I'm heading up Big Cottonwood Canyon to Silver Lake. My plan is to walk the 1 miles loop around the lake but I may just take a detour to the ridge above the lake. Would love to see some Pika and they are typically up there. The ridge is probably 100-200 ft higher than the lake so it may push my foot a bit too far and I won't be able to walk the remainder of the loop. Guess, I'll decide whether to go up when I get to that point.
Beautiful morning - sunny and temps barely 60 degrees (still hazing from the smoke from the wild fires) as I start up the canyon a little after 7am. Leaving early in hopes of seeing a moose (and beating the holiday week-end crowds).
Heading up, the ground vegetation continues to change colors but the trees have remained green.
After the Solitude Ski Resort, some of the aspen are starting to turn a bit of yellow.
I arrive at Silver Lake and happy to see not many people here yet.
And it's a bit chilly - 39 degrees. I brought a fleece but I wish I brought something warmer as the sun is not up over the mountains yet - brrrr!
I start heading right (counter-clockwise) around the boardwalk. The mountains look incredible this morning against the blue sky, rising sun and the browning ground vegetation.
There is a bit of light frost in spots on the ground and on the boardwalk which is awesome but I can tell that there's been a moose walking on the boardwalk some time earlier this morning. :)
I reach the little bridge crossing the water.
Great morning views as I walk along towards the Twin Lakes/Lake Solitude trails.
I see 6+ Mallard ducks swimming in the water.
I reach the corner and have to decide, walk the loop or head up thru the aspen to the ridge. Hmmm, I'm heading to the ridge. If it's too much I'll head back but gotta try. So I slowly start making my way up to the ridge.
As I head up, I pass a very noisy squirrel and he's tossing pine cones out of the tree!
I also realize how out of shape I am after 6 weeks of nothing -- thankfully I'm forced to go slow. :)
Soon I enter sunlight and then I reach the ridge. I'm quickly greeted by Pika chirps and Pika!
Plenty of Pika - happiness!
Many over looking their kingdom above Silver Lake.
Or running around looking for breakfast!
I move along the ridge just watching the Pika including one who is very friendly coming over to sniff my shoes several times
(In 5 years, this is the 1st time I've had a Pika approach - I suspect people are feeding them. Definitely fun to do but not good for the Pika.)
I end my hike after crossing a little over 1/2 of the ridge - definitely time to stop and head back down.
Back thru the Pika and past the squirrel that's still tossing pine cones to the ground.
Down back at the lake, I know I'm not making it around the lake so I head a few feet farther to the boardwalk. It's so nice out!
I sit on the benches and enjoy the morning sun and watching those blue dragonflies zipping a bout. Pretty fun to watch! At one point, there's a bit of commotion in the shrubs and out flies a coupled dragonfly pair and another male trying to break up the mating. He succeeds as all three tumble into the water and then all 3 dragonflies take off in separate directions.
There are also a couple of insects flying. I watch one dragonfly chase one but the insect lands under some leaves and survives the chase.
Time to head slowly back to my car.
Awesome morning!
