Aug 24 - Silver Lake (BCC)

 Cloudy morning with temps heading for a high of 80 w/ a chance of showers.

Heading up to walk around Silver Lake (assuming the whole loop is open) and maybe Willow Lake.

Some rainy looking clouds to the south but I head up the canyon anyway. It's really busy this morning; far more than I expected. And slow as the lead car is not doing the speed limit. :(

I think I pass a moose just before Donut Falls; lots of cars and a few people with cameras.

It's been a month since I've been up BCC and at that time there was no road construction. Well that is not the case today. Fortunately all the one-way stop lights are deactivated - yea!

I arrive at Silver Lake and the parking is a little more than a 1/4 full. It's 63 degrees and cloudy as I make my way clock-wise around the loop. There looks like there may be a moose if I go counter-clockwise (or maybe a beaver) but I choose to go the other way for a change. (I'm looking for beaver.)

Many people out fishing already this morning.

After I pass the fishing pier, I spot a beaver!

Heading into the woods I spot some Monkshood still blooming.

I loop around the lake. No deer or moose but there are a lot of Mallards. I'm assuming a couple of families of them.

Flowers are pretty much done expect I see plenty Asters.

At the TH, I look at the closure sign just to make sure there isn't a way to get to Twin Lakes and the only way is from LCC which is out of my comfort zone. I'll have to wait until Nov. :(

I make a stop at the pier.

Completing the loop, I decide to not go to Willow Lake. There were lots of cars when I passed. Even though most of them are probably campers, I'll wait. Labor Day is coming and many will be gone after that.

Good day!



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Silver Lake/Lake Solitude/Twin Lakes Loop (BCC)

Image
 Sunny day with temps in the mid-90s. Heading up to hike the loop today and then hopefully up to the Pass. I'm thinking the trails will be again crowded since it's still the 4th holiday week-end but heading up early. I arrive around 7am and after I park, I see a Porcupine walking across the parking lot across the street. Not a bad start. (And there are not many cars in the lot which is a happy surprise.) I gear up and make my way to the TH. No moose, deer or beavers this morning but the Iris are in-bloom now. I start heading up to Lake Solitude and yes, the flowers are starting to bloom. (And good thing because the Brighton/Solitude Wildflower walks are next week-end.) Lots of yellow bloomers, Bluebells, Columbine, etc. Quiet walk though. I do see a Pika at the first little rocky spot. She's gathering veg for the winter already. Farther along, I do see a need (mostly butt and a quick flash of a doe head) before the big avalanche. I can see her ribs so she needs to eat. Mayb...
Read more

June 27 - Lake Solitude (BCC)

Image
 It's an off Friday and I'm heading up to Twin Lake Pass (hopefully). It's a sunny day with temps in the low 90s. Rocky start as I realize I forgot my phone about 1/2 way down my block but I can live without that. Then as I turn up BCC, I realize I forget sunscreen. Big Oops! I'll be short hike today. :( I arrive around 7:30. Parking lot is pretty empty; I'm surprised. I head around the lake to the TH. No moose, deer or beaver. The plant life is getting taller and about ready to bloom. I'm seeing a few Geraniums, Thimbleberry, Bluebells, Paintbrush, Beardtongue, etc. Quiet walk - no pika, deer or moose. Although I find fresh deer tracks on the trail. I reach Lake Solitude; it too is quiet w/ no deer or ducks. Decision time: do I continue to do the hike; another 2 hrs in the sun or be smart. Of course, I choose the "smart option" and head back. Of the way back, I hear something moving thru the forest and stop to look. Lucky me! I see a Doe. She looking ...
Read more

May 1 - Desolation Trail to Salt Lake Overlook (Millcreek Canyon)

Image
 It's May 1st; 23rd anniversary of my Mom's death. I've always taken the day off and try to honor/remember her with a nice hike. I was planning to be at Lower Calf Creek but cancelled at the last minute. So today I'm heading up the Desolation Trail in Millcreek Canyon for the 1st time this season. (I'm actually not sure if I even hiked it last year; it's typically an after work hike until the mountains open up.) A bit chilly this morning; it's in the low 40s. But around 8:30am I leave for the hike. I bring my winter coat just in case. But when I get out of my car, despite the 40 degree temp, it feels like good hiking weather so I so up the trail. Not sure where the Spring flowers are at this point but surprised not to see an overflow of Lilies, Waterleaf, and Solomon's Seal at the start of the trail. The Lilies are blooming but the other two are still growing. It's still very early; yea! I'm enjoying the Lilies in various stages from buds, blooms...
Read more