Sunny, smoky day with temps in the mid-80s.
Heading up to hike Willow Lake after work today. My first time there is quite a while. Hoping to see some yellow aspen but not sure that will be happening due to the drought.
Arrive after 3:30. There are quite a few cars but somehow I think many of the cars are hunters waiting to go out.
Unfortunately, the aspens are pretty much trashed. Either they have already lost their leaves or will be dropping green leaves shortly.
I decide to take the steep trail; I need the exercise and it'll avoid people (hopefully).
Definitely worth the pain because there is some beauty in the yellowing and drying vegetation.
I complete the hard stuff and head into the mostly leaf-less aspen.
Looking for moose or deer but only finding a few chipmunks.
I reach the meadow and still all I see are leaf-less trees.
Kinda sad because I was hoping to find colors on the way up to Desolation Lake in a couple of days. Hmmmmm.
As I move through the meadow, I find is strange that there are no ground squirrels running around; where did they go?
I reach the lake expecting to find people but really no one except one guy at the far end and a couple camping. But there are plenty of Mallards on the lake.
I start my way around the left side of the lake. Hey, there's a Clouded Sulphur!
I continue around the lake until I reach the aspen grove on the far side.
Boy, the wind sure knocked down lots of trees; lots of step over/climbing over downed trees.
I complete the loop and head down the gentler trail.
Good day!
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