Escalante, UT - Overnight trip to Barker Reservoir - Day 1

I had originally planned to do an overnight trip to Red Canyon this week, but the temperatures are supposed to be around 90 so we decide to go  back up to Barker Reservoir which is 9,300 feet and at least 10 degrees cooler

It's 82 degrees when we leave

 and we begin the climb

 We get to Barker Reservoir and at 1:00 the temperature is 67 degrees.

 We arrive at Upper Barker Reservoir day use area just in time

to make lunch

 The Chef cooking up some hotdogs.

 The Department of Natural Resources is here stocking the lakes and trapping and milking the eggs on the Cuthroat Trout - a native species here.

After lunch, we decide to hike to Flat Lake then Blue and Yellow and back.  Should be about 2-3 miles round trip.

 As usual Tucson leads the way

 No more snow but still a couple creek crossings

 On the right trail

 1/8 of a mile to go!

 Looks like Flat Lake is a little low

But Tucson had fun anyway

He absolutely loved the tall grass.  He ran and ran in it and then rolled about in it.

We couldn't find the trail to the Blue and Yellow Lakes and Gary's foot was getting tired so we headed back to the Day Use area. 

 

We decide to head down to Lower Barker where we are going to camp in the Old Lady group campground

The plan was to enjoy a cocktail by the water at Lower Reservoir, but when we got there there was a family of six unloading to go fishing and camping, so we headed back to Upper Barker

and enjoy the quiet and watch an osprey fishing

 

After hamburgers and a salad for dinner, we set up the tent

and then finally take a break by the fire!

 9:00 I head to  bed and work on a Sudoku puzzle until Gary Makes it in.

 

I was exhausted and you would think I would have slept like a log, but it was a full moon so it was super bright in the tent and I was overtired so I tossed and turned all night.