June 12 - Lake Solitude (Big Cottonwood Canyon)

 Sunny day with highs in the mid-90s. 

Heading up to hike to Lake Solitude; folks says it's pretty clear so I'm off for cooler temperatures and a hike!!

Boy! The creek is roaring down the canyon!

I arrive and it's 82 degrees with room for me to park.

Boy! What a difference from 2 weeks ago! The viewable landscape in front of me (except the peaks) are clear of snow.

Silver lake is snow-free, high and a little murky.

I make my turn onto the trail and am greeted by Avalanche Lilies. Unfortunately, they are pretty much bloomed out. But there are blooms thankfully.

This is newly melted landscape; the ground is bare or with greens shooting up. I do find some Waterleaf, blooming Bluebells and lots of Spring Beauty.

Also lots of birds sounds.

The trail is clear except a few random couple step snowy patches.

Along the way I see a White, an Orangetip and a Anglewing; my guess CA Tortoiseshell and a couple of chipmunks.

As I get closer to Lake Solitude, the snowy patches get bigger. They are slippery but I make my way across them.

The last stretch to the lake has a lot of snow in the trees.

I reach the lake!!!

And enjoy a short break.

The trail to Twin Lakes looks clear at least at the bottom. I see a guy coming from that direction and ask if he made it to the top. He said no. Tons of snow higher than the backhoe trying to clear the road (or at least a path thru it). Wow!

Time to move on and back over the snowy patches.

After the "steps" I turn right and head up to the switchback. It shady when I arrive. (The guy I talked to at Lake Solitude was arriving by a different route.) Sure looked like he was making it to Twin Lakes this way.

I, on the other hand, am looking for Pika and I find one quickly on the uphill side.

I was tempted to go across the switchback for a quick look at the trail up to Twin Lakes but I only went 1/2 way for a view of the lake below.

On my return, there is a 2nd Pika on the downhill side.

Good day!

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