May 2 - Silver Lake (Big Cottonwood Canyon)

 Partly sunny day with highs near 60 degrees (oh, and there's a slight chance of sprinkles).

Heading up to walk around Silver Lake this morning. Ski season is over about 2 weeks now; so it's time to check things out as I haven't been in the canyon since January/early February.

At the mouth of the canyon, there's lots of green as the trees are leafing out. The creek is flowing but the melt is still coming.

Of course, the higher I go, the more snow I see but the north side (sun facing) is bare ground and the south side is of course, snowy.

The mountains near Mill D North has patches of snow -- almost time to start Spring after work hiking. And the road for Mill D South is clear as well.

I search the creek in that area but do not find any moose.

At some point after Silver Fork, I find a lone more next to the road. I stop quickly parallel with her. She looks very disheveled as the winter fur is shedding. 



I leave her as I spot a car coming up behind me. (I later find out because of a Facebook group that there was another moose with her - Mom and baby pair.)

I pass the Willow Lake trailhead and that trail looks like is hike-able now (with snow).

I reach Silver Lake and I'm surrounded by snowy mountains. There's only one car parked so I'll have the place mostly to myself. It's still in the upper 30s with sun but there are clouds moving this way.

There's only a little pile of snow to cross before getting to the snow-covered boardwalk. I just follow the hard-packed trail around to the other side.

The footbridge is still covered in snow except for the sides. 

The lake is still all frozen except some small openings. In one of those openings, is a Mallard pair.


I reach the trail towards Twin Lakes and I start up. I'm only going to the ridge today - maybe next week will be Twin Lakes.

The trail is frozen foot prints and bit hard walking but there are at least 3 Hairy Woodpeckers pecking in the trees.

Soon, I make it to the ridge and immediately hear Pika calls. I locate the little guy on the down slope. He quickly stops calling on my approach.

I also hear another Pika calling on the upslope.

I continue across the ridge as the clouds roll in.

I reach the other side, looks like there are some tracks leading to Twin Lakes but I'm stopping for the day.

Time to head down back thru the Woodpeckers and to Silver Lake.

I head around to complete the loop.

Awesome day!

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