Sept 9 - Twin Lakes Loop (Big Cottonwood Canyon)

 Thank God the record heat broke last night. Cooler day in the 80s forecast for today. 

Happiness when I leave my home just before 7:30 with the temperature at 59 degrees.

Of course, at Silver Lake is was around 37 but the sun was shining - happiness!

As I make my way to the potty, I see a group of camera all looking towards 9 o'clock but I don't see anything - pretty sure there is a moose or two around.

Exiting the potty, I see 2 moose - they look female and could be the Mom/calf pair I saw a week or some ago.

When I get to the meadow, the 2 moose are slowly moving across the meadow and a lake crossing. I must quicken my pace so I can get past them before the water crossing takes place.

Their pace gets quicker when I get to the footbridge I'm thinking because a Bull moose has appeared. It has a tiny rack that is shedding but sometimes size doesn't matter because he has a girl (w/ a calf).

I do make it to the other side just as they stop at the water's edge. Whew! I stop to watch not directly in front of them but off to the side.

The male is definitely interested and the cow rejects his advances with some foot stomps. But they all settle as the edge eating.

There's some calf/Mom interaction


Some male sniffing female butt and some kisses w/ lots of grunts & coos which, by the way, was extremely cool to hear!!

I decide to take off up the trail towards Lake Solitude.

Quiet morning away from Silver Lake. The flowers are less and no deer sightings this morning.

And there are no ducks on Lake Solitude.

Time for the uphill.

I do see 1 Field Crescent behind Lake Solitude

and a couple of Ruddy Copper in some Asters.

After the uphill, I head to my perch for a break. The lake looks lower than last week.

After a bit, as I head down from my perch, I hear some rustling below me. It's a doe!

 I head down to the lake and yes, it's definitely significantly lower than last week or any time this year. They've opened the dam; it's that time of year!

Time to head down. When I get to the switchback, there are no huddle crowds so the moose are gone.

There are also no Pika visible on the slopes.

Down at Silver Lake, I'm looking for moose tracks to see where they finally crossed. And I find them; wet, muddy prints.

Great day!

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