July 19 - Twin Lakes via Milly Express Lift (BCC)

 Another sunny day with temps in the high 90s. Just a couple of hours of worked today and I'm officially on vacation - yea!!

Heading up to Twin Lakes today. Had other ideas but decided to do the ole standby hike this morning.

I leave my house just after 7am. Early start always my plan but today, I just want to get thru that nasty road construction 4 miles in that was causing havoc when I went up earlier this week.

My lucky day! That road construction was gone - wow that was quick! Great start!

Just after Willow Lake, I see a car stopped on the downhill and I get a glimpse of the moose in the aspen that they were looking at.

Then as I'm passing Solitude I see a sign saying all trail closed to due Archery competition July 18 - 21. I wonder if I can get to Lake Solitude as it's in the resort. Guess I'll find out.

I arrive at Silver Lake and start along the boardwalk. Lots of guys fishing to the right - not sure if they should be there but no one is saying "no".

I reach the trail and right from the start (before the trail split) there is a barrier blocking the trail saying Danger! And warning if you proceed you are doing so at your own risk. Bummer - can't even get to Twin Lakes as I'm not taking risk. So Silver Lake is a quick trip.

I head back to my car and just a bit farther down the road to the ski lift where I started most of my hikes recovering from my broken foot. I gear up again and start up the trail to Twin Lakes.

I pass the waterfall

and quickly see a Mylitta Crescent.

Then it's up the switchbacks to the spur trail to Twin Lakes.

I'm passing Bluebells, Geraniums, Cinquefoil, Penstemon, White Buckwheat (lots of it), yellow flowers, purple flowers, sedum, Paintbrush, Lupine, Blue Flax and many others. It's not a "field of flowers" the whole way but in spots and the rest is pretty random.

I cross over the stream to the over fall (or at least one of them) a few times.

Looking for moose/deer but not seeing any.

I do see a marmot and just a bit farther is another.

There are also chipmunks and ground squirrels moving about.

On the last steep uphill, I see a Blue Copper.

I take the spur over across the outflow of the dam and surprise it's still flowing. Thought it would be done by now. Oh, they will be working on the dam this summer which is why they've drained the lakes.

Then it's up and over to a very dry Twin Lakes.

I decide to take the trail down to the other side for lake #2.

Very interesting views of the lake on the way.

Hoping to butterflies on the way but only see a Lilac Bordered Copper.

Lake #2 still looks like a lake; one that has dropped significantly but a lake. Yea!

I arrive at the other side but only stay briefly (I still have an hour of work left for this week.)

I do notice that water is still flowing down from the mountain tops (though there is only one patch left that I can see) as I can hear/see the stream. And there's still water flowing from lake #2 over to #1.

On the way back, I do see more butterflies (not many though). I'm see several Clodius Parnassian and the score of the day a Dreamy Duskywing!!

Time to head back downhill. Seeing plenty of Blue Coppers now. Also at least one species of Frit.

Then back at the bottom, a Ringlet!!

I see a young Marmot in the rocks by the building nibbling on veg. Unfortunately, he also picks up some paper trash and appears to be nibbling on that too. Dang people!


Awesome day!



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Aug 23 - Silver Lake (BCC)

Image
 Sunny day with highs near 90s. No hikes today; just a simple walk around Silver Lake due to having stitches in my knee. They say I can hike but wanted to do an easy test run first. Left around 6:30. Saw a lone deer on the side of the road on the way up. Arrived at the parking lot and it was around 58 degrees and still in the shade. Not many cars or people around today. Started my trip around the lake counter-clockwise. No moose to be seen as of yet. Not really much happening. Stop to watch 3 ducks next to the footbridge. Stop at the pier for a look-see. Stopped at the dock on the other side (perhaps for the 1st time since they rebuilt it). And crossed the wetland with yellow monkeyflowers in bloom. But the trail is then closed. Unfortunately they've still not finished this 2 or maybe 3 year project. I do spot a shorebird. I was excited but it flew as quickly as it landed in front of me. Beavers unfortunately absent. They've been very visible the last 2 years but they were rebu...
Read more

May 11 - Lambs Canyon

Image
 Partly sunny with temps around 60 degrees as I start up Lambs Canyon. Hoping for  good butterfly day after the foot+ of snow over the week-end; lots of wet spots for puddling. The start of the walk was sunny but as I got higher (and to the muddy spots), I fell under a cloud (boo). I did see Painted Lady, Rocky Duskywing, Mourning Cloak, Anise Swallowtail, Satyr Comma, and Spring Azure and a White that was not an Orangetip; perhaps a Large Marble. Also a moth I did see a blooming Arrowleaf Balsamroot  in addition to the Forget-me-knots and Virginia Waterleaf And 2 squirrels. I was going to loiter at the trail head but there were two locals there working on a truck and I didn't want to look like I was waiting to pillage their cars so I started down and back into the sun. Still a good day.
Read more

June 14 - Lambs Canyon

Image
Another sunny day with temps in the mid-90s. Heading to Lambs Canyon to hike to the top today for this 1st time this year. Near 70s when I leave Salt Lake. There's a lot of clouds around so that will keep things cooler at least at the beginning. I arrive and surprised to find 2 cars already in the lot. I gear up and start up the trail. Arnica, Solomon's Seal, Bluebells, Strawberries, Violets, Mitrewort and Geraniums in bloom. The Thimbleberry are budding and there are some in bloom. It's a beautiful morning! Upper switchbacks have Larkspur in bloom. Along the way in the shade I find a Western Tailed Blue waiting for the morning sun. Surprise find: Baneberry in bloom!! The entry into the meadow is far less muddy than last time. I continue pass and cross to the other side of the canyon.  Soon I cross again finding Spring Beauties in bloom. I get a little ways but feel like a bathroom stop is needed. Do I believe or not? I decide to head down and it was the correct decision ma...
Read more