April 28 - Desolation Trail to Salt Lake Overlook

Hot dog! I'm heading out to hike one more normal Spring after work hikes again after a hole miserable year. Yea!

Sunny day with temps near 60 degrees. Heading out to hike the Desolation Trail to Salt Lake Overlook. Hoping to see some Spring wildflowers.

I arrive and there are only a couple of cars in the lots - yea! Back to normal again!

I start up the trail and quickly find Avalanche Lilies in bloom (and all other stages of growth). They are from bottom to top but the biggest patches are on the bottom.

The trail is a lot of mud (with dry patches) and at the higher parts of the trail - snow. Some very slow and slippery snow crossing with downhill drop-offs. (Glad I got my YakTraks for the downhill trip).

Lots of little orange/brown moths.

And there buttercups in bloom (tiny ones 

and larger ones) 

and Spring Beauties too.

Oh, can't forget the Spring Parsley.

And there's the plant's on the way (I think this is Ragwort)

On the last stretch as I wait for 2 guys to pass by, the one guy points out a bird -- it's a Grouse! Way cool!

The top has a great view of Grandeur Peak


and the Salt Lake Valley.


Lots of snow on the slopes to the north.

Time to head down - and yes, the YakTrak were great on the downhill!

And I see a Hairy Woodpecker too!

Great day!

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