The parking lot at Silver Lake is full - actually overflowing. Lots of people enjoying the cool temps (only 52 degrees at the lake) and checking out the leaves.
The Silver Lake meadow is a wonderful golden color, the mountains have pops of color (mostly yellow) -- really pretty.
I head down the right side of the trail to the start of my trail. I see a few dragonflies flying around the lake.
I start up the trail heading up thru the yellow aspens to the ridge above Silver Lake. As I cross the ridge I hear and see Pika on the rocky slope to the right. Down below (in the surrounding area) the trees aren't too bad. Definitely not peak colors yet.
Climbing up to the dam, I find only a few flowers - lots of seed heads though. And I find some of Wednesday's snowfall tucked in under vegetation.
My plan for the day to head up above the left side of the lakes to a ski lift. I'm hoping to be looking down on the lake but I'll see if that's possible once I get there. (The trail above Twin Lakes to the right has been closed since Spring.)
I pass under the dam to the left side and sneak down to the lake for a quick peek (I've never been on this side of the lake). Lots of beautiful colors on the other side of the lake.
There's a trail on this side that heads thru the trees and around the slopes to Brighton but that's for another day. I'm heading up the ski cat road to the lift. The road is wet and muddy and there is snow along the road in spots.
The views of the lake I was hoping for are blocked by a forest of conifers but I keep heading up anyway.
I see a couple ahead of me stopped and looking in/above the trees. Not sure what they are doing. We soon both meet and I ask if the this trail goes to the lift and they confirm it does. They head down and I continue up.
I go about 20-30 ft when I hear this loud Whack! Sounded like someone hitting a tree with a bat. I look around trying to figure out what made this sound. And there, just off the trail about 20-30 feet ahead of me is a moose!! A male moose!! And he's looking at me!
I'm so excited (celebrating inside) but at the same time know this is not a good situation. They are dangerous animals normally but it's rutting season -- hormones are running high and the males are even more dangerous. And I'm about 20-30ft away. (The noise must have been him hitting his antlers against the trees -- maybe warning to me.)
Maybe the couple I met heard a similar noise and was trying to find its source. I'm sure if they saw the moose, they would have told me.
I get one quick photo off when he steps out of the forest and towards me with his head down. He takes one more step and I turn and start running down the mountain for a short ways. I stop and turn around to see what the moose is doing.
Fortunately, he's not running after me. But he is still heading my way. So I keep going further down the road, stop and wait. The moose has a limp and I can hear his mating call -- kinda a low Mew - very soft, I thought it would be louder. He's making the call almost with every step.
I repeat going down a little further and stop several times, but he keeps coming. At this point, he's definitely not chasing me, he's just heading downhill and the road, well, it's the easiest way down.
The road curves slightly as it goes to the dam when I get there I wait to see if he comes down. And after a little while, I see him. He's no longer on the road - yea! But he is heading down the mountain. He stops by some pine trees.
And then continues down the mountain - still calling.
That's was so exciting (and a bit scary)!! I'm so glad I stopped and looked when I heard that noise. Whew!
I guess I could head back up to the lift now but since I know there is no view of the lake, I cross under the dam and head down the right side of the lakes.
Everything is so pretty. I can see snow on the higher parts of the mountains across the lakes as I head to the other end of the lakes
And then I head around the corner.
Rounding the corner, the trail goes thru the end of a wonderful yellow/orange meadow -- I'm looking for another moose here -- I do see fresh tracks.
Out of the meadow, I'm back in the shade and walking thru about an inch of snow. I find a nice big rock off the trail and stop for a rest. I'm looking down the lakes towards the dam. Beautiful!
I sit and listen to the wind and the little waterfall nearby. (There's no one at the lake -- very peaceful!)
Time to head back down the lakes and back to Silver Lake.
What a wonderful day! I'm still so excited about the moose encounter!!
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