Aug 20 - Willow Lake (BCC)

Cloudy morning after some rain last night. Heading back to Willow Lake hoping I'll make it to/around the lake this morning. And of course, hoping for a moose or some deer.

Another early start leaving my house at 7am.

Plenty of parked cars but I'm sure most are overnighters.

I gear up and start up the trail. Plenty wet this morning as it rained up here as well. I'll be soaked soon. Oh, it's also 55 degrees.

Quiet this morning - the birds are absent at this point.

When I reach the loop, I decide to take a look at the little waterfall that is making lovely sounds this morning.

Plants are droopy and plenty are overhanging the trail from the rain. And yes, pants getting wet.

And tons of worms on the trail!!

 At one point I meet a couple heading down, they say they've seen a few deer. Guess I'm getting to the lake today!!

Soon I'm up the switchbacks and heading to the meadow. The only thing left of the moose from Friday are some snapped branches from where he was feeding.

I reach the meadow. Lots of seed heads and dying plant and no ground squirrels.

I reach the other side of the meadow and head thru the aspens for a short stint before breaking out at the lake. I head around to the other side where I find what is probably a family of ducks (Mallards) - all females.

The lake still has a good amount of water for August.

I work my way around the lake and then back into the woods on the far side and then completing the loop in the meadow.

Time to head down the other side.

My approach to the bridge spooks a family of deer (and me) drinking at the creek. I see one fawn run to the right, one fawn runs in my direction spotting feet from me. Talk about a scared little fawn staring at me. 

Mom starts to the left and then freezes looking at me.

It's a stand-off. I back off a couple of steps.

The fawn near me squeaks and then pronks off thru the woods to the left. Mom quickly follows with another fawn.

I thought that was it - Mom and 2 fawns - so I continue towards the bridge. To my surprise, there's a 3rd fawn - Wow! It's staring a me. 

Then it too heads off to the left to catch up to Mom. Incredible!!

All this lush vegetation is sure providing a great diet for that Mom deer - wow, triplet!!!

Awesome (and wet) hike!