May 30 - Mormon Pioneer Trail

Haven't been to the Mormon Trail since April 12 (found the dead moose then) so it's time for a visit. Curious about the butterflies and if the water in the stream has finally rose. (Last time I was here I got blocked by snow at around the 2.5 mile mark. Very little water in the streams - easy walking.)

Lots of folks in the parking lot this morning -- looks like mostly overnight campers. Lots of company on the trail I think.

It's sunny and low 60s at 10am -- supposed to be in the mid-80s in SLC today. I start off and immediately see a Gold Finch in the trees.

I make my way through the trees and check if the moose is still there. Yep, the DNR folks moved the moose off the trail but the decayed body is still there.

I walk into the sagebrush hillside and am greeted by purple daisies - quite a few of them. But butterflies are scare - a couple of Field Crescents.

I spot a chipmunk munching on something. Lots of them scurrying around on the lower part of the trail.

The stream is flowing (I don't think it was last time I was here) and I'm not too far up the trail when the stream and trail become one (the snow further up the trail has finally melted). So the rest of the day is going to be fun! An agility exercise of balancing over logs and rock hopping to get across the flooded trails. :)

The prominent flowers are purple violets and the yellow flowers of Balsamroot (and can't forget the Dandelions). There are also geraniums, bluebells, Forget-me-nots, strawberries, yellow cinquefoil etc.

The Lupine are up and should be blooming soon as a few do have buds.

I'm wondering if the Relict Frits will be flying. The last two summers, I've seen them starting the first week of June. And it doesn't take me long for me to see one - yes! I see 3 today.

I'm seeing Spring Azures as well but still not many bflies flying.

I do find a cool yellow flower -- low growing - Tansy-leaved evening primrose.

I come upon a bunch bluebells and there's a Hummingbird Moth nectaring on them.

I get to the meadow before the camp. Lots of green lush vegetation and flowing water; very pretty. And I finally start seeing butterflies: Rocky Mt Duskywing, Mexican Cloudywing, Sara Orangetip (both males and females) and Blues (mostly Azures).

I do find several Western Tailed Blues on some bird scat.

I get to the pond and there's a few dragonflies flying.

I think I see the White Common Checkered Skipper flying.

The dam past the camp is overflowing now and as expected, a big pond behind it.

It gets much more muddier after the camp; also the stream crossings are many.

I find a Northern Crescent -- first of the year!

There are many Yellow Swallowtails flying - can't tell if they are 2-tailed or Western -- even though I had a couple of them right in my face. :)

I also walk right into a Pale Swallowtail - it was in some Aspen trees as I walked right past, he flew right into me.

I'm finally in new territory for this year (last time it was covered snow). The Spring Beauties are blooming here and, unlike the lower sections, a lot of Yellow Violets. The Virgin Bower's is also blooming up here.

I come across an old wet rotting log and there are 4 Margined White bflies "nectaring" on one portion of the log.

I've not seen that before.

I finally make it to "my" end -- the bench before the climb to Big Mountain. I have my lunch overlooking the little pond.

Time to head back.

The Margined White are longer at the log; instead, a Dreamy Duskwing is enjoying the wetness.

I was hoping the butterflying would be better on the way back as the sun is higher and its warmer but that wasn't the case.

Not that its a bad day, I'm seeing the bflies I would expect to see but just not in the numbers I've seen before.

But there are Mourning Cloaks, Milbert's Tortoiseshells and Satyr Comma.

I finally confirm that Common Checkered Skipper sighting.

I see a Mylitta Crescent; it's a wonder it's flying at all.

On some lupine, I find a blue -- it's grayer than the WTB or Azure. This one's a Silvery Blue.

I'm nearing the end when I see what I think is another Northern Crescent. It isn't until I get home and really look at its markings. Looks more like a Mylitta but with really faded markings. It's a Pale Crescent!!!

I've been searching for these here for 2 summers -- guess 3's a charm :) This is a lifer for me!

I'm finally back to those purple daisies and now they're a covered with Field Crescents!

Great day!!

 (20 species of butterflies -- not counting the Yellow Swallowtails!)

May 29 - Lamb's Canyon

Finally a sunny day with absolutely no rain in the forecast!! And it's time to visit an old friend - Lamb's Canyon. Haven't been there since the Fall. Definitely time for a visit.

I'm a little concerned for the bflies, it was so warm earlier, many got a head start. And then the weather turned and we've set a record for number of days with rain in May and had 3x - 4x our normal May rainfall, what's a bfly to do?

As I make my way up the canyon, my fears are eased a bit when I see Cloudywings and Tiger or Two-Tailed Swallowtails flying.

I park and check the usual puddles near the parking. I see Spring Azures, Northern Cloudywings, Rocky Mt Duskwing and a Sleepy Duskwing. I look around and see a Sara Orangetip flying with some of the just mentioned bflies.

Time for the hike. I cross the bridge and find a Mourning Cloak basking on a branch. A yellow swallowtail flies by and the Mourning Cloak takes off chasing the Swallowtail for a bit before returning to his basking branch.

Very green -- but that's pretty normal on this trail. Lot's of tiny white fringed flowers from the Mitrewort. Also, lots of purple flowers on the vines of Virgin's Bower's (these are found from the bottom to top of the trail).

I find a few Heartleaf Arnica, many purple violets (Fritillary host plants - I should have checked for caterpillars), lots of Strawberry blossoms, and many Bluebells (most not blooming).

