Oct 29 - Willow Lake (BCC)

 Sunny morning BUT it's coooold. 29 degrees when I leave my house just before 8am. Sun has risen 15 minutes ago but it going to be awhile before it makes it over the mountains.

I'm heading up BCC this morning to hike Willow Lake (Lake Solitude if there's too much so on the side of the road; we had 9 inches of snow earlier this week).

Snow is pretty much up on the peaks until after Mill D. But there's not much on the ground and the roadsides are clear. So when I roll up on Willow Lake parking, it's a go!!

It's 14 degrees in the shade - brrrr!.

I gear up and start up the trail. (I don't know if I need them, but I have my microspikes on.)

Darn it, as soon as I exit my car, another car pulls-up; sure hope that go the other direction.

There's just a light dusting of snow on the trail (micro-spikes definitely overkill at this point but you never know). 

The Aspens are bare - naked trees -- but the visibility is awesome (including the moon)!

I can hear that they are making snow at Solitude. And in a clearing, I can see the "made" snow blowing.

Pretty easy going. I'm surprised at the lack of snow but happy.

I scan for deer/moose but nothing to be seen or heard for that matter.

But I do find some mice?? tracks.

Soon I'm entering the meadow.

And then about to enter the aspens again.

I make a stop at the lake which is almost frozen - but not quite.

And make my way around the lake. I'm following fresh coyote tracks as I head around the lake.

On the other side

I make my way around to the aspens on the other side. If there were any critters over here, they were scared away by the folks that started just after me.

Getting a few flakes of snow as I'm walking.

Then it's one quick look at the meadow before heading back down (and hopefully into some sun because I'm a bit chilly).

No animals on the downside (and no humans either). I did see some rabbit/squirrel??? tracks (fresh).


I did catch a bit of sun (but not much).

And yes, they are making snow today!!

Oh, I did hear a woodpecker near the trail head.

Good day!

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