August and September 2019

Just a neat shot at sunset in Big Cottonwood after an engagement photoshoot:

I found too few opportunities to go hiking, so I ended up leaving early in the morning (4AM for this one). This is Pfeifferhorn in Little Cottonwood Canyon. First light of morning on the trail:

This is when I took a time-consuming accidental detour. That red tent in the meadow ended up being filled with people I know. Weird, right?

People coming down the correct trail...

Red Pine Lake below:

Passing between rocky fins:

Box Elder Peak on the right and in the foreground, pyramidal Mount Timpanogos in the distance:

You can see the red and black rock of Big Cottonwood fading into the grey/white granite of Little Cottonwood:

Summit! (Taken by my friends in the red tent). 11,326 feet—third tallest in the Wasatch after Mt. Nebo and Mt. Timpanogos:

Sanderson's Oathbringer on audiobook keeping me company on a lonely but enjoyable trek:

On the way back. I liked this panorama because of the guy on the right side:

Beautiful indeed!

Wildflowers in full swing in September, still!

On the shore of Red Pine Lake:

View down Little Cottonwood to SL Valley:

Max playing in his first soccer game:

Volunteering to be benched:

Another 4AM hike in Big Cottonwood to go to Lake Blanche and summit Sundial Peak (which overlooks the lake). This time one of my coworkers provided some company. First bit of sunrise:

Almost to Lake Blanche (notice how different the color of the rock is in Big Cottonwood):

From the far side of Lake Blanche, our target (we'd be going up the back side):

My coworker, Michael, taking a break:

Making the climb to the summit:

180º panorama. We came up on the right and are going up towards the left:

Realizing the real summit was still a ways ahead:

Summit! 9,427 feet (looking back the way we came):

Lake Blanche below on the right, Lake Lillian on the left:

Making our way back:

The Sundial over Lake Blanche:

Max's fifth birthday party cupcakes: