It's a sunny near 90 degree Friday with lots of smoke in the air from the fires that blew out again last night to the south.
Heading up after to work to do a color check of the trees in Big Cottonwood Canyon and to walk at Silver Lake.
Still not much color at the lower levels yet -- not sure if there will be good color due to the drought. After the Solitude Resort however, the aspen are really starting to change. Many more large swatches of yellow aspen than last week but still plenty of green.
I arrive at the lake's parking and it's in the low 70s. Surprised to see so many as the last couple of years when I hiked this after work most people were gone already. (But as more people move in.....) Also, the summer-like 90 degrees temperatures and the fact that it is Friday is helping bring out the folks.
Definitely starting to look like Fall here. Lots of browns and the yellowing aspen.
My plan is to go up to the ledge above the lake again (get a good view of the trees) and hopefully, I can complete the loop this time.
Beautiful day up here - a little coolness in the air with a decent wind blowing. About 1/2 of the trail is now in the late afternoon shade (including the ledge).
I head down the boardwalk on the right side of the trail - no birds sounds (but definitely sounds of kids having a good time).
I cross the foot bridge
and am soon at the trail head. I start up thru the yellowing aspen.
I reach the ledge to sounds of chirping Pika. It takes me a while to finally find one.
The view is good but still not very colorful (looked more yellow from the road).
Again I stop about 1/2 way across. I look for deer/moose but not seeing any today so I start heading back down.
The Pika I saw earlier has moved. No maybe it's this one just crossing the trail in front of me.
I see one other below I start my way back down to Silver Lake.
When I get to the lake, the crowd has definitely emptied out now. And guess what?! I good to complete the loop!!
First I stop at the boardwalk where several ducks are bottoms-up feeding in the water and 3 others are preening themselves on a log.
And surprise, one is a male -- I've only been seeing females recently.
Plenty of those blue dragonflies still flying.
Moving on, I find a couple of more Mallards (females) on the other side of the lake before completed in the loop.
Good day!
