July 15 - Willow Lake

Mostly sunny and 93 degrees when I leave my house at 3pm to hike to Willow Lake. It's been a while since I've been there so it's time.

Ugh! More BCC one-lane road construction; that's 3 years in a row. (Luckily I find it before 3:30 because the traffic jam when I was leaving around 5:30 - wow!!

I arrive and a few cars parked but the canyon seemed pretty empty.

It's around 80 degrees and cloudy when I start up the trail. Lots of Geraniums, Jacob's Ladder, Horsemint and a few Bluebells all the way up the trail. Oh, the Fireweed is blooming!!

The little waterfall is still flowing.

See several Northern Flickers early on the 1st switchback (counter-clockwise).

Spittlebugs are out here as well.

On the 1st switchback, I see deer prints on the trail. Either they are fresh or there simply haven't been many folks up the trail today.

I'm seeing Police Car Moths, 

a few Frits, Lilac Bordered Copper, N Checkerspot and Clodius Parnassian (saw several on the whole hike).  Oh, and a N. Cloudywing on the way up.

Lots of vegetation but it's looking stressed from the lack of rain - we could sure some rain.

I arrive at the meadow and there are a few ground squirrel around.

The Spring pond is all dried up at this point.

I do see a few Blue Coppers.

I head into the aspen grove and pop out at the lake thinking I can head down but it's still very full so I have to go around to the other side.

There's still a stream with logs to cross. As I'm about to step out, out pops a baby snake. Don't mind snake but this could be a baby rattler which I want nothing to do with so I hop over it. Thankfully, it was scare of me as well and slithered back under the logs.

Tons of Jacobs Ladder on the other side as well as Geraniums.

I head down to the lake hoping for some butterflies in the mud but nothing. 

So I want the lake. Still no ducks on the lake; kinda weird.

I get to the far end before entering the woods and I see a female Mallard. Oh, she has babies all fluffy and ready to run.

I try to give them a wide berth but they enter the water anyways.

A few feet ahead is another group of baby Mallards. I scare them too!

Then it's into the woods and back to the other side (see a Mustard White) and back to the meadow.


Time to head down but a quick stop to look at a Clouded Sulphur (actually 2 of them). I think I've seen more Clouded Sulphur on my hike this year than ever before.

I have to slow my hike down because I get behind a family group. Close to the last switchback, they stop and I go past them.

Overall good hike!

Clouded Sulphur, N. Cloudywing, N. Checkerspot, Blue Copper, Purplish Copper, Clodius Parnassian, Mustard White.

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