Aug 22 - Lambs Canyon

 Another sunny and 90 degree day. Note: it only cooled to 75 degrees last night so it is starting warm.

It's an off-Friday but I'm debating where to go. I decide to take a longer hike today up the Morman Trail as it flat and should be quiet. But as I start to drive off, the sky is thick with clouds and possible rain. Well, to get to the Morman Trail, it's a ride on a dirt; I think I'll pass. That has me heading to Lambs Canyon. Call it a redemption hike from Monday but I'm really not mentally ready for it.

I arrive and there's some early risers out already. It's already 73 degrees here and very cloudy.

I start up the trail and quickly have 2nd thoughts of hiking it. But I decide to go forward. 

Soon I meet a guy on his way down.

I pass by a guy going extremely slow. He has a bow/arrow and is looking at everything. I later find out that this was his 1st time on this trail.

I'm still on the lowest trail and coming up to a log stump. I look ahead and see a large dark spot ahead. I believe this is the stump but it doesn't look right. I lose sight of it and am looking down when I reach the top of a little rise. I look up and I'm 30 feet from a cow moose! Holy crap!! She feeding but as I back away, she looks at. And makes some calls. 

She starts to feed again but continues the calls. I'm not sure why she would calling as it's too early for mating season. But she slows moves off the trail to the downhill side.

The guy I pass is coming up on me as I'm standing on a tree stump to get a better view of her.

He says there's a baby! What!

I see the baby from the stump

and jump down so he can have a look. They are very slowly moving down (note we are all almost at the bottom of the ravine so there's not much distance to cover here). They are hard to see from the trail so we both end up on the tree stump and we're watching/listening to them.

Note Mom is feeding but her ears are perked and listening, she knows where we are and she is constantly licking her lips; she's agitated.

At one point, I get a good look at the baby.






Soon there are 2 guys that come up behind us and enjoy views of the moose from the stump. When the Mom is in the ravine, they take off up the trail. I watch for a bit longer and take off up the trail too. AsI pass them, I'm actually closer than standing by the stump, I see Mom and baby closer. But when I'm safe enough to look back, looks like baby is at Mom's side. (How'd that happen?)

I'm re-energized (I was meant to walk this trail today) and move up the trail. Nothing flying due to the cloud cover but there are oddly Phlox that are just starting to bloom as I near the meadow.

I meet another guy on his way down and he asks if the moose was still there. I said yes with baby. He was surprised by the baby. Now I'm wondering did that 1st guy see the moose and if so, why he didn't warn me. That's just curiosity.

Soon I'm at the top (yea).

And then heading down. Did not see the moose on my return nor did I think I would as they would be bedded down by then.

Awesome day!

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