June 19 - Twin Lakes (Big Cottonwood Canyon)

 Sunny day with temps in the mid-80s.

Heading up to Twin Lakes today - finally! I'm excited as it's the first trip of the year. (I'm expecting a crowd since today is a holiday - but we'll see.)

I arrive around 8am; still plenty of spots.

(They are charging to visit Silver Lake this year; actually found out last week. They have not put the pay station up yet. Interesting to see how that affects visitation. I'm going because a National Park Pass satisfies the requirements. I wonder if this applies to other trailheads as well.)

I start counter-clockwise as normal. Boy has the the water levels receded! I noticed that on the drive up with the creek too. Its still raging but the levels have came down.

Not much happening around the lake this morning. I stop at the new pier briefly before continuing to the trail.

I do spot a shorebird with spots on its belly.

I reach the trail behind 2 other groups of people. I'm figuring the 1st group are heading directly to the lake as they are moving fast. The other group I pass. I decide to head towards Lake Solitude and then take the mowed "road" up to the switchback.

The Avalanche Lilies are all but gone now. But seeing small buttercups, white and yellow violets,waterleaf and bluebells.

Heading up the "road" I see a Hairy Woodpecker.

I do reach the switchback and hear a squeak of a Pika but cannot find it. I continue across.

And then start up the big hill. All the attempts to block the side trail have been removed and I go up the steep way. Since this is my 1st trip, I'm going slow and stopping to enjoy the views. 

I'm getting near (and I'm happy).

Seeing lots of Avalanche Lilies as I continue to climb.

I also stop a Clark's Jay but when it flew, a whole bunch of the flew. Very cool!

I reach the road 

and stop to look at the dam overview. There's water but not a flowing as I expect for all the snow we've received.

I head up to the dam and around the other side. I'm expecting to see high water levels but am very disappointed to see the lake is really low. Maybe there still enough snow in the mountains to fill it up OR they don't want  it full this year. Guess I'll find out. (There still is a bunch of snow in the mountains.)

But the ice on the lake is pretty much melted except for near the dam.

It's pretty but it always looks better with more water.

I take a quick stop and then head higher soon reaching the intersection with the road leading down to Lake Solitude.

A fair bit of snow ahead but I go towards my perch. I have to climb over snow so I decide I'll save that for another day.

Guess it's time to head down and find that large deep section of snow I was told about on Wednesday.

The downhill road is pretty melted out. There are sections of snow but most I can get by on at least the side of the road. The landscape, however, still has lots of snow!!

I do see a Pika on the side of the road.

He avoids me by heading under the snow.

On the big curve is where I find that section of snow the guy was talking about on Wednesday. Lots of snow and I start across. It's packed and slick. 

I do see where the backhoe was trying to dig thru and in my opinion, it made things worse. Instead of the snow tapering off back into the road, there's simply a 4-5 foot drop down to the road. (And of course, the backhoe gave up.) I slide down on my butt (actually after slipping) down to the drop. There a "step" half way down so I use that as my exit. Whew!

After that it's clear sailing down to Lake Solitude.

I'm seeing flowers!!

Most of the snow that was on the trail down to Silver Lake is now gone. Yea! With the exception of one small crossing.

When I reach the grass "road", there a lone doe there! She looks pretty skinny.


Then it's back to Silver Lake.

Good day!


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