I arrive to sunny skies and 71 degrees at around 10am. Perfect day!
The meadow is very green, lush and still wet; lots of heavy rains the last few days.
I head directly to the trail head (counter-clockwise).
I see a few Blue butterflies flitting around the meadow.
At the foot bridge, there is a Mom Mallard and only one fluffy baby duckling.
Lake is looking wonderful today!
The trail is a bit muddy this morning and in fact, there's a little stream running down from the higher slopes. I enter the aspen grove which has many flowers in bloom!
I'm scanning the forest for deer or moose but not seeing any. But there are a good number of butterflies (mostly Frits) flying.
At one point, I hear what sounds like a loud grunt. I look around but find only 2 people heading towards me. I pull off the trail to let them by. As soon as they pass, the guys says "There's a moose!". I turn around and sure enough there's a large male moose!
Can't believe I missed him! (He's standing not 20ft off the trail.)
A little further long, I reach a trail maintenance crew. They are re-routing the trail -- which is a good thing because now the trail is a gradual uphill all the way to Lake Solitude (and less rocky). And still lots of flowers to view. (Including a Weidenmeyer's Admiral.)
I arrive a Lake Solitude.
Many people here -- looks like a women's walking group. I pass them by, cross the foot bridge and start my way up to the ridge above Twin Lakes.
Along the way I see many Frits
as well as the wonderfully bright orange Ruddy Copper. (I see 3 of them.)
Hey, there's still a patch of snow up here!
When I reach the ridge, I head over to my favorite spot. Still snow on the mountains!
The lakes are still very full (and it's almost August - pretty amazing).
Time to head down thru tons of wildflowers (and a surprising low number of butterflies - I do add a Milbert's Tortoiseshell).
I reach the Lake; still not much of a beach.
And there's water still going over the overflow slots. In the calm waters by the overflow are tons of little fish (probably trout). I can change their direction by moving my shadow -- it's kinda fun!
Time to head down thru more flowers!!!
Nearing the bottom, I see several Blue Coppers.
And several Lilac Bordered Coppers.
Soon I reach the switchback over Silver Lake and start looking for Marmots and Pika. I only find one Pika today.
Awesome day!
