My original plan was to hike Red Pine Lake; it's a crowded trail (and a packed trail head) which makes it perfect for an off Friday. But I just wasn't feeling it this morning.
So I'm still heading up Little Cottonwood Canyon all the way to the end of the summer road to hike up to Cecret Lake (3/4 mile & 420 ft) and then up to Germania Pass (another mile and 700ft to an elevation of 10,500ft).
I get an early'sh start arriving at the trail head around 7:45am. (A good number of folks parked already for the Catherine's Pass trail but only 2 cars in the lot for Cecret Lake. Nice!)
It's not so sunny here right now as there are many big clouds blocking out the sun but they should eventually move on. (hopefully) It's in the low 60s - perfect weather!
Before I even start up the trail, I spot 2 deer in a meadow - male and female.
Great start; especially since other than a white ermine, I don't think I've ever seen deer or moose on this trail!
I start up the trail; still lots of flowers still blooming - paintbrush, lupine, asters, white paintbrush etc -- looking quite pretty!
And there's still water flowing in the small creeks - pretty surprising for late August, but that's what happens when a "normal" snowfall occurs. I even find some yellow Monkey flower near some water.
Devil's Castle is looking pretty awesome too! (There's still even a bit of snow up there!)
As I break out into the sun, the scenery is pretty awesome!
I reach the hill and the switchbacks, I take my time to enjoy the flowers and the views!
Lots of Clark's Nutcrackers flying around today.
I reach the top of the hill and turn the corner to head to the lake...oh crap! There's a moose!!
He's big guy! Standing just off the trail, he's eating and although he flinches when I react, he keeps right on eating. (yea!)
I can't get by him on the trail, so I head up the rocks keeping my distance but he just doesn't care and enters the taller vegetation - I can only see the tips of his antlers.
I stay on the rocks because I know there's a lady and her little boy not too far behind me. I just want to tell her so she can give the moose a wide berth which I do. Her little boy tells me that's the second moose they saw today. Shoot, somehow I missed the first one! (Probably paying too much attention to the two deer.)
Now I can enjoy the lake. (Hey, there's only 4 people here including myself - it's quiet and perfect!) The lake is clear and calm with Sugarloaf Peak towering over.
(A little low but that's expected.)
Before I move on, I take one last look at the moose.
As I work my way around Cecret Lake (elevation 9220), I find Baneberry
And another berry.
On the other side, equally wonderful views.
Time to head up to Germania Pass (10,500 ft). I follow a trail on the other side that heads up the rocky slopes on the far side. Heading up, gives a great bird's eye view of the lake.
Along the way, I find a chipmunk.
A brilliant patch of Scarlet flowers.
and a bee hive! (Not messing with that!!)
And just before reaching to top, I see the moose on the other side of the lake in the open. I take a seat on the rocks to check him out. At first, he's standing. Then he lays down.
Well, it's time to get off these rocks! At the top,
I head thru a wet meadow (not so wet now, but still lots of marsh marigold plants around) and towards the ski lift.
I can continue to the road and walk the road to the top but I choose to head straight up the mountain on a steep trail. (I need the cardio!) The flowers are good though. (The Collin Lift up to my left.)
Lots of bees enjoying their nectar.
As I near the end of my trail (I still have more climbing to do but the trail ends due to reconstruction efforts higher up), I spot a Marmot scurrying in the rocks ahead of me. (I think that's the second one I've seen all summer.)
My trail ends so I have no choice but to head over and take the road up. Doesn't matter because everywhere I look is so incredible!!! I pass a wet area and there are still Elephant head flower in bloom!
As I continue, I find a fat cheeked chipmunk - just getting ready for winter.
It's not long before I arrive at the ski lift at the top of Collins Gulch (10,400 ft) where I have good views of Mt Superior (and down).
The Albion Basin.
Over to Devils Castle, Sugarloaf Peak and my destination Germania Pass.
Time to finish this hike so up the road I go. Lots of flowers.
(There's even White Columbine below.)
And there's butterflies out! I find Painted Ladies, Ruddy Coppers (both male and female) and Blue Coppers. This is a Blue Copper and female Ruddy.
and Rocky Mt Parnassians!
I'm shocked to see these as it's really late in the season but I'm seeing lots of them -- I stop counting at 15!
I'm hearing Marmots and Pikas. I keep looking along the slopes for them and then I see Marmot. He's moving along the uphill slopes.
Then I spot another just a little higher than the one I've been watching. No wait, there's another! That's three - I wonder if this is a family.
A bit further, I find another on the downhill side! (Actually, there's two of them.)
I've been wondering where all the Marmots are this year as I haven't seen many but I have my answer, they're all here! :)
Great views of the basin as I near the Pass.
Soon I reach Germania Pass (10,500) -- guess they're calling it Sugarloaf Pass now. Great views of Mt Timpanogos and the backside of Snowbird Ski resort!
I walk to the Snowbird Ski lift before taking a rest on the concrete step to the Ski Patrol building. It's a little windy and cool up here.
Time to head on down - it's much more sunny now - though there are still clouds around.
On the way down, I only hear the Marmots - I can't find them. But the grasshoppers (the large flying ones) are sure making a lot of noise!
The Frits, Coppers and Parnassians are still flying and I spot a couple of new flyers: a Callipe Frit and an Acmon Blue! (Based on the UT leps, they would call this a Lupine Blue, but the guide books do not have the Lupine Blue in UT -- seems to be a point of discussion at this time.
Funny I see all these butterflies above 10400 feet but not much of anything below.
I return the same way down the steep hill. I do find an Arctic Blue on the way down.
And soon I'm above Cecret Lake again. Definitely looking nicer with the sun out.
I look for the moose and spot him, still laying down on the other side of the lake. Will have to visit when I get down there.
Down, down I go to the lake. More people around now though not packed yet.
Once I reach the other side other side of the lake, I find the trail that will take me near the moose and it takes me past the dam
And then along the lake. I've never been on this side of the lake before.
I head over to the moose -- not getting too close -- just enough to see him (and then use the zoom lens). Think he's sleeping.
On the way down to the parking lot, I spot a Painted Lady and Hoary Comma.
Time to head home - awesome day!
But it's not over yet - just before reaching the end of the summer road, a deer (doe) crosses the road in front of me followed by a fawn. Nope, twinkies!! Perfect ending!
Great day!
