July 11 - Silver/Solitude/Twin Lakes Pass/Twin Lakes/Silver Lake Loop (BCC)

 Sunny day with highs near 90 degrees. Heading up BCC to hike up to Twin Lakes Pass.

I arrive in the parking lot around 7:30. As I loop thru the parking lot to park, I see a bull moose out in the meadow!! I guess I'm seeing my 3rd moose of the year!

He was on the move when I started along the boardwalk; heading right (west) towards the lake. Oh, please don't cross the lake before I get there. I see his wet footprints on the boardwalk so he crossed it earlier.

Whew! When I get to the footbridge, I could almost and reach out and touch him. His head is down eating and he hasn't entered the water yet.

Eventually looks up.

I think he's heading into the water so I leave the footbridge and continue on the trail. I want to be past him when he crosses so I can get to Lake Solitude.

But he moves a bit to the right. I take off at that point. By the time I get to my TH it looks like he crossed because I cannot see him anyway.

Exciting start but off to Lake Solitude!

I quickly see a Downy Woodpecker landing on Aspen leaves and picking on them. I've never seen this behavior before; guess his looking for bugs. 

There are a couple other Woodpecker pecking at trees this morning in the same general location. Busy day for Woodpeckers!

Quiet walk - no Pika or deer this morning. (And I must be getting slow because two people past me - hmm.)

I reach Lake Solitude and no deer/moose there either but ground squirrels

Today I'm ready for the climb; let's see if I can beat my own mind games.

I stop for a W. Admiral on the 1st switchback

and a lady passes me so now I get to follow her - grrr!

I'm doing great until she stops; of course I stop because I don't want to pass her. And then I'm dogging it again. (I'm not joking but pulse never got above 113 - dogging it.) But I make it to the top!

My legs are dead but I push myself up the the Pass's Trail, make the short climb and I can start walking thru the flowers to the Pass. It is wonderful!

Looking for butterflies but only seeing bees; lots of bees.

I got about 3/4 of the trail; just as it starts to climb a little bit, I stop. I good for the day.

On the way back, I see a Parnassian and a Checkerspot - he facing the sun and I'm on the other side and never get a good.  But quite devoid of butterflies (sadly).

I do get photos of some of the Bumblebee though.

Nevada Bumblebee

and many others.

Olive-sided Flycatcher


Then it's down to Twin Lake. I don't stop at the dam but just keep heading down.

Lots of flowers blooming on the downhill.

I see a Frit and a Blue along the way.

I hear Pika along the switchback.

Tons of people at Silver Lake and they are in big groups - odd. But on the drive down, I see several tour buses heading up the Canyon.

Good day!

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