Pole Line Pass

I drove up hwy 220 which starts in Snake Creek Canyon and meanders through the Wasatch State Park/Uinta National Forest on my way to hike around Ant Knoll with my girls today. You can see how nice and smooth it is in the beginning.  Aren't the fall colors gorgeous?

  Ant Knoll is one of the summits above our little town of Midway.  I found a website in which a family said it was a moderate hike with kids so I figured, no time like the present, right?  I brought my camelbak with some food, first aid, phone, keys, and of course, water.  I also brought hats (which Violet will sometimes tolerate but Azure will barely wear), umbrella, sunscreen, and Azure's most prize possession, her pink blankie. I had never driven up the canyon before, let alone Cummings Parkway/hwy 220/trail 1.  Its a bumpy ride, let me tell you!  Here we are at Pole Line Pass, elev. 8920

Azure is just below the trailhead and Violet is already on it.

Violet was in incredible little hiking buddy.  She got ahead of me a few times!

Mostly Aspen forest.  The trail was damp, a little muddy in some areas.

Me!

 It was a little cold for the girls so I encouraged them to walk and sometimes to hurry.  Often I carried Azure except when I took pics or when we ate.    

It was fun!  I'd like to hike up here again with Richard so we can get to the top of Ant Knoll or go south on Ridge 157 (going north goes to the knoll) to Forest Lake.

This is "our" little summit.  I should have brought a Stacey flag to plant in place at the top.  :)

Looking north, ish.  Ridge 157 climbs along the open area.

On top of our little mountain!  Which is part of a huge mountain!

Looking Southwest towards Timp.  I think.

South

Um, Southeast?

Definitely East!  (Heber Valley)

So here we are, some 9600 ft. or so, and feeling good!  I feel like I'm on top of the world!  Or at least Heber.

Azure with Rainbow Dash (a My Little Pony).

UltraVi with her puppy.

I said, show me your angry face.  Hmmm....How did Mushu say it in the movie, Mulan?
"I think my bunny slippers just ran away."

Violet's angry face - a bit more on the "you better watch out" side.

Right about now we hear thunder.  Time to go!  It took us about 80 minutes to get up here.
Guess how long to get back to the car?

Violet had the umbrella.  I had Azure/her blankie on my shoulders.

We got down to the car in about 40 minutes.  :)
Downhill, determination, and a dreary baby all add up to a subtraction (in our time).  

After leaving Pole Line Pass, I  drove back about 2 miles and then went on the fork towards Deer Creek Campground/Cascade Springs.  I came to a lookout area and THIS WAS AWESOME!

Stacey Vs. Nature:  Final score tba  (wish I had taken a pic of the car when we got home)

The rain started again so off we went.

                                   

                             

We also saw some very muddy, very red dirt roads but no pictures.  :(

                              

                                   
More adventures to come...