Aug 10 - Twin Lakes Pass (Big Cottonwood Canyon)

 Sunny day with highs in the mid-90s.

Heading up Big Cottonwood Canyon to hike up to Twin Lakes Pass. It's been 3 weeks since I've been up there and at that time, the flowers were in bloom but not quite at peak. I'm thinking there'll be plenty of flowers but it will be past bloom. Time to find out.

Drive up the canyon is a little harder this morning as they are repaving the road. It happens every 2-3 years and to add to the Covid pleasure, today is the paving year. The canyon becomes a one lane road about half way up. Waited about 5 minute or a little more before it's time for uphill traffic to move.

I arrive at the Silver Lake parking. Most of the spots are full but a find a few at the end. (Yea!)

I gear up and start my way around the lake to the trail head. Looking a little brown now. :(

I make a quick stop at the lake 

and another to watch 2 deer (babies) at the corner of the lake. Not sure where Mom is though.

I make it to the trail head and start my way to Lake Solitude.

I'm surprised to find the hundreds of Horsemint that were blooming last time I was here are all drying up. The bloom is sadly over for the year and it's been very short due to lack of rain since Spring. Haven't even had the normal mountain monsoons this summer. :(

There are some good patches of lupine another the way but much have already gone to seed.

I meet another deer probably about 1/2 way along and I walk right past her and she just continued to eat. Sweet!

I reach the lake but I don't stay long as there are 3 people there.

Flowers are bleak on the other side too but I do manage to find 2 Ruddy Coppers on my way up.

Soon I reach the top

and continue along to the Pass' trail head.

Along the way, I see a couple of Blues; one is pretty beaten.

And a pollen cover bee with orange sacs. What these sacs?

I reach the trail head and start up the little hill. When I get to the top, the flowers are dried up here as well. :(

I take the trail until I'm about 1/2 there hoping for some butterflies or a good patch of flowers but I see only a couple of probably Blue Coppers and a Frit so I decide to turn around.

I head down to my perch for a brief rest watching some Mountain Bluebirds

before I continue back down to Lake Solitude seeing more Ruddy Coppers along the way and a Mountain Chickadee foraging in some pine cones.

Then it's back to Silver Lake spotting my friendly deer again on the return to my car.

Oh, I also see a Hairy Woodpecker foraging for food.

Good day!