Brainard Lake

I took another hike in the Brainard Lake recreation area west of Boulder yesterday. And although I do go for the sightseeing and the exercise,

Brainard Lake

I always enjoy the flowers

 and the waterfalls,

Blue Lake

but the real reason I go is because . . . . .

 

of the mushrooms!! This prized edible is known by various names: boletus edulis (Latin), king bolete (English), porcini (Italian) or cèpe (French). But whatever you call it, it is delicious!!

Lake Isabelle

Every once in a while, my solitude - admittedly self-imposed - finds me in a melancholy mood. My favorite form of self-medication is a hike in my beloved Rocky Mountains.
We've had a lot of rain lately and I set out yesterday to look for mushrooms on the Isabelle Glacier trail near Brainard Lake west of Boulder.

I didn't find any mushrooms, but the wildflowers were out in force.

And the streams were flowing swiftly.

I walked as far as Lake Isabelle, only two miles from the trailhead

And took a selfie before turning around

to head back down the way I came.

As an extra bonus, I encountered a couple of bull moose who stopped eating long enough to have their pictures taken.

Check out the size of those antlers - still covered with velvet!