June 24 - Twin Lakes Loop (Big Cottonwood Canyon)

 Sunny day with temps in the mid-80s.

I'm heading up BCC to hike up to the Cardiff Mine this morning.

When I arrive at the road side parking, I'm surprised by the number of cars in the lot because the trailside parking should now be open. I start down to side road to the trailside parking but when I get to the campground the gate is closed. The sign says it opens at 7am but it's already 7:30 - boo! I turn around and head back to the road side parking.

I find a spot but I really don't want to walk the road and the extra 1+ mile today. Hmmm, I don't so I continue up the road to Silver Lake.

I reach the Solitude Resort and my laziness pay dividends as I spot a moose (maybe)  down one of the snowshoes trail!! Fortunately there are no cars behind me so I U-turn twice and spot at a pull-off to watch the moose. And there are 2 of them. A Mom and offspring. It's look like a yearling!

Very cool!! And even better, no one else sees these critters!!

I continue to Silver Lake, gear up and start around to the trails. It beautiful this morning. The temperature is around 500 degrees - perfect.

The lake water is still high as it's touching the bottom of the footbridge.

I continue around the lake but just before I reach my favorite rock spot for photos, I see a guy stopped. I'm betting there is a moose ahead. Yep, a bull moose!!! (very close)

There's another moose in the aspens near the water. I can see the branches moving and that's all.

I turned around and head around the lake to the trail head.

I decide to loop back around the lake to see if the moose are still there. Yes they are! I get a glimpse of what looks like a female move into the woods. The male is eating along the shore. A couple stopped tells me that my female is a young moose with hardly any antlers.

Very cool! I wasn't even supposed to be at Twin Lakes today and I've seen 4 moose. How awesome is that!!

Time to continue on towards Lake Solitude.

The woods are very green and just starting to color-up. I see Larkspur, Bluebells, Waterleaf, Forget-me-nots, Groundsel, Yellow Violets along the way to the lake.

Not far from the lake, there a patch of snow with a sign the read "No hiking beyond this point". Hmm, strange. But hey, the road is pulled back so I continue. I've read about the sign on AllTrails, I wonder why they closed things -- perhaps avalanche risk or skiing risk. First time I've ever see that.

Soon I'm at Lake Solitude. Just a single duck (male Mallard) on the pond.

Time to start uphill.

The flowers are starting to pop in one spot.

Mostly clear but there are a few patch of snow higher up but there is clear trail around the snow.

I dog my way up to Twin Lakes - hey, it's my first time this year. 

Lots of chipmunks all over the place.


I head up to my perch for a break.

After a bit, it's time to head down to the lake.

The lake is up but not close to full.

Time to head down the hill - but first I need to watch a sunbathing marmot.

Glacier Lilies are still blooming on the slopes.

On the final downhill stretch, I see a Checkered White

and a Western Tiger Swallowtail.


Along the switchback I find this moth.

Then it's across the switchback and down to Silver Lake. The moose have moved on.

Awesome day!

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