July 2, 2018
One evening after work, I left my car at the park and ride at the mouth of big cottonwood and walked across the street to the 7-11. From there I slowly walked up wasatch boulevard towards Little Cottonwood canyon with my thumb out. Eventually, I hitched a ride to the mouth of LCC and from there it was just another quick hitch in the back of a pick-up truck to albion basin. A nice couple from Maine dropped me from the truck right before their campground at albion.
I started the trail up towards Catherine’s pass. Excited and full of energy I made quick time to the pass. The wildflowers were extraordinary this time of year. After summitting Sunset Peak and taking in the views of the Catherine’s lake, I continued running the ridgeline towards Pioneer Peak. This is an amazing section of trail and less traveled beyond the route to Sunset. I continued looping around the ridge, now with the heber valley and Park City in full view. There are great opportunities for wildflower viewing all along this ridge line. As I neared Clayton Peak, the sun started to set. This hike was starting to take longer than I thought it would. Nearing Clayton Peak, I looked below me to bloods lake and saw signs of several camping parties around bloods lake. Their lights beaming as the sun was going down. The hike up Clayton Peak was a fun scramble up some boulders. I would have enjoyed it more if I wasn’t losing energy and worried about my ability to return to my car. After summitting Clayton Peak, I made my way downhill towards the mouth of Brighton. I walked off trail for a short section and marveled at the fiery sunset through the ski lift. Quickly I linked to a proper trail that led me to the ski resort parking lot. From here, I road walked to the junction with guardsman pass road and hoped to find a car on this late weeknight. Before long, a car emerged from guardsman pass road and took pity on me, hitching me back safely to my car back at the mouth of big cottonwood canyon. This was yet another successful after work stroll.
Western Compass 