June 14 - Willow Lake (Big Cottonwood Canyon)

Heading out for a short hike after work. After a couple of days with the temps below normal (yea) and some rain (yea), we're back up around 88 degrees.

It's not quite that warm as I head to Willow Lake because there are clouds rolling in -- perhaps we'll get even more rain.

Still sunny when I arrive but the clouds are closing in fast.

Boy has the vegetation grown since the last time I was here. The trail is now surrounded by green plants mid-calf and higher on me. Majority of the flowers are bluebells followed by Forget-Me-Nots (lots of blue). I see a few Cinquefoil and Lily of the Valley. And the Geraniums are finally
blooming!!

A little higher, the purple Larkspur adds to color.

Pretty quiet other than the strong wind blowing through the leaves.

On the way up, I see a couple of Blues (unidentified as they kept flying), a Mustard White and a 2-tailed Swallowtail.

Very little snow on these mountains!

I arrive in the meadow; again quiet - no frogs, no ground squirrels, no birds; just the wind.

The little pond still has water; a Mallard pair are taking a nap on the water.

I see a Silvery Blue flying near the water.

Lots more Buttercups blooming than before.

I head to Willow Lake. As I exit the trees, there's bunch of people standing at the SW corner of the lake. I thought maybe they were looking at animal but when I turned to look, I see several kids pulling in a rubber raft out of the water. Nothing special so I continue around the trees on the western corner of the lake.

Tons of bluebells are everywhere!

After rounding the corner, I stop on the NW corner for a look. Well, those folks weren't looking at the kids, there's a moose on the east side!!

It's a female moose and she's munching away at the willows.

I continue down the northern shore

and soon lose sight of the moose.

Maybe I'll see her as I loop around the lake thru the woods. I'm keeping watch for a big brown object near the willows. See a few big brown tree stumps but no moose.

I get back to the southern side, the moose has disappeared into the willows.

I take a sandwich break on a rock and watch the Mallards -- two males on the far side and a male/female pair on my side. I hear just a few frogs calling.

I'm amazed I still have sun but the clouds are close, time to head back down.

Last year when I hiked here, never saw deer/moose/elk. This year, I've seen 3 deer and a moose. Not too bad!

Great hike!