March 27 - Grandeur Peak

After much debating about where to go today, decided to head up to Grandeur Peak today. I was there on Feb 8 and the trail below was snow packed but once out in the sun, it was pretty clear until just before the first summit. Had no intentions of going past the 1st summit, but today, I'm getting to the summit! (It's 3.2 miles one way and 2450ft in elevation.)

Another beautiful day expected: sunny, clear near 70 degrees. Hoping to see some Spring wildflowers and bflies and hoping the snow is off the trail (especially the upper part because I've never been  past the 2nd saddle because of snow).

Start off just before 10am -- a little cool (40s) and the shade at  the start is not helping. Can't wait to get the lower part over and head into the sun!!

But lower part is pretty - thick conifers and still bare maples. I'm looking for some wildflowers but the only ones up are the OregonGrape and some are in bloom. The creek also seems a little higher than last time -- but more snow is melting. Lots of birds singing.

Finally make it to the switchbacks and there's sun!!! Still surrounded by forest - mostly oaks now. They are typically the last to have buds and true to form, there are no buds. I see some black moths (with white dots) flying. They're just like bflies - hardly ever stop very long. I also see these little (1/4 - 1/2in) moths - their wings are red when open). I make friends to a older yellow lab who's on his way back to the trailhead. (His black lab buddy could care less.) I actually had to keep walking or the dog wasn't going to keep heading the trail. :)

A little further up, I get into full sun and I start seeing plant life. There's vetch peeking out of the ground and lupine (and other plants I can't yet ID). With the sun comes the views of the mountains to southerly directions.

There's a bird calling and I finally find him singing in the trees - it's a Spotted Towhee.

I'm finding flowers blooming now -- Yellow Violets, patches of Yellow Frittilary,

the elusive dandelion (smile), and many others (all plants with yellow flowers though).

The view downhill into the canyon is more green (evergreens) than snowy white. Is that my car down there?!

I get to the sandstone outcropping and start finding grasshoppers. These guys have red wings in flight.

After the outcropping (around 7000 ft) I see a flutter that lands. It's a lime green bfly called a Sheridan's Hairstreak. This one's a White-line Sheridan's Hairstreak!

It is found at high elevation near melting snow. Well, there's no snow here but a few weeks back there was. I count 5 of them flying down this one stretch of trail.

I'm now on the final stretch to the first saddle. Finally, my destination comes into view.

Looks a little snowy on one side -- hopefully that's not the side I'm heading up.

Arrive at the 1st saddle and have a quick look around before heading up the trail and to Grandeur Peak - the trail looks clear now (this trail was snowpacked in Feb). But there's still plenty of snow on northern sides of the mountain.

Just past the saddle I start finding Spring Beautys -- pink early Spring flowers. And considering this section of trail had snow a few ago,....

I pass the 2nd saddle. The trail has snow on it now. I watch 3 people coming down. They tell me it's just this one little section and then the trail is clear. Maybe 1/2 mile to go.

I trudge through the snow. I make friends with a 7yr Border Collie who already made it to the top.

The trail gets tricky with small climb up a rock and then another. Exiting the 2nd climb, the dirt trail is really steep - my non-Mt Goat brain is wondering if I should turn back. But I decide that if I go off trail a bit, it's less steep. Off I go and I quickly find the "real trail"; it went over a couple rocks instead of going up the big rocks. Just couldn't see it from below. But I'm glad I found it, I wasn't looking to going down that rock.

But once I'm up, I'm treated to an awesome view of the peaks to the south and southern views of the Salt Lake Valley. But I'm not to the top yet.

I find several piles of moose or elk scat. What are they doing up on this peak??

The trail continues to climb as it curves around. A short hop over some rocks and I'm on top of Grandeur Peak for the 1st time!!!!

And I'm greeted by 3 White bflies (unidentified because they never landed) circling round and round and then chasing each other. Probably males hill-topping.

And what a hill it is -- 360 degrees view. The SL Valley to the west,

Mt Olympus to the south,

Millcreek Canyon to the east (I've been looking at this the entire trip).

And I can see Mountain Dell and Little Dell reservoirs to the south. Nice blue water.

And peak is all mine!! There's is no one else up there. So I find a nice spot to have lunch looking south and west. Well, it's mine for about 15-20 minutes before 4 other people arrive. Luckily I'm done with lunch and start heading down.

I have my hopes up for more bflies -- its after noon now and warmer. I don't have to wait long because not far under the summit I find a Anise Swallowtail flying.

And I get a nice view of the trail I arrived on far below.

Boy am I glad I came early this morning, as I head down there's many people coming up.

I'm seeing lizards scurrying across the trail. They're shy as they keep hiding under rock/branches/etc.

I'm seeing more Anise Swallowtails and Whites on the way down.

I'm getting close to the area where I saw the Hairstreaks earlier in the day and sure enough I find them still flying. I also find a Brown Elfin on an dry Oak Leaf!

Further down, I see an orange flash and then another. They're Mylitta Crescents. And I see a Milbert's Tortoiseshell.

I'm down back into the conifer forest and I'm seeing Mourning Cloaks flying. And one Satyr Comma.

Heading back down the road to the my car, I do find flowers blooming -- purple violets. And more Mylitta Crescents and Mourning Cloaks.

Awesome day!! Spring wildflowers, Sheridan's Hairsteaks, gorgeous views and I bagged my peak :)