Moose On the Loose

Bear Trap Fork is another hike in Big Cottonwood Canyon, in the Wasatch Range. 

Since we had the Munchkin with us, some arranging was necessary to get the little darling settled just right:

Much of the hike was in a canyon protected from the wind, and largely shaded by aspen and spruce. 

The trail was steep, but beautiful enough to take our breath away even when we weren't  climbing. A variety of flowers were still in bloom the last week of August:

Here's the view from the pass, looking down into Desolation Lake in Mill Creek Canyon:

On the way down, Steve and I were marching merrily ahead when Tess and Tim hollered, "Stop!" "Back!"  "Look out!" 

We stopped.  A moose was in the woods, only about 30 feet away from us.  We backed up slowly.  Sure enough, it was a mama moose with a calf, the very situation that can be dangerous.  Here's mama, looking displeased:

We took the photo from a distance, and made a big loop to avoid upsetting her any more.  The calf had moved off into the brush.

Disaster averted, we congratulated ourselves on yet another "successful" (i.e., everyone survived) hike.