Aug 16 - Lambs Canyon

 It's a mostly sunny day with temps near 95 degrees (and no monsoonal flow today). 

I decide it's time to head up Lambs Canyon; it's been a couple weeks and maybe those Thimbleberries are ripe so I can graze on my way up. ;)

Lots of butterflies zipping around the canyon as I drive up. 

I arrive with just 2 other cars - one in the lot and one in the single car pull-off a little ways down.

The area along the parking is muddy with water still!!! Yea, for the monsoonal flow! And there are butterflies. Weidemeyer's Admirals, 

Satyr Comma, 

Hoary Comma, 

Mustard Whites, a Ruddy Copper

 and tons for Woodland Skippers.

I walk down until the water/mud ends to see if I can find any other flyers but the above are the ones I see.

I start up the trail. It's late season as most of the flowers are gone. There are Purple Fleabane, Goldenrod, a Geranium here or there. 

But there are Thimbleberries! Most of them are still ripening but there are enough to graze along the way.

There are 3 twenty-something folks that are picking Thimbleberries, Raspberries and some other berry. I pass them by.

There are Frits flying along the trail and with the W. Admirals and M Whites. I can only ID the Great Spangled Frit.

Nice quiet walk with some chipmunks and squirrels moving around.

Soon I'm at the meadow and continuing up to the crossover.

I crossover over and go around 100 feet or so when I hear something big rustling above me. There's lots of vegetation but I do catch sight of a Bull moose's antlers and head. I freeze.

He turns his head and moves out of sight but very near -- he only moved several feet. (Oh, and his about 30ft from me uphill.)

I look at the trail and it seems he's moving uphill and crossed the trail just before I got there. I can see his path onto the trail and hoof prints. His prints show me where he started uphill again.

I hear him grunt several times and I'm not going any farther. I confident I can skirt by him but that comes with risk. But I'm more worried about getting back down - I have no desire to spend the night up there if he's blocking my decent.

I'm not finishing the trail; time to head down.

On the way down, about 1/2 way, I hear more rustling along the trail. No more moose! Then I hear the squeaks of Grouse. I catch sight of one moving thru the vegetation. Nice!

I reach the parking - and warn two other people of the Bull moose. Who know where he is at this point but keep your eyes and ears open!

Good day!