Lake Blanche Hike Wasatch National Forest Utah

Lake Blanche is a beautiful, steep, hike in Big Cottonwood Canyon near Salt Lake City, Utah.  The trail head is located in the S curves on your way to Solitude and Brighton resorts. 

It took me 3 hours to get to the top. I was passed by a girl wearing a dress and Teva sandals on the way up and she was coming down before I even made it up to the lake. Mind you, I was wearing brand new, one hundred dollar, water proof, hiking shoes from REI, waterproof shorts, also from REI, REI wool hiking socks, none of which I needed and definitely didn't improve my speed on the way up. The girl wearing the dress clearly remembered passing me on the way up because as she passed me on her way down she told me "you're almost there."
Ha! 

I had just moved to Utah in July of 2015 from Texas and I haven't been on a hike since 2011, Rattle Snake Lake in North Bend, WA. 

This hike kicked my butt. My legs burned for 3 days afterward and I had two very intense bloody noses the next day. My Sea level lungs were not ready for the altitude. It's a great hike, beautiful, peaceful and a great workout. I'll do it again once I've built my lungs and legs up on easier trails nearby. It took me 2 hours to get down. Just an FYI.

Because I can't play roller derby until December or January, I am trying out hiking as a means to please my soul which needs physical activity that is not only major cardio but causes several forms of pain as well as the threat of possible injury.  I have an addiction to feeling my heart pounding in my ears, pain, sweat and breathing hard to remind me I'm alive and to LIVE!

More hikes coming soon.