July 27 - Lambs Canyon

 Partly clouded day with highs in the upper 90s.

Heading out to hike Lambs Canyon this morning; it's been quite a while since I've been up to it's time.

It's cloudy this morning with a haze of smoke from the fires in the West.

I get going just after 8am

When I pull in the parking lot, there's only 1 other car. And a rabbit munching on some grasses. Wahoo!

As I start up the trail, I hear several cars pulling in the lot - oh, the pressure to stay ahead of them. :)

Many of the flowers are past due at this point but I do find Geraniums, yellow composites, Fireweed, Monkshood, Goldenrod and a few others in bloom.

The Baneberry has both white and red berries.

There are lots of Thimbleberry plants along the trail; unfortunately, the berries are not quite ready for eating. (I do find some ripe berries up the trail a bit - .!)


About a 1/4 - 1/2 mile in, I stop for a downhill trail runner who is warning a couple ahead of me of a Mom and calf on the trail about a 1/2 mile ahead. He said they are before the crossover to the other side of the gully. I continue on; a 1/2 mile is a long way away and they could move on.

I keep my eyes and ears open as I move on.

Hey, I spot a hummingbird. He lands on a branch briefly and then disappears.














Eventually, I start seeing Moose tracks; a larger one and a smaller one. They have been moving up the trail.

As near the little meadow, I slow down checking every corner carefully but no moose - there are still tracks though!

I cross over and I'm still following tracks.

I reach the final corner and last long switchback. At the corner, it appears the moose abandon the trail. I continue along a bit relieved and disappointed but still very much aware.

In another 20-40 yards, I approach an S-curve. I round the first corner and whoa! there's the Mom!!!

She's looking directly at me; ears are up! I can't see the calf. 

I stop immediately 1/2 way around a bush that's overhanging the trail.

I can then see little ears; the calf is behind the Mom.

Then there's a little face!

After a little bit, the calf move along side Mom.

Then in front and around Mom!

So very cool!!

I can now hear a heard of people coming up the trail; so can the Mom.

I yell down Moose - but the talking just keep getting closer.

Finally, some of those people round that last corner and they come into sight. They see me and I tell them about the moose - Silence!

Only one of the ladies comes forward to view the Moose. (I'm surprised)

It's determined that everyone is failing to reach the top this morning - so close but an angry Mom in the way.

Time to head down myself. Thankfully, the group of 20 or so women let me go first.

On the way down, I spot a Mustard White. Unfortunately, still no sun so no butterflies other than that one Mustard White.

I do see aa CO Hairstreak along the road as I head to my car.

Awesome day!

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