July 19 - Twin Lake Loop to Pass (Big Cottonwood Canyon)

Sunny with a high near 100 again today.

Heading up to walk the Twin Lake loop again and head up to the Pass Flower were getting good last week, need to check them out again and look for butterflies.

I leave my house around 6:45. When I get to the Silver Lake parking, there are openings but are filling fast.

I make a quick beeline to the trail and start on my way to Lake Solitude.

Flowers are filling in but lots of Horsemint!!

Quiet walk stopping to see a lone male deer on the hillside.

Wait, I hear branches snapping. Oh, it's another buck with a bigger rack!

Soon I reach Lake Solitude and notice a lone deer on the other side. Nope, she's not alone; she's has a fawn.

Time to head up the hill and look for butterflies in the flowers. Hoping for something even though it's early.

I get to the other side of the lake and I see a Frit. It's a small one, think Mormon.

I get higher and see another one.

And a bit higher, a Lilac Bordered Copper!!

I reach the top; lakes are looking good this morning but time to head up to the Pass trail.

Again, many more flowers but they are still in the shade, maybe butterflies on the way down.

I reach the trail and head to the trail and start my way to the Pass.

Flowers are more abundant and looking awesome but still not there yet (but close).

I walk the trail slowly enjoying the flowers, the tons of bees and looking for butterflies.

There's not many flying but I do see a Boisduval's Blue

and a Lupine Blue

and a Green Hairstreak (love the Hairsteak)!

I reach the Pass, find a rock and take a break. What an awesome day!

After a short rest, it's time to head back thru the flowers. Along the way I see a Parnassian and a few more Boisduval's Blue.

Before I reach Twin Lakes I spot a young marmot

and a blooming Fireweed - the count down to winter has begun. :(

Time to head back down to Twin Lakes. Many people there so I continue down finding a couple of Lilac Bordered Coppers along the way.

I reach the switchback; cool, there's no one around so I can look for Pika. No Pika :(

Then it's down to Silver Lake. Wow, so many family groups on this stretch. I pull off the trail (to promote social distancing) and get weird looks. I say "hi" to people and I get no response. Strange world we live in; I need to find another way to avoid all these people or I can't come here anymore.

Otherwise, great day!