Oct 22 - Willow Lake (Big Cottonwood Canyon)

 Sunny day with highs near 70 degrees -- probably one of the last times we'll that temperature for a while.

Not looking for a long hike this morning and I'm little bored with Twin Lakes, so I'm heading to Willow Lake this morning; maybe I'll run into a moose again. :)

Heading up the canyon, I'm just scanning for critters as usual when I spot 2 moose laying on the the mountainside! I pull off the best I can to take a picture. 

Hey, there looks like there may be a 3rd moose - looks like a dark blob. It's by the Mom but hard to tell because they are in the shade. (Looking at the photo, it's clear there's a calf.)

I decide to turn around and find a better spot to pull-off and try to get a better look. I walk over, they are the hillside with the Big Cottonwood Creek between us. Still looks like there might be a 3rd but can't tell. Time to continue up the road.

Not sure why I didn't stay and walk up the road farther, ever since Covid I'm always in a rush to beat the crowds or something. Maybe they'll be there when I come back.

I continue on towards Willow Lake trail head. Lots of snow has melted especially on the south facing slopes and the leaves are all gone - just tree skeletons at this point.

I arrive at the trail head; I'm the only one here.

Trail looks so much different than a week ago - far less snow and it's 20 degrees warmer (34 degrees).

I gear up and start up the trail. It's a mix of frozen mud and frozen footprints. There are some birds singing this morning. I can only ID the Chickadees though.

As I continue up, I have my eyes and ears open for moose and deer. 

Seeing deer tracks but no deer. Oh, and there's some deer scat on the trail; looks fresh.

Soon I reach the meadow and it's still snow covered except the tree. My lone yellow tree is now leaf-less.

I make way across the meadow, thru the aspen and down to the lake. It's not snow covered today; a mix of open water and ice. It's pretty small but expected for this time of year. The reflections of naked trees are pretty neat.

There are no moose calls or moose that I can see.

I start my way around the to left side of the lake; it's icy. But on the other side, the trail is clear and walk it to the other side. 

I'm surprised that the trail thru the woods exists but happy it does. It too is a mix of frozen footprints and very small spots of bare ground (mostly frozen tracks though).

I'm back on the other side and then the meadow - beautiful day!

And it's time to start downhill to my car. 

I see a Hairy Woodpecker and hear a couple more pecking away.

Nothing more on the way down.

Surprised to find no other cars down by the road (it's after 10am).

Time to check to see if I can find those moose and surprise, I do find them! This time I get a good look! It is 3 moose - Mom and twins! They are still laying but the 3rd one now has his head up. Fun stuff!

Good day!

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