Another sunny 90+ degree day in the valley. But it's around 6pm when we arrive at Silver Lake in Big Cottonwood Canyon so it's a much cooler 75 degrees at 8700 ft.
Many people out - auxiliary parking still crowded but at least where we were wanting, it isn't too bad.
We start in the counterclockwise direction. A little hard to see as the sun is very bright an in our eyes.
There are lots of dragonflies zipping about this evening.
And after crossing the footbridge, we are out of the sun and into the shade (and even cooler temperatures).
We continue down the side of the lake and are not too far from the corner where the spur trails to Lake Solitude and Twin Lake begin, when a large male moose walks out of the shadows!! I was hoping to see a moose for my niece (whose never seen one before) and there he is right in front of us!!
We have no choice but to stop and watch. The moose is on the left side of the trail browsing on the trees.
After a bit of time, I see another moose coming around the big male!! It's a female!
We have to back-up because the female walks down the trail past the large male. I thought we'd have to do a mass retreat but she turns to feed at after passing the large male. Phew!
So we're watching for quite some time and thinking about finally turning around because the moose are still feeding along the trail. Then something catches my eye around the corner - it's another moose!!! This one's a younger male!
Again we have to back-up because he makes his way past both the other two moose
and then turns to feed next to the female. How cool is that! My niece was having a blast watching one moose and now there's three!
After a while, the younger male (the one nearest us) starts moving thru the vegetation to the edge of Silver Lake and then into Silver Lake!
The other two move further into the vegetation. We can now pass and suddenly there's a mass of people crossing behind the moose(s).
We continue around making a stop at the platform.
There's several female Mallards swimming near the platform. A few are feeding; the typical head in the water and butt up. But there's one duck that is actually swimming under water...for 10-15 feet. I think she thinks she's a Penguin. Pretty cool!
We continue on to the far corner of the lake; it's a good place to see deer. And sure enough when we get there, there's deer. I scan around for more and find another doe a little further up the hill.
What an awesome night!
