I'm getting out of the heat and heading up Little Cottonwood canyon to hike to Maybird Lakes. I've been here once last year and looking forward to the solitude when I get there -- Red Pine Lake is the more popular destination. (And seeing Pfiefferhorn - the 5th highest peak (11,326ft) in the Wasatch Mts - isn't so bad either.)
The trail is about 3.5 miles to the lake and 1900ft in elevation.
I'm in the shade this morning as the sun is still on the other side of the mountains. The leaves are starting to change here. But there are still some flowers left -- the Fall bloomers, purple and tall white aster and some yellow composites. There are a few flowers of the summer variety but not many.
Other signs of Fall: rose hips, red Elderberries and changing leaf color.
Hearing/seeing lots of squirrels this morning. Must be out gathering food for the upcoming winter. See many carrying pine cones and seeing signs of squirrels "feasts" left on/near the trail.
The further I go up in elevation, the fewer the flowers are in bloom.
At ~2.5 miles I get to the footbridge. If I go straight, Red Pine Lake is about 1/2 mile away. But I'm crossing the footbridge and heading towards Maybird Lakes.
Other than in a wet meadow, very few flowers up here - just lupine seed pods, aster fluffy seedheads, etc. (Many squirrels up here too!)
After over a mile of walking, I finally get my first views of the triangle peak of Pfeifferhorn - my destination is not too much farther.
I can see that the lake in front of Pfeifferhorn is empty - just a muddy lake bottom. (I so want to get over there but I would need to cross a big boulder field -- tried it last year --- not happening for me.)
I actually have company here (surprise!), a lady in a pink shirt is sitting along the rocks.
The second/nearer lake, however, still has water and I can get to that one!
I head off the trail to go down to the lake with water. Lots of wonderful red baneberries along the rocks as I head down.
The water is very clear with lovely reflections of the rocky mountain on the other side. There's a Dipper perched on a rock in the lake.
Time for some investigation. I head around the one side of the lake where I see two Hoary Commas flying.
Can't go any further unless I start boulder hopping so I head back to the other side of the lake where I get a head on view of Pfeifferhorn.
Time for a lunch along the lake. It's so quiet here - I'm alone now as the lady has left - hoping I wasn't the cause of that.
So I enjoy my peace listening to a pika chirp (I never found him), watching a dragonfly zipping over the water and enjoying the wonderful rocky mountains. Perfect!
On the way back, I see a Clouded Sulpher on some Asters, a Field Crescent, and another Hoary Comma.
Back at the overlook -- definitely a much better view down to the valley.
I have a little excitement on the final stretch to the trailhead as a garter snake slithers in front of me! I didn't see him, until I almost stepped on him! Glad it was just a garter snake.
Great day!!
No comments:
Post a Comment