Aug 25 - Twin Lakes (BCC)

 Mostly sunny day with highs in the low 90s.

Heading up to Twin Lakes today!!! Yea, 1st mountain hike of the year!!

The normal route to Twin Lakes (Silver Lake) has been closed since late June and will be until Sept 1 (hopefully). The closure is because they are rebuilding the boardwalk around Twin Lakes. They started counterclockwise last Fall and they are still working on the initial part - wish I knew why it is taking so long.

But there's another way to get from the Brighton area near the Milly Express. I've never taken that route but I will be today.

I arrive around 8am (delayed because of 2 one-way lane closure on BCC road).

I make a quick stop at Silver Lake 1) to go pee 2) to check on the status of the trail. Trail is still closed as expected.

I head around the corner to Brighton Building (w/ restrooms) and the Milly Express Lift. There's one car and a couple of people sitting at the lodge. Not sure where to park but I just park in front of some rails - there's no No Parking signs so I should be OK.

I gear up and start over to the service road by the Millie Lift and start making my way uphill and passing a little waterfall whose source is Twin Lakes. :)

Still lots of blooming flowers (Asters and Yellow flowers), Thimbleberries ripening, and a few butterflies (surprised because it still early). Seeing Blue Coppers

and Ruddy Coppers.

At times the trail follows a some stream flowing from the dam several hundred feet above. It's a wonderful sound. In some of the crossing, there are gorgeous ferns.

Keeping my open for moose or deer but it's just hope because 2 Brighton worker cars have already passed me by.

At one point I see a bfly that is not a Blue/Ruddy Copper. I get a  photo but it flies. Hopefully the photo comes out. All I know it was tan with orange markings on the hindwing and possibly, a tail. Hmm. It's a blurry CA Hairstreak!! I've seen one of these before on the actual Twin Lakes trail.

Up, up I go.

Crossing paths with a Purplish Copper.

I finally reach the crossover to the main Twin Lakes trail just below the dam (yea!)

I see a Marmot to the left.

I crossover and head towards the dam and then around it. Wow! There's a whole lot of water!!!!

I hop on the dam wall to catch all the baby fish swimming below.

Then I head to the beach (if you can even call it that). Definitely the highest water I've ever seen ever - and definitely late Aug.

I decide to head up to my perch. A lot more flowers up here.

On the way up, I see a Frit (I think a Zerene)

along with the Blue/Ruddy Coppers and a Lilac Bordered Copper.

There's a helicopter flying over the trail to the Pass. It dropping something off at the Ski Lift that sits above the trail. The heli is coming and going.

I reach my perch and take a short rest.

Should I continue up to the Pass or back down. I really don't want to be walking under that heli. It's loud and doesn't seem like a safe thing to do. Time to head down.

I see a Painted Lady.

Back at the lake, I get surprised by a Coral Hairstreak!!! First time I've seen one up here! Awesome!

Bet that's what I saw earlier farther down the trail.

I continue down back to my car. Yea, my car is still there and there's 4 cars near the Millie Lift - guess I can park there.

Awesome day!