July 30 - Silver Lake (BCC)

 Sunny day with highs near 100 (again).

Heading up to Silver Lake to hike up to Twin Lakes (and the Pass) for the first time this year. A little nervous but very excited.

Passing the Willow Lake area and there are only a few cars. Strange as it's been packed the last couple of time I've passed.

I get to Silver Lake at 7am. Still plenty of spots in the lot. 

Hoping they have the boardwalk done, but no still closed. Bummer! Not sure what's taking so long.

There's also a sign saying something about closure Solitude and Twin Lakes. I'm thinking my big hill after Lake Solitude is closed, which would be weird, but let's find out!

So I start my walk around "open" boardwalk. It still get to me to trailhead.

A lot less water flowing around today than a few weeks ago.

As I close in on the pier, I notice a beaver on the Lake. Come early and you are bound to see them.

Looks like they've also begun work on the pier on the other side of the lake. Hmm.

I also notice that one of the inflows to the lake is blocked. I'm thinking beavers; they liked the high water on the other side and are trying to keep it.

There are 2 beavers out there now. Photos won't do because there is not enough light.

I continue around the lake.

Here, I catch a beaver munching on some "food".

I continue around passing blooming Fireweed -- the countdown to Fall begins :(

Continuing on and before the Shooting Stars, the trail is blocked. Shoot! Why did they start something else without finishing the other boardwalk. You can't get to the lake. And you can't get to Lake Solitude or Twin Lakes. Crud!

Time to head back. There should be another way to Twin Lakes from the Brighton Ski Lodge. I've never taken it but I want to research it first. Guess I'll go to Willow Lake!

On the way back to my car, I see a lone deer.

And, there's a bull moose crossing the meadow on the other side. Wow! 

Guess the trail closure isn't such a bad thing :)

He's moving with a purpose but he stops at the edge of the boardwalk for a snack.

And then he crosses, loitering just after crossing before slowly moving on.

I move on to crossing his path across the boardwalk.

Nice hike. Wasn't what I was expecting but I got beavers, deer and moose -- Good day!

Onward (I guess downward) to Willow Lake.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Dec 25 - Little Dell Reservoir

Image
Merry Christmas! It cold and snowless in SLC.  And even colder in the mountains so I'm going part way to the Reservoir this morning. I have wool, fleece, light winter coat, wool hat and my best gloves and mask. It's not an early start; more like closer to 10 am. I wind up Emigration Canyon this morning. Great view down into the SL valley as the inversion is not strong yet. I crest at the Pass and start going downhill. I'm looking around hoping I spot a deer/elk/moose. I'm about 1/2 way down and I spot some dark in the trees farther down. Fortunate for me, there's a pull-off and I pull in and get out of my car for a look. At first I see nothing but then there's the dark spot. I zoom in with my camera and.... it's Moose!!  Awesome Christmas present! There's no antlers so I'm not sure male/female but it's actively eating.  I watch for a bit before heading down. Not many people out this morning - not unexpected. The water is unfrozen but there's
Read more

Dec 24 - Gravel Pit/Beacon Hill (Antelope Island)

Image
 Sunny w/ a few early clouds with highs in the low 30s. Heading up to Antelope Island this morning. The plan is Gravel Pit/Beacon Hill; bison permitted. It's in the upper 20s when I arrive on the causeway.  It's frosty this morning with a few hawks flying around. But no critters except gull and a few ducks. I arrive on the Island and there are no bison in sight. In fact, I don't see any critters except a lone bison after the pit toilets.  Oh, there was what looked like a Kestrel that some folks were taking a photo of at the rocks near the Frary Peak turn-off. Quiet morning. No bison near Sentry Peak, I so want to hike that. Soon I will; just giving my hip some more time. I turn at the Ranch and start north. Across from that lone bison but far to the west, I see a few blacks dots on the mountain that I'll bet are bison! Then rolling up on the Frary Peak round, there's about 20 pronghorn heading north!!! Yea!! I arrive at the Gravel Pit trail. There's one car alre
Read more

Sept 7 - Catherines Pass and beyond (LCC)

Image
 Sunny day and 88 degrees in the valley but where I'm heading after work is only in the upper 60s - AWESOME! Yes, the 4th annual Albion Basin Camping trip. Well, it'll be only the 3rd time I've gone. Last year is was over 100 degrees so I took a Pass. But today is absolutely perfect! I leave work at 2pm, make quick trip to Walmart for a new lamp; I left the batteries in the old one and they have gone to acid - yuk! Then it's home to pack, Subway for an early (3:30)  supper and off to my campsite #16 for the 3rd time. Love that site because it's right next to the trail from the campground to the Catherine's Pass. I arrive around 4:30 and get my tent setup, I change and start my hike. Still plenty of flowers around but they fading. I'm seeing Paintbrush, Asters, Geraniums etc. I'm also seeing butterflies: Blues, Parnassian, Milbert's Tortoiseshell and Frits. I'm a little surprised because it's so late in the day. Oh, and bees too! It's a be
Read more