Oct 3 - Twin Lakes Loop (Big Cottonwood Canyon)

Sunny day with temps near 80 degrees.

My plan last night was to hike the Broads Fork trail this morning but with the amount of people/traffic in the canyon on Friday, I think today will be worse. Instead, I'm heading up to Twin Lakes

My jumping ship on Broads Fork appears to be a good idea because when I reach the S-turn the parking is packed and onto the street -- there's been plenty of parking since Labor Day, but not today :( So I continue to Silver Lake.

The other parking areas I pass are way more crowded than the last several weeks - leaves, leaves, leaves.

And I drive farther up the canyon, the aspens are at peak and Wow! (even though they are in shade).

I arrive at Silver Lake near 8am. There are plenty of cars are already in the lot but I do find a spot.  It's 34 degrees and I gear up and get started.

The ground is frosty and puddles are frozen. The sun is at the highest peaks at this point. I work my way to the other side of the lake 

and then start up the trail towards Lake Solitude. I immediately see a lady taking photos of something. When I get closer, it's a buck. 

I slowly pass by near. The deer stays near so hopefully the lady gets better photos.

Farther up the trail, I see a flash of white ahead of me. I slow up and then spot a doe and a fawn (no spots now). They are moving along the trail with me following. They head up the slope thru the vegetation. I wait for a bit and the doe backtracks by me with the fawn.

I continue on. When I pass a little rock slide area, I hear a lot of scared movement up along the rocks. I look up and see a flash of white (deer) heading up over the ridge. There's also movement coming down. I can't possibly another deer --- and it's not, just a foot long mini-boulder the deer kicked down slope. Whew!

I continue to Lake Solitude -- a few ducks  out there this morning.

And then start up the hill to the overlook of Twin Lakes. The lake is definitely lower this week

and the leaves are dropping.

I head up to my perch where I take a short break before starting down to Twin Lakes.

I stop briefly at the dam before heading down. Lots of people coming up here this morning. I don't normally see this many folks on a Summer Sunday - Wow!

I heading down to the trail down the hill when I see a Doe and a fawn - nope there are two fawn. She wants to walk across the trail, so I wait until she crosses over to the overflow from the dam. 

However, there are people approaching from the other direction; she's trapped and starts back my way.

 Time to move on and start downhill.

Lots of people heading up -- unbelievable!

Soon I'm at the switchback. The colors are incredible!!

I see a couple of Pika as I cross. Time to head down thru the now fading yellow Aspens.

By the time I get to Silver Lake, it's sunny and beautiful.

Awesome day!

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