Twelve Mile Camp - Day 1

It has been a little over a year since we first discovered the Wasatch Plateau while on a hiking expedition with Tom.  Since that time many things have changed:  We sold our 4Runner and purchased a Tacoma; we decided we had enough of tent camping and moved on to a Teardrop trailer; and sadly we lost our dog Chipper.  However, one thing that hasn't changed, over this past year, is the beauty of the Wasatch Plateau (it remained constant).  We are glad that we planned a three-day excursion, to explore and fish, feel the invigorating coolness of the high elevations and to be able to share this with our friends, John & Mary.

We arrived at the campground in the early afternoon

We couldn't help but notice the chipmunks scampering about 

We drove to Emerald Lake but found it difficult to fish because of the moss

Colorful Fleabane and Arnica

Blue Lake was our next stop and it was a good one!
Mary seems determined to jump onboard this homemade fishing dock . . .
 a hop, skip and a jump away! 

Kent & John had fun reeling in some feisty Tiger trout

The water was so clear we could see the Tiger trout . . . 
It almost appears as if it is suspended in air above the gravel!

John's first catch of the day!

Now it's Kent's turn....

The wildflowers were beautiful

Back at camp in time for a late dinner

A beautiful evening . . . what a great way to end our first day!

 

Mud Lake to Blue Lake

You've heard the saying, "Life is a journey, not a destination."  Hiking from Mud Lake to Blue Lake is both an amazing journey and a destination.  The 4.75 mile hike to Blue Lake passes through spectacular scenery which varies from meadows to rocky slopes, along with pine and aspen forests that are laced with springs and streams  Two gems of the Tushar Mountains, Mt. Baldy and Mt. Belknap rise high above Blue Lake and will leave you in awe . . . it is a stunning sight.  Enjoy it . . . because the hike out is all uphill!     

Can you find Mud Lake?  This is where our hike begins  

 We passed through meadows 

This beautiful spring was surrounded by wildflowers!

Wow!  What a gorgeous sight!
 Mt. Baldy (12,122) and Mt. Belknap (12,137) tower over Blue Lake

Though not heavily traveled this trail is very easy to follow . . .
In fact, we never saw another person the entire day

The terrain kept changing as we switch-backed our way down the trail

Colorful Fireweed was scattered along the trail 

One of the many streams we crossed

Yes, the water was cold!

Mosaic puffball mushroom growing among some wildflowers

 Dwarf Mountain Ragwort 

North Creek was cascading down an eastern slope . . . so refreshing

This was Chipper's kind of hike . . . fresh mountain streams . . . the dog can drink!

The trail continued along this sloping meadow and into the aspens

Sedum debile . . .  a fun find, I have never seen it before!

 

This aspen makes a nice contrast against the Bryce Canyon like ridge

We're getting closer . . .

We took a Victory Lap around Blue Lake

Here we are once again!
 We hiked into Blue Lake following the old wagon road in 2009

Chipper looks forward to lunch break as much as we do!

What a sight!  Blue Lake with Mt. Belknap in the distance

Colorado Columbine were growing in the middle of the old wagon road!

This colorful old snag nestled in with a spruce tree really caught our eye

Looking back at Mt. Baldy from "the long road to the car" . . .
 we climbed 1500 ft in just over two miles!
 Totally worth it . . . this is the best way to enjoy Blue Lake!

Blue Lake Hike

Allison and I hiked to Blue Lake starting from the Bullion Pasture Trailhead at an elevation of 10,993 ft. We began at 11:15 AM and hiked an abandoned road, used to repair the spillway in 2007, the 2.3 miles to the lake (elevation 9755 ft). It took us approximately one hour. We spent a half hour or so wandering around the lake looking at the spillway, an old cabin and taking in the views of Mt. Baldy (12,050 ft) and Mt. Belknap (12,128 ft) which we had hiked one year earlier. It took us about 1.5 hours to hike back to the Explorer, arriving at 2:30 PM for a total round trip hike of about 5 miles.