Oct 14 - Twin Lakes Loop (Big Cottonwood Canyon)

Sunny day with highs around 77 degrees (still unseasonably warm and still without any mountain snow yet).

But it's just above freezing when I arrive at Silver Lake. The parking here and along the trailheads are much less crowded than last Friday. Could be that although the Fall colors are still great, they are starting to fade (and we've had some wind so many leave have fallen).

My first encounter as I start off from the potty is a Stellars Jay.

There is definitely a heavier frost on the boardwalk and vegetation as I start off around 8:30 this morning. Still no hoar frost; hoping that is coming soon.

They finished the destruction of the boardwalk on the other side; now it's construction time.

Find a rainbow trout this morning.

I finally get to stop at the fishing bridge this morning (there's always a group of people there but this morning, it was just a single lady).

I continue around the lake looking for beaver along the way. I've seen them the last 2 weeks but so far nothing.

Oh, there's a beaver swimming but then he dives.

I keep looking and yea, he pops up by a duck.

I point the beaver out to 2 ladies moving slowly behind. They are all bundled up in blankets.

Onward for a quick stop at the dock on the other side of the pond and then onward to Lake Solitude.

Very quickly I find fresh coyote scat (I think) on the trail.

On the way to Lake Solitude, I see no deer.

Lake Solitude is even more in the shade this way as the sun is coming up later and later.

I start my way up the hill. About 1/2 way up, I see another Stellar Jay.

I reach the top and stop at my perch.

The Lake continues to lower in depth.

Just sitting and watching the very busy chipmunk/squirrels.

Time to head down to the lake.

And then be on my way down to the switchback.

About 1/2 way down, I spot a doe behind a tree. She sees moving and I keep moving down.

Oh, another doe's head pops out on the other side of the tree.

I continue down a little farther and a third doe pops up on a little hill above the other 2. Nice!

Back down on the switchback, I see another doe below me.

Oh, and a Pika!





Finally back down to Silver Lake. Less crowded than last week but still there are many people out now.

Good day!

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