June 13 - Twin Lakes Loop

 Sunny day with highs near 100 degrees. Wow! And it's not even the middle of June.

Heading to hike the Twin Lakes Loop (Silver Lake, Lake Solitude, Twin Lakes and back).

I arrive just after 7am. It's in the mid-50s and there are more cars here since the last time I was here - must be summer vacation time. :(

As I start around the boardwalk everything is so very green - looks great!

I see wet beaver tracks on the boardwalk but no critter.

I get to the end of the lake and head up the trail to Lake Solitude. The Avalanche Lilies are all but gone and replaced by Bluebells, Virginia Waterleaf, Balloonflower and Yellow Violets (and others). Not many but more to come if the drought doesn't set them back.

I also find where I got lost in the snow last time I was here; there was a tree down blocking the trail; it's all clear now thankfully.

Easy walk and when I reach the rockslide, there is  lone doe walking down the trail towards me. 

She's grazing as she moves closer to me. She eventually stops to graze and I watch for a while but it's time to move on. Sorry deer but I need to pass.

Soon, I arrive at Lake Solitude. There are a couple of Mallards on the lake and still some snow on the left hill side. 

I work my way around the lake and start up the switchbacks. There are a few Paintbrush, etc in bloom along the 1st switchback.

Then it's up, up, up. I'm definitely dragging this morning as it's way harder than it should be.

I see a Juba Skipper along the way. And another much smaller butterfly. I get a dorsal view but I had a brain cramp and instead of taking a photo, I try to get closer. It flies and I lose it. Grrrrr! I have no idea what it was. Oh well!

I reach the top and then move to my perch (there's still snow at the entrance). Not surprising, There is almost 2 separate lakes already.



My plan is to go up to the Pass but since I'm dragging, I decide to head down and walk to the other side of the lake. Down I go!

I reach the dam and start moving down to the other side of the lake. Part way there, I decide to just head back down.

I walk past the dam and when I reach the trail heading down, I find Avalanche Lilies in bloom. And, a Sheridan's Hairstreak nectaring on one!! Way cool!

I turn to head down and I find another a few feet lower - my favorites!

Then it's down, down, to the switchback where I find a Marmot sunbathing

but no Pika.

And then down to Silver Lake.

On the way down the canyon, I slow as I see a lone doe heading down the hillside to the road. I also see a large white pickup coming up the canyon. I know what's coming and sure enough the pickup hits the deer. The deer crumples to the ground and the truck keeps coming. I reactively point at the driver as he nears me. I see the deer gets up and runs into the woods. He's got to be hurt and probably going to die. I'm going to stop if the pickup does not but the driver pulls off and turns around. I slowly drive around the pieces of his truck in the roadway. He stops. I'm hoping he tries to find the deer so it can be put out of his misery.

Great day! (Except to the hit deer)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Dec 5 - Sentry Trail (Antelope Island)

Image
Sunny day with temps near 50 degrees. Heading out to Antelope Island with the goal of hiking Sentry Trail. I arrive around 8:30am and as I cross the causeway I see a Kestrel what I think is a Northern Harrier (he's here every year) and surprise(!!) a Bald Eagle. It's December so its not unlikely but cold, snowy weather brings them down here and we have had none of the above. Maybe it's colder, snowier in Idaho but very much a surprise to see!! Lots of duck hunters out this morning. water levels are too low for boats so they are just standing in the water with their decoys. Still can' t believe they can hunt so close to people but it is what it is. I reach the island and head south towards the Ranch. Behind the Visitor's Center, I find one bison. Quiet drive until I reach Frary Peak. There I find a small herd of bison heading south along the mountains. A bit farther down, I spot a coyote moving north along the lake bed. A tiny bit farther, there's a herd of Prong...
Read more

Dec 18 - Antelope Island Cruise

Image
 Cold morning with temps in the upper teens but sunny skies are coming - a perfect day for a winter hike. (However, there will be no hiking today as I injured my knee while shoveling our 12 inches of unexpected snow on Wednesday. Hoping it's nothing more serious than a sprain so trying to be kind to it.) I arrive on the causeway around 8:30 am. It's sunny with temps around 20 and very little wind. There's snow along both side of the causeway and lots of frozen water (w/ a few open spots). There no Kestrel waiting this morning but there is a Rough Legged Hawk on the wheel structure (like last week and many times before). As I near the island, I see a black spot in the distance on Farmington Bay. I stop, it's a Bald Eagle! (This week I'm not surprised to see them with the snow storm and the cold temperatures.) Still lots of ducks (Shovelers, I think) near the island on the Salt Lake side. I arrive on the island and head south. I'm surprised that there are no bison...
Read more

Dec 12 - Antelope Island Cruise

Image
 Cloudy day forecast and it's 32 degrees out. Not my normal hiking day but I'm heading out to Antelope Island to check on critter movements after this weeks snow - and perhaps, squeak a hike in. I arrive on the causeway around 8:30. It's cloudy, 32 degrees. The snow that remains is almost a just a dusting across the landscape. The peaks on the island definitely has snow. As I cross I find a Kestrel and a coyote far in the distance. Duck hunters (a bunch of them) are once again near the island. I reach the island and turn south towards the Ranch. There are 2 bison along the road behind the Ranch. After them, it's quiet until just after the road to Frary Peak. (Note because of this week snow, the gates are down on the roads to the Gravel Pit, Frary Peak and Sentry Peak trail heads.) After Frary Peak, I see a lone bison moving north. Not to much farther south, there's a small herd (20'sh) of bison. A bit farther down the road is another small herd of bison. And sti...
Read more