Sept 5 - Willow Lake (BCC)

 It's a cloudy morning on an off-Friday. Rain is in the forecast for the mountains around noon. So instead of doing a big hike, I'm just heading up to Willow Lake.

Trees are progressing a little since last week and the ground foliage is really starting to look like Fall. 

Pretty light traffic for a Friday (yes, Labor Day) but I'm surprised at the number of cars around Willow Lake. Guess news is out that it is a good moose spot (though I haven't seen tons).

Aspen are still here but again ground veg is dry or turning colors. There are a few purple aster and yellow composites but they are hard to find.

Pretty quiet hike up and I didn't see anyone coming down.

Soon I'm crossing the meadow and just before I enter the aspen before the lake, there are two people popping out into the meadow from the other side of the loop (boy they are fast).

I loop to the opposite side of the lake to find 3 people stopped and looking out over the lake. Moose? Nope they are just chatting. (I spot briefly to talk to a couple and they said there was a Bull, cow, and baby at Silver Lake this morning.)

I continue down the side of the lake


and just after entering the aspen grove, I meet a couple coming the opposite direction. They warn me that there is a cow moose standing on the trail ahead. I proceed with caution with ears perked and scanning. 

I make it there the grove with no moose sighting. But in one area, I did hear some branches snapping. I stopped to look but saw nothing. Guess she moved off. Shoot!

Anyway I completed the loop around the lake 

and started my down. Lots of people coming up now. Quite frankly, I haven't seen that many people on this hike EVER. Not even after work. Very strange.

Good hike!

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