Sept 6 - Lake Solitude (BCC)

 Sunny day with highs in the low 90s. Heading up BCC to maybe hike up above Twin Lakes. We'll see how things go; my body is still bruised in sore from the fall 2 weeks ago; I'm thinking I should still avoid steep climbs.

Super easy drive up the canyon. Just a truck in front of me going 50+ mph; very quick until reaching the one lane stop light before  Brighton - can't wait until they are done.

When I arrive at Silver Lake, I'm the 2nd car - holy cow it's finally to "shoulder" season; Peace! And, and the parking lot is open; the construction is FINALLY completed! Hope the loop is open. But it's not. :( For some reason the far right corner is still blocked.

I start around the lake in the clockwise direction. Light frost on the boardwalk making it a bit slippy.

It's so quiet and calm. I'm finding no moose or deer. And despite hopes for seeing a beaver, no such luck this morning.

I stop on the pier on the opposite side

and see the Osprey take off and fly to another tree. Now that's exciting!!

I reach the TH and take a look at the fencing block the trail. It's says "Boreal Toad Crossing"?! I also read the letter on the fence and OK, the section is closed because after 2 awesome snow years and higher water levels, the Boreal Toad monitoring yield tons of small toads. The closure is to give the little guys a chance to safely make it to their winter hibernation areas. OK, I'm not mad anymore - awesome cause! Good luck little guys!

I continue up the trail towards Lake Solitude. I'm seeing many deer tracks on the trail.

I soon meet a lone doe. 

Well she's not actually alone as I see a flash of a white butt disappear uphill from her.

A little farther down the trail I almost run into another deer that's standing in the middle of the trail. She does move to let me by.

And then in the frisbee football area, there are 2 additional deer. Not a bad morning!

Just chipmunks and a few the rest of the way.

As I approach the lake, I scare to hawks from the tree tops. They look a very light brown in color. I hope they will land but they are just doing circles in the sky and slowly moving behind me. Pretty cool!

Lake Solitude is very quiet and calm.

I decide that I might hike up so I start circling the lake. Once on the other side, I change my mind - for another day.

I start my way back. 

Just cruising along when just past the trail up to the ski lift, I run into a cow moose! She's feeding behind to large trees alongside of the trail. Wow! Love it!

BUT I'm trapped. It's only with great risk that I pass her - I'd be able to scratch her nose (almost). I watch for a while before backtracking. I guess I'm going to Twin Lakes! 

Then I run into that side trail. That'll get me above and past the moose - yes! I start up spotting the 2 deer I met earlier at the frisbee opening.

Just before the lift, I start back down to the main trail happily past the moose. Whew!

Now it's up to the switchback where I hear but do not see any Pika.

Then it's back to Silver Lake and around the lake. Lots of sleeping ducks on the far side.

Awesome day!

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