Desolation Lake January 1st

Ringing in this New Year couldn't be complete without a hike.  A dusting of snow overnight means a bit of a refreshed trail.  Knowing my car doesn't take to snow well, I headed up Big Cottonwood Canyon.  Mill D looked inciting, only a few cars at 10 am.  I threw on the micro-spikes, wrote in my trail log, and headed up.
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I hiked this trail a month ago.  Ironically, it's also the last entry on the blog.  The Wasatch's received several brief snow storms since then.  This image is taken about a quarter mile up from the last post.
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I hoped the trail would be packed up to the lake.  I got to the final meadow before it abruptly ended and someone post holed in from there.  I tried to match their steps.  I continued on from where they left off.  I can see why entries on http://www.postholer.com begin to mark feet per hour in the Sierra's.  It took near 5 minutes to traverse 100 feet.  I didn't even think about tossing the snowshoes on the ruck because of how well traveled this trail is.  Thankfully this is Utah Powder and not Sierra Cement.  Waist deep, chilled but not cold, and dry as a bone.  Ah, near heaven (okay, at Desolation Lake).
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A couple of snowshoers stomped right past me after I finished up my lunch.  I'd sat on the no swimming sign post which was a foot higher then the snow.  Trying to be in their tracks proved fruitless.  I continued to be waist deep.
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Once back to the beaten path and on the way down, I began to see other hikers and snowshoers.  I joked with the hikers, I post holed for then.  With the snowshoers that they didn't need em until the lake.
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Mill D leads to two lakes.  Dog Lake is fairly easy & well traveled year round.  Desolation Lake is a mile plus further. Though Desolation Lake is a bit further the winter traffic is nearly as heavy.  The trail splits about a mile behind a summer community in Big Cottonwood Canyon. I do recommend these lakes as destinations for those new to hiking.
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As with all mountain traveling, take caution, be seasonally prepared.  It is said of the Wasatch that you never hike alone for long, please do not depend upon someone else for your safety.