Sept 20 - Willow Heights Lake (Big Cottonwood Canyon)

Heading out again after work as I try to cram in the "colorful" hikes before the storms come Thurs/Fri/Sat and knock the leaves down. (Not as fun seeing them covering the ground than still in the trees.)

Willow Heights Lake is the destination (and if I can find the right side trail, Dry Lake).

Sunny day and around 91 for a high in the valley. (Hopefully the last 90 degree day of the year.)

Arrive at the trail head just after 4pm. I'm the only one parked -- hoping there are deer or moose roaming around up top.

Colors are fabulous. There are still green aspen but plenty of yellow ones.

Still a few purple aster along the trail but not many.

Very quiet (no birds or squirrels making noise) - just the wind blowing through the trees.

When I make it up the hill and out of the trees, what a wonderful view!

I make my way to the lake. Lots of grasshoppers hopping/flying. And I see a Clouded Sulpher nectaring on one of those last Asters. Before I head thru the aspen again, I stop and turn around - incredible colors everywhere!.

I make my way thru the aspen grove to the lake. Wow!

Dragonflies are flying and still plenty of ducks on the lake. But no moose (or deer).

I make my way to the other side of the lake. I see 2 Field Crescents along the way.

The views from the other side -- not too shabby either.

I walk up 3 side trails up the mountain hoping to find the trail to Dry Lake but all 3 led to campsites. Not finding Dry Lake today.

There's a chipmunk running along the lakeshore. The only little critter I see today.

I make my way around to the far side of the lake.

And then into the woods looking hard for anything with 4 legs. No luck today.

I head back around and then find a rock on the near shore to have my sandwich. Most of the ducks are busy in the lake feeding but there is one duck a few feet from me sleeping. Can I eat with beggars?

I carefully pull my sandwich out and manage to eat it without even the sleeping duck awakening. But I open my little bag of cookies, here come the ducks swimming my way. Soon they are on shore and coming my way with lots of wings flapping.

But I hide the bag and they wander back into the water.

While I'm sitting here there's a lovely noise in the trees behind me -- I know why they are called Quaking Aspen.

Time to head back down thru the wonderful aspen!

Awesome day!