August 9 - Twin Lakes Loop (BCC)

 Sunny day with only a high of 90 degrees (a cooling trend finally). 

Original plan with to head up to Germania Pass (LCC) but I changed my mind and decided to do the Twin Lakes loop.

And it was a good decision.

Got an early start leaving before 6:30 - maybe I'll see a moose.

Just pass Solitude, I have to stop for a Mom deer and her offspring crossing the road.

I arrive at Silver Lake and the parking is pretty much empty (no early risers or perhaps the summer vacation visitors have gone home). I like it.

As I head to the bathroom, I stop a bull moose eating off the board and I do make it over to him. Just happily munching away at the veg.


I eventually wander off to start my hike. As I reach the trail, I see a lone deer. (That's 3!)

Squirrels sure have been busy; lots of piles of pine cones "leaves" in spots along the trail.

The Fireweed is about at its top bloom now.

I continue up the trail to Lake Solitude. The birds are busy this morning as are the chipmunks! I get up close and personal with a Chickadee

and a Chipmunk.

No deer/moose sightings along the trail. I do hear a Pika on the big rockslide before Lake Solitude but do not see him. There are deer tracks (big and little) along this stretch.

Lake Solitude is calm. At first I do see any ducks but they are hiding on the other shore.

I start around the lake. Last time I was here I thought the flowers were done due to dry weather but boy am I wrong. They are just in bud -- Asters. There's going to be lots of Asters soon!

As I get to the opposite side, I see a yellowish bird and I am able to track her down.

And I spot a Pika scrabbling down onto a rock pile.

Then it's up, up the hill. Something I have not done many times this year. And again I dogged it. (42 minutes). But I got up there. Stopping to watch a squirrel have a tug-o-war with a net. Not sure why a net is along the trail but it is.

After a brief stop, I head up to my perch to stare at a mostly empty lake below. Actually the main lake has more water in it than last time I was here. Not sure where that water came but it looks up. The other lake never fully emptied so it kinda looks like late summer on a bad water year.

I take a break and am entertained by a Gray Jay.

Time to head down. The flowers down to the lake are pretty awesome and there's more to come.

I make a stop at the lake

Oh, and I'm glad I chose this hike because there's some pretty ugly clouds coming my way.

and then continue my way downhill. At the start of that downhill, I stop for a Western White.

Then it's downhill. At some point it begins to rain - a light rain.

Down at the switchback, I see a Marmot down low.

I also see a male Western Tanager with it's yellow head. They sure look prettier in the Spring but he still does look good!

Then its back down to Silver Lake. As I'm by the pier, I hear a Dad tell his family to look at the Eagle. I stop and turn back. It's not an Eagle but an Osprey!!! Pretty sleet bird.

I tell them it's an Osprey and show them one of my photos for a closer look. Never what have seen it if I didn't hear him as it was in back of me.


Awesome day!

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