Get to Silver Lake parking around 9am. It's already 67 degrees at 8700ft. Doesn't sound hot, but with the sun beating on, I'm sweating just putting on my hikers. (Talked to a man who camped with his family nearby -- he too said it was hot.)
I head out to Silver Lake. Very green and lots of wetland now as the lake has receded. Still looking pretty though.
And I see some trout in the lake.
I get to the trail head and there's a sign. And it unfortunately says that the trail to Twin Lakes Pass and the trail above Lake Solitude are closed for reconstruction. Darn! That's the loop I was planning on today. Oh well!
As I try to think of a plan B, I head around the rest of the lake.
I see 3 female mallards --- where are the baby ducks??
And in another wet area, the Elephanthead and White Bog Orchids are in bloom!
Blue damselflies are flying. I think this is a Taiga Bluet - male.
As I complete the loop and am almost back to the Visitor's Center, I see a doe come out of the shrubs across the meadow from me, step on the boardwalk and head back into the shrubs as there was a person heading toward the doe. He never saw the deer. I waited, hoping the deer would come out again but nothing.
Well that was nice, what's next... Plan B: I'm heading to Willow Lakes. I haven't been there in weeks, it's a short hike and it's on my way back down the canyon.
I get to the trail head -- as a group of 6 with a small kid were starting. They let me go ahead (which was nice) but I quickly let them ahead --- I don't like feeling rushed with people behind me -- and they were talking. Letting them go ahead, let's me stay far behind the noise. :)
Boy is the area quite lush now. The aspens are leafed out and the forest floor is filled with plants. Gernaniums are the dominant flower.
There are also roses, bluebells, many yellow composites and Cow Parsnip in the aspen grove.
The vegetation is so thick now, I can barely see the ski resorts behind me.
I do pass the group later on the trail -- the little boy wanted out for a walk :)
As I exit the forest into the meadow, boy does it look different! The bare mountains are green with leaves, the meadow is full of plants and flowers, the little pond is totally gone. But there still are ground squirrels running around - though they are much harder to see now.
I pass the pond area and head to Willow Lake.
I pass thru a narrow forested area filled with geraniums, bluebells, tall Jacob's Ladder, ....
I stop at the near side for a quick look.
The lake is lower than before and there are lots of damselflies and dragonflies flying. I think I'm seeing Familiar Blues. Including mated pairs.
There are also female damelflies of another species of blue -- they don't really fly, it's almost a flutter (weak flyers).
I head around to the left, I continue to pass thru flowers and come to a little stream crossing with lots of mud. There is a Weidenmeyer's Admiral,
Mexican Cloudywing, Boisduval's Blue and some Western Tailed Blue puddling.
I pop out and the sea of flowers continues -- mostly Tall Jacob's Ladder and Geraniums but there are others as I get into a drier habitat.
I cross and head around the lake.
There are 5 mallards (females again -- looks like the males flew the coup) in the water. And the flowers on these side are stunning.
And with flowers, there are a few butterflies: Checkered Whites, Mylitta Crescent and Northern Checkerspot (bright vivid orange). In the puddles, are WTB and Boisduval's and Cloudywings. I spot to Skippers but they don't stay still long enough for an ID. And I can't forget the Common Ringlets!
I finally get a good view of the ski resort from the far side.
I head down the trail to head around the lake. I love this part of the trail. It's through an aspen grove and the plants are overgrowing the trail -- I love to feel the plants on my legs and letting my feet find the trail and not my eyes - awesome!
There are Mustard Whites flying in the forest.
I get back to the near side -- tons of blue damselflies. And a whole area filled with buttercups. Talk about a splash of yellow!
There are White Columbine and Green Gentian between the lake and aspen grove.
I come out back at the top of the meadow. And continue along the trail back to the lake.
I see a Western Swallowtail is nectaring on some penstemon.
I arrive back to the lake and walk the near side. I find some wetland plants. One is probably in the buttercup family.
And the other looks like a ground hugging hairy Monkeyflower - if one exists.
Time to head home.
I see two Clodius Parnassian flying in the aspen groves.
Great day!
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