May 31 - Silver Lake and Willow Lake (Big Cottonwood Canyon)

 Sunny day with temps in the upper 70s.

Had plans to hike a portion of the Lake Blanche Trail but I decided to go to the end of the road and access the snow situation up there.

The canyon is melted out except the high peaks and shadier section. The creek is roaring as expected.

I reach the Silver Lake parking with several cars already parked. I really don't know what to expect but I have seen pictures showing the boardwalk melted.

And the boardwalk is melted. Still snowy sections remain in the grassy area. And, of course the peaks are still snow covered.

I scare up a snowshoe hare, all fluffy as I set out.

Lots of birds flying around.

I reach the footbridge and there's still alot of ice on Silver Lake but there are big open sections. There are also at least two Mallards.

On the other side of the bridge, the trail is snowpacked; at least a foot. I don't have Yaktrak so I just go to the 1st dock for the view.

There's no reason to continue. I won't head to Twin Lake unless Silver Lake is melted and Lake Solitude, you probably need AllTrails to find your there.

Time to head to Willow Lake (and I know the trail is melted there based on AllTrails reports.)

I head down canyon just bit. I'm the first person to hike today.

The bluebells are starting to bloom at the beginning of the trail and the aspens are pretty leafed out. As I get higher that is no longer true.

I see Red breasted Nuthatch in the tree above me (of course my photos are blurry).

At the intersection, I make a quick stop at the bridge and then I head right and up the long switchbacks. Lots of green popping up. And some nice views of Solitude.

As I get closer to the meadow, I'm seeing more snow piles here and there but I only have to go across one very small snow section before reaching the meadow. Oh, I find moose tracks just before reaching the meadow so they are coming back to the high country.

I reach the meadow and hear Chorus Frogs in the small pond. They are not very organized yet but they are there.

Lots of ground squirrels running around the meadow.

I'm approaching the end of the meadow and the start of the aspen grove just before Willow Lake when I see a moose get up and look at me. 

Obviously she's not pleased with my presence otherwise she would not have stood. Maybe there's a baby; maybe not. But I'm not reaching Willow Lake today. And that's OK because I rather see the moose.

I turn to start the downhill on the other side of the loop. But I stop and fade from view for just a bit. Then I slowly start back up checking if she's moving but nope, she plops back down. I sneak closer but she spots me. Time to head downhill.

The water is running fast at the bridge.

At some point, I see two Hares chasing each other and cross my path. I get lucky and one stops!!

Father down the trail, I startled two deer. Thankfully, they hold their ground.

Oh there's a third deer to the left. Awesome!

And a Juba Skipper!

I complete the loop and the trail.

Awesome day! 

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