Cool morning as it's 41 degrees when I leave my house just before 8am. But the skies are clear which means sunny skies.
The drive up Big Cottonwood Canyon is beautiful with Fall color everywhere. But there still a bunch of green so it should only get better over this coming week!
When I arrive at Silver Lake, it's a cold 22 degrees - brrrrr!
There's not too many folks here yet but I'm sure it will be every crowded as folks come to see the colors.
It's frosty as I reach the boardwalk. Frost on the boardwalk, grasses and ice on the puddles. Very crisp looking. Can't forget that the aspen are yellow - yea!
I head around to the foot bridge and then around
I'm looking for moose/deer but see nothing along the way. I do find piles of dry vegetation on the rock slopes indicating Pika are resident. Even heard a chirp but no Pika sightings.
Soon I reach Lake Solitude and I start around the lake and then up the hill. As I head behind the lake, I see 3 deer moving thru the woods on the slopes. Cool!
Then it's up, up, up until I'm standing over Twin Lakes. Wow, the lake levels have dropped so much that's it's actually two lakes!!
And it looks too cool!
I head up to my perch to check things out.
I'm thinking about heading up to the Pass but the 2 lakes are too amazing so head I on down.
On the way down, I see 2 Clark's Nutcracker eating away.
They come together for a bit and then fly off in a quarrel. BTW, the sound of their wings is incredible (like a deep whoop, whoop, whoop).
I reach the dam - boy has the water level dropped. I walk down hill to get to the lake's edge. So beautiful!!
Time to find the trail and head down to the other end.
Slowly, enjoying the views.
Hey, I find some living Asters!!
I reach the point where the 2 lakes meet and head down the lake bed to explore up towards the dam
and back to the other lake.
I walk the sandy/rocky lake bed to the other side. Tons of moose tracks but I see no moose.
At the other end, I climb up on a rock and take a quick break.
Time to head back to the other side. On the way back, I spot a lone Pika high on the rocks.
I reach the dam again and about to head down when I guy tells me that there's a moose down there. I can see him from where I am. I normally take the left trail but he tells me that the big bull moose is right off the left trail. There's also a female nearby in the trees. So I take the right trail which is a little farther away from the moose. I only have to take a few steps when I see him.
I'm looking for the other one, but it's still in the shadows somewhere. I pass the big male without ever seeing other.
Down I go to the switchback, it's gorgeous as I head across the switchback.
Then it's back down to Silver Lake.
Awesome day!
