Aug 25 - Silver Lake (BCC)

 Raining morning up at Silver Lake and in the 40s when I arrive. Too bad my body still hurts from the fall because it's an incredible day for hiking. But today it's just a trip around the lake. And I can actually go around it for the 1st time in 3 years because they've finally opened it up!! Wahoo!

The passing rain makes everything so fresh and vibrant!

No moose when I pop out onto the boardwalk and no crowds that would indicate that a moose was around.

The puffy clouds look pretty awesome on the lake.

At the trailhead I hear at woodpecker doing it's thing so I go up the trail a bit to check him out.

And then I continue along the trail stopping at the pier before continuing along the newly opened trail. They've paved it flat so it much more wheelchair accessible. But it's really muddy! I guess that's no different than before.

Still no beavers out but I did meet a guy who someone early in the morning; that's promising.

Into the woods, I start seeing many ducks. One that has a weird quack -- it's actually quite pretty. (Definitely, not a Mallard call even though there are Mallards around. But there are 2 ducks that do not look like Mallards and the call is coming from them.) iNaturalist says they are American Black Duck and they do migrate thru Utah but...


Then I'm back onto the boardwalk and heading home.

Quiet day but still nice.

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