I arrive at the Mill D South parking lot. It's still in the 40s with a light layer of frost on the plants still.
I head up the trail paralleling the Big Cottonwood canyon road looking south.
This part of the trail is still in the shade. Lots of green plant growth but not much blooming other than some Bluebells.
Soon the trail turns left (north) heading up the "fork" (i.e., gully). I'm in the sun now. Still pretty much only Bluebells in bloom but I do see a few Geraniums, Balsamroot
and Meadowrue.
Give it a week or two and there will be lots of blooms.
Trail is quiet - only hearing the stream running below. I keep looking up slopes for moose or deer but see nothing.
There are a few ground squirrels running around. Hopefully, they will be more cooperative on the way down.
I finally reach the stream. It's flowing higher and faster than I've ever seen for the end of June but that's expected after the winter we've had.
Ahead, I can see the stand of trees where the trail splits; be there soon.
I'm at the split - Dog Lake 0.6 miles to the left and Desolation Lake 2.0 miles to the right. Time to go uphill to Dog Lake.
Lots of chipmunks
and ground squirrels running around along the hillside.
I finally reach the final flat stretch to the lake. There's still some patches of snow that the chipmunks and ground squirrels are running across.
The lake is full and beautiful this morning. (And no one is around - awesome!)
I head around to the left, up the short but snow packed trail to the opposite side of the lake. There are lots of moose tracks over here but I see no moose.
I continue around the lake until I reach my starting point.
Time to head down.
I had good timing for my hike because on the way down, I pull off for plenty of uphill hikers.
On the way down, I find a tent caterpillar nest.
I also see 4 butterflies - one that's either a Comma or Painted Lady, two Whites and one Blue. I have no IDs on any of them.
Good hike!
(On the way back down the canyon, I see two deer.)
