July 3 - Twin Lake and above

Heading up Big Cottonwood Canyon this morning in another attempt to get to Twin Lakes Pass. In my last attempt, I got up to the Summit Express Ski Lift (10,035 ft) found a little footpath but ultimately got stopped by snow.

I don't think snow will be an issue today. If I fail today, guess I'll have to try from the Little Cottonwood side.

Beautiful sunny morning with high in the mid-90s in the valley.

Lots of people already beating the heat in the canyon this morning. The Silver Lake parking is already in the overflow area at around 9:30am.

The view from the boardwalk shows a drying wet meadow. Small purple flowers can be see from the boardwalk.

I head counterclockwise around the lake to the trailhead. Despite the number of cars in the parking lot, there really isn't a lot of people at the lake.

The view at the lake is pretty as usual.

 Lots of Swallowtails flying. Seems to be a theme this year - they obvious had a good winter.

I soon realize there was no reason for me to worry about the lack of Mallards on the lake this Spring; I find 2 Mom Ducks with ducklings. :)

Off I go on the trail to Twin Lakes.

Passing thru the rockslide area on the ridge, there are no Pika or Marmots out but I do see a single chipmunk.

Lots of flowers on the climb up with the dominant flower being the Bluebells.

Just below the dam, there is another trail that crosses the stream and heads over to Brighton. On some rocks is Marmot.

It's not the way I'm heading, so I continue to the dam.

On the other side of the dam I'm surprised to see lots of water! All the large rocks that have been "the beach" for almost 2 years due to low lake level are underwater; that' so nice to see! There's only a small sandy beach around the lakes.

I think about walking around the lake but I really want to get to the Pass. Time to head higher.

Heading up the trail, I see Swallowtails, Whites flying and a Parnassian flying.

And lovely flowers.

I reach the trail heading down to Lake Solitude - just going pass.

The snow/mud/wet that was here a few weeks ago is gone - just a dirt road.

I take a detour to one of my favorite views of Twin Lake - today, it looks like a single lake.

Lots of Gray Jays flying and making a lot of noise this morning,

I find a moth on the trail.

Fields of Bluebells in bloom up along the road with splashes of Red Paintbrush and other yellows.

I'm seeing White and Blues but none are stopping.

It's still a steep final climb to the lift and there's still an awesome view to greet me.

I head behind the lift and find my little path.

No more snow here anymore so I follow the trail across. I follow for a bit but the trail starts getting a little sketchy (and I start getting the heebee geebees). It's time to turn around. But not after lunch enjoying the views.

The frustrating part is I can see the trail I want to get to the Pass, I just don't know how to get there. Oh well. Looks like I'll have to get there from Little Cottonwood side.

Heading down I decide to go down the way I came up (no Solitude Lake loop today). I figure I have a better chance of seeing butterflies on this trail as it's in the sun.

I finally catch up with a Boisduval's Blue, a Mustard White, a Two Banded Skipper, a Mylitta Crescent

and a Lilac Bordered Copper.

Not bad!

And in the rockslide on the ridge over the Silver Lake, I see a family of 3 Marmot.

Great day!