Oct 15 - Lambs Canyon

 Another sunny 80 degree day but they are coming to an end on Thursday with rain and Winter Storm Watch for the mountains on Thurs & Friday. So I took off work at 2:30 and am heading out to hike up Lambs Canyon. The plan was to make it to the top for only the 2nd time this year (yes, that's really sad) but since I decided to take tomorrow off to going hiking before the storm, I'm only going to the meadow which is about 1/2 way. (Got to save the legs...and hip.)

I arrive and chat with a bow hunter who is extremely happy for not seeing a thing today; he just enjoyed the experience which is awesome. He was looking for elk and told me about a time he heard an elk call and figured it was just humans. But when he came in the meadow (my stopping point for the day), he ran into a whole herd them - that's awesome! I've only heard elk once in Lambs Canyon coming down on an after work hike. 

That was a fun chat but time's a ticking as it get dark early.

As I start up the trail, there's comfort (and a little sadly) that I probably won't see any critters as the hunter just came down the trail. But you never know.

There are fading aspen leaves falling from the trees, the flowers have gone to seed but I do find some geranium from bottom to middle that are still blooming - quite the surprise. 

Still very colorful leaves at the shrub level with varying yellows, oranges, reds, browns - very pretty.

It is a very quiet hike. The excitement of the hike up is seeing what I think is an owl with its back to me. Too small to be Great Horned Owl but there are others. Took many pictures from different points on the trail; however when I took a peek a one, it's simply tree bark. :(

Trail is quiet. I heard movement in the veg at several places but seeing nothing.

Soon I'm in the meadow; my destination.

I take a short break and start my way down.

Scanning for critters coming out the dusk and probably a little more than 1/2 way down, surprise, I startle a herd of deer up from the creek. There are 6 of them. One big doe, 2 fawns (one of which is buck), and 2 mid-sized doe - perhaps early season fawns or maybe last year.

They startle, cross the trail and thankfully stop. I do too. I'm staring at one of the mid-sized doe. 

The bigger one with the other 4 are to her right behind a tree and hidden by shrubs. I slowly move forward. They are eating but edgy. I do finally get a look at all 6 of them. When I get too close, the big doe moves in front of the fawn and they eventually move off to the left. Pretty awesome!



I also spot a hive.

Soon I'm back at the car. It's 5pm and I'm ready for dinner.

Awesome day!

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