There is a specific kind of magic to a mountain evening in early fall, and last night at Bloods Lake we got to soak in all of it.
We laced up and headed out as the afternoon light was starting to go soft and golden. The trail to Bloods Lake is one of those gentle, generous ones that lets you actually talk to the woman walking next to you, and that is exactly what happened. New faces and familiar ones, catching up, swapping stories, and slowly winding our way up through the trees. And oh, the trees. The aspens are just beginning to turn, that first blush of yellow starting to move through the groves. A few more weeks and this whole hillside is going to be on fire with color.
When we reached the lake, we did what we do best. We spread out, settled in, and turned it into a proper picnic. There is something so easy about sharing food by the water with a group of women who felt like strangers a few hours earlier and feel like friends by the time the sun goes down.
And speaking of the food. A few of the girls brought homemade arroz con leche, still warm, and passed it around the whole group. Creamy, cinnamon-y, absolutely perfect for a cooling evening at nearly 9,000 feet. If you were there, you know. If you missed it, let this be your motivation to make it out next time.
As the sun dropped behind the ridge, the temperature dropped right along with it. Layers came out of packs, hoods went up, and we huddled a little closer. There is a coziness to that chill, the kind that makes the warm rice pudding and the good company feel even better. We stayed long enough to watch the light change on the water, then made our way back down in that happy, quiet, tired way you only get after a good evening outside.
This is the heart of what a Hiking Happy Hour is all about. Not a summit to conquer or miles to grind out, just a low-key evening on the trail, a lake to gather around, and a reason to find your people midweek. Fall in the Wasatch is fleeting and gorgeous, and we plan to chase every golden minute of it.
Thank you to everyone who came out, and an extra thank you to the arroz con leche crew. You raised the bar for trail snacks everywhere.
Want in on the next one? Keep an eye on our events. These fill up fast, and the aspens will not wait.
