time lapse! More adventures to come!

Ibanitk Lake Time Lapse from Christian Paul on Vimeo.

Teal Lake, Uinta Mountains- 7.2/3/4.2016

Holiday weekends are tough because of the crowds. I usually do not get out on holidays because you just do not get the solitude you are seeking on a backpacking trip. We have a few spots that are great and relatively less crowded than other areas we go to. Teal Lake is one of them. I had a few things to wrap up on Friday before making my way out to the Uintas. One half of our group went in early Friday morning, and I was expecting to meet them at camp. It was sunny and warm at the trail head, with a few clouds billowing up over the range. I made a very fast pace up to Ruth Lake, then up over the ridge to Hayden Lake. Then it started to rain, and I ended up at a very soggy Jewel Lake before pushing up to Cutthroat Lake. I was going to stop here to put on my rain jacket, but I decided I was so close to Teal Lake, I pushed on down to camp. I was a bit wet when I dropped my pack and put on my rain jacket. After about an hour, the clouds moved out and made for a great afternoon at camp. Night came and I had dinner and shot some Milky Way shots.

Morning arrived with warm temperatures and sunny skies. I got up and made breakfast, then put it together to try to get a fish and do some hiking around the area. I was expecting another friends to show up, and I ran into him as I was hiking around the lake. We moved him into our camp, and then everyone decided to go up to the ledges above Teal Lake. The view was amazing up there. But again, afternoon brought more showers and we huddled under some trees till the storm passed. It let up a bit and we headed back to camp to shelter down because there were more storm clouds coming in. A bit of thunder and some hail, then it was over. We then got a fire going and settled in for the evening. As darkness fell in, I made my way out to shoot the night sky again. Unfortunately, my interval timer was on the fritz, and I was not able to get the shot I wanted. Still a beautiful clear night, and awesome to see the Milky Way once more.

Monday was the holiday, and I got up and started putting it together to go home. The skies were clear and the temps really warm. The hike out was a straight line past all the lakes. I did not stop for one break on the way to the car. There were no crowds till I got down to Ruth Lake, then you could see all the holiday traffic which was out in the Uintas. Another great trip with good friends out in the Uintas. Enjoy the pics, more adventures to come!

Duck Lake, Uinta Mountains- 6.24/25/26.2016

I finally made it out to the Uintas this year. We have had to wait because the snow was melting off really slowly with how cool May was. We started on Friday afternoon and headed in on the trail. It was dry, and the Forest Service had gone in and cut down all the trees that had fallen on the trail. I made a quick pace and found myself on the pass before I knew it. After arriving on the pass we descended to Long Lake. We hiked past Long Lake, and then moved on down the trail to Duck Lake. We arrived to the other half of our party, who had nabbed our site because this was a busy weekend out in the Uintas. We got shop set up and settled in for a nice evening. I shot some photography, then called it a night.

I awoke to blue skies and warm temps. I decided to try to fish in the morning before the winds that were predicted to kick up got out of hand. After fishing for a bit, we all made breakfast and put it together to hike up to Fire Lake. It is a steep but short climb up to Fire Lake, and one that gets more scenic as you head up. We arrived at Fire Lake to find it ready to go for summer. We all tried our hand at fishing, but alas no one had any luck up there. Not sure what the deal was, but they were very picky. We eventually moved on to hike back to Duck via some ponds above Fire Lake and down past Island Lake. The hike back was a nice walk in the woods. The wildflowers are just coming alive so that was awesome to see. Eventually I found myself back at camp, and put in for some more fishing which landed a nice Cutthroat for dinner. Evening settled in and we got a fire going and made dinner. The temps were much colder as a cold front was forecast to come into the area. I stayed up as long as I could, and ended up with a nice shot of the Milky Way.

I awoke on Sunday to really hot temps. I actually slept in a bit, which is unusual for me as I am a early riser. I got up, made some coffee, hung out with the crew, then packed it up to head out. The hike out was a warm one, but very nice to see Weir and Pot Lakes, having hiked most of this basin in one weekend. After four miles of hiking I found myself standing at the car. It was a great first trip of the season out in the Uintas. Enjoy the pics, more adventures to come.

Desolation Lake, Big Cottonwood Canyon- 6.19/20.2016

Well after having the itch to get out for over a month, I finally caved in and headed up for a solo over nighter for the strawberry moon up at Desolation Lake. I started in during the early evening on the Mill D trail and made great time up to the junction. I took a quick break and continued the climb through the aspens on the Desolation Trail. It was so green this year, and so quiet. This trail is longer than I remember, and I took in the scenery as I made my way. Not a cloud in the sky, and the evening light was so amazing on the way in.

After a couple of hours of really nice hiking, I found myself standing at the shore line of Desolation Lake. I looked around and found a camp spot that was pretty sweet, and had access to everything I needed. I put up shop pretty quick, then proceeded to gather up some fire wood and get situated for the evening. I saw a couple of more campers come in after I had everything set up, but they were far on the other side of the lake and did not even hear them. Evening set in and I made dinner. Then I got the fire going really good and set up for some star trail action. I set up the time lapse, then hung out by my first camp fire of the season. It was really enjoyable to be out with crystal clear skies, the full moon, and the trees as my companions. After a couple of adult beverages, I gathered up my camera and called it a night.

I awoke to crystal clear skies and just perfect temperatures. I got up and made some coffee and ate breakfast. I sat in the meadow next to my camp for a while just taking in the silence we do not get back in the city. Eventually I packed it up and headed out. It was a nice hike out, and the trail was in the shade most of the time down to the Dog Lake/Desolation Junction. The hike out of Mill D was a warm one. But the wildflowers are coming alive, so it made the walk really enjoyable seeing all the new blooms. I saw my first Wasatch Columbine this year on the way out. I arrived after a while at the car, and all I could think to myself is, "I could have used another night out there!" I guess you have to give yourself a reason to want to get out again! Click the orange link above for trail stats. Enjoy the pics and time lapse. More adventures to come!

Desolation Time Lapse from Christian Paul on Vimeo.

Twin Lakes, Big Cottonwood Canyon- 6.14.2016

I had some time for an afternoon/evening hike. I wanted to see how Twin Lakes was doing with the snow melt. I started in at Silver Lake, which is currently fuller then I have seen it in years. I made my way up the aspens to the Silver Lake Overlook. After taking some pics I pushed on up the steep section and eventually topped out at the lake. There was still some pretty deep snow on the south side, and it is really full this year. I took some time to take in the Wolverine Cirque and surrounding peaks. The hike out was pleasant and much cooler than recent hikes. It is nice to see the high terrain opening up from our late snow pack which until now, has been stubborn in melting off. Enjoy the pics, more adventures to come!

Dog Lake, Mill D North, Big Cottonwood Canyon- 6.9.16

I decided to head up Mill D North to see how green everything is and to get out for one of my favorite trails. Pushed a pretty good pace up to the stream, then moved up to the Dog Lake/Desolation Lake junction. I was pretty surprised at how fast I was able to make it up there. From there I pushed up to the lake. It is looking pretty low this year, hope it sticks around all summer. I hiked around the lake and headed up to the watershed sign to sit in the aspens and cool off. I spent quite a bit of time studying the lines on Reynolds Peak for next season. After a while, I decided to make the hike back to the car. It was a fun but fast descent with more flowers blooming while I was up at the lake. A blend of blue, white and yellow captured my eye all the way down. Great day to be in the mountains! Weather was perfect, snow is gone, and the forest is so green this year. I took full advantage for sure. Enjoy the pics, more adventures to come!