We retraced our steps back down... through forests, past picas and scree slopes, over rivers and streams, past Crater Lake, past aspen woods, and finally reached Maroon Lake again. The clouds had slowly begun to build.
Sky Pilot
So many colors and shapes of lichen!
Looking left up the mountain
Looking ahead... a distant Crater Lake
Looking behind
Our pica was eating under a bush when we passed by, but it promptly came out...
... to ensure we continued on our way quickly.
The U-shaped glacial valley is quite prominent from certain angles...
... here too back at Crater Lake.
Marsh Marigold
Cow parsnip
Returning through our lovely subalpine zone
The bells were slowly starting to disappear into the clouds.
Ooooh, something didn't make it.
Hopping across the stream...
... through some lush vegetation...
... and over the river.
Maroon Lake is now in sight.
Our final descent through the aspens
We walked past Maroon Lake back to the car where we restocked on our food and had yet another lunch.
We watched this guy fish for a bit.
Later at the end of the day we saw him again. Apparently it's only catch and release but he said he had caught many Cutthroat Trout (with which the lake is stocked just for this purpose).
More Cow Parsnip. I really like this plant...
... apparently so does this moth.
At this far end of the lake was a large beaver lodge. Beaver build dams to create larger ponds which serve as a natural barrier for most predators. While they drastically change their environment, they also create habitat diversity, decrease erosion, and conserve water. We never saw any animals but did see a lot of the 'trails' they leave in the mud on the bottom of the lake.
A beaver lodge has several entrance and exit tunnels. Inside is an earth floor where they sleep and rear their young.
Beavers can reach 100 pounds by feeding on soft bark, young trees and water lily roots. Beaver colonies may consist between five to eight animals. Together they can fell hundreds of trees in just a year's time. A tree less than six inches in diameter can be felled in 15 minutes or less.
Continuing down the lake
A napping family of Canada Geese
The view to our left...
... and looking back toward the Bells across Maroon Lake. This lake was also formed by glaciers and has an elevation of 9,580 feet (2,880 meters).
The other end of the lake. Was this the beaver dam...
... or just a log jam? It was hard to tell.
We sat on a log by the river leading out from the lake and had our lunch. After a short rest, we walked back up the length of the lake to do the shorter Scenic Loop Trail.
Our lunch view
Goodness! And here I thought that WE were eating a lot!
The geese had finished their nap and were eating as well.... or at least trying to. A woman was allowing her two young children to run up and try to touch them and throw things at them. She would occasionally meekly say 'stop' to them when she notice people looking at her, but the children ignored her completely. Eventually the geese just returned to the water and moved away.
The water catches the light.
A Rainbow Trout