The creek is flowing nicely and despite all the rain, the trail does not have a lot of it's normal muddy spots along the creek.

Up, up I go!

Took awhile to see bflies on the trail but I'm finding them now. Mostly Azures.

And a few Duskywings and Cloudywings.

I also see a Hoary Comma fly by.

My nice stroll along the creek gets interrupted when the original trail is blocked and I get to the re-routed to the "new" trail. I forgot about this - grrrr! I can say that the new trail wider and more level as positives but, in my opinion, the old trail has more character - streamside, more flowers and more bflies -- so I'm still a bit unhappy about it. (And I don't think that will go away.)

The re-routed trail has be to longer than the original 1.75 miles. It has several switchbacks, backtracks a bit -- the original just basically went up. I'm have to measure next time.

The moose like the new trail. I'm seeing many moose tracks along the way.

Near the top, the Spring Beauties are in bloom -- they bloomed weeks ago below.

I get to the top and am greeted by wonderful views of SLC and snowy mountains. I continue up an animal trail to an aspen covered "peak". Wonderful views to the east!!

And those snowy peaks!

Several Painted Ladies flying up here! And Glacier Lilies are still blooming.

Time to head back down.

I see some Margined Whites flying.

At one point in the trail, I hear something rustling above me in the shrubs. I stop to see what it is -- hoping it's a moose. I  finally see some ears .... and then a face. It's a deer!

Actually, as many times as I've been on this trail, this is the first deer I've seen! I move a little further down the trail and then look back, there's actually a second deer!! Pretty cool!

Great day visiting my old friend!!

May 25 - Memorial Day on Antelope Island

Well, yet another on-n-off rainy week-end. Antelope Island is my goal. I know the biting gnats are out (if I'm really lucky, they've been knocked down a bit with all this weird weather) but I need to get out of the house. If this ends up just being a drive, so be it!

I leave SLC in a drizzle and head north. It's sunny to the northwest, cloudy to the east (the Wasatch Mountains). I complete my drive and guess what?! It's actually sunny on the island!!!! There are puffy white clouds around but its sunny!!!!

As I drive across the causeway there's two things that are very noticeable: 1) there's water in the lakes (by no means full but there's water!!!) and its so very green! Very pretty. At the start of the causeway,  the cattle are grazing on the fresh green grasses on the Salt Lake Flats - I've not seen that before. Perhaps the greenness is typical for this time of year (I haven't been here this late in May) OR it could be to all the rain we've received this May (twice the normal amount).

Lots of seagulls flying and flocks of blackbirds. Not a lot of ducks around though.

And the bugs along the causeway are still swarming -- it sounds like raindrops hitting my windshield (splat, splat, splat) -- but a lot messier.

I get across the causeway and head across the northern part of the island to the west side. I make a quick stop at the first parking area and take a quick walk through the still blooming little pink Restem Storkbill flowers (they've been blooming since March) and some pretty orange Globemallows.

And the great thing - no biting gnats!! This would be a perfect day to hike but unfortunately, I've spent my week-end battling a nasty cold so I'm not up for a real hike -- little walks are a yes though.

I make a stop at the Visitors Center -- I see a large Raven chasing 2 brown birds with long curled bills away from the Center. I watch where they land. They certainly look like shore birds but they are not by the shore. Hmm.

I head to the Center -- lots of Barn Swallows flying around. I walk out of the back of the Center to walk the little trail. There's more Swallows and a little brown bird belting out his song from a rock.

I continue along the trail -- I'm hoping to find those birds with the curled bills -- no luck on those birds but I do find a baby rabbit.

I think I find his Mom a little further down the trail. The trail continues further but I turn around. I find the same baby bunny again.

Time to head down the west side of the island. I come around a little S-curve before I get to the beach a scare up two black tipped eared jack rabbits.

I pass the beach and head toward Bison Point (my one little hike of the day - about 1/2 mile). I spot a white spot that looks suspiciously like an antelope in the distance. I stop for a look and yes, it is a pronghorn. He's moving northwest. I continue and notice a bunch of cars pulled off a little ways ahead. I think they're looking at my pronghorn but as I get closer, they are watching 3 pronghorn near the road. I pull up in time to watch them cross the road (trotting)

and head in the direction of my pronghorn.

I leave and head up to Bison Point. Not many people here yet. I head up the south trail, the views towards White Rock Bay are so pretty this morning!

I start heading up Bison Point. I stop at all the benches to enjoy the views.

There are 10 bison below. Most of them laying down, the others eating the fresh vegetation.

I continue up to the top. And walk across the ridge. Many White bflies flying. I watch 4 of them chase each other around. I never get a good look for an ID.

I do spot a blooming Salisfy.

Time to head down, this time down the north side of the trail. I find some cool pink Phlox

and Pink Daisies

and a small yellow composite.

  I also see the seedheads from the Spring Parsley plants -- not what I expected.

I get back down and head across the island back to the east side and head to the Ranch. Since the gnats aren't out, I'm hoping to walk the Sentry Trail to the Springs. Maybe some bflys and dragonflies will be out.

I see a lone pronghorn near the road.

I'm wondering where all the bison are today. Well, they are more than 1/2 way to the Ranch in a Super Herd!! They are on both sides on the road. The ones on the west side are near the road. Lots of babies!

There a 3 babies following one bison -- seems a bit much for one female -- but there are lots of bison around.

And go figure, I see a pronghorn white rump amongst the herd.

The bison on the east side is may be a bit larger in size but is nearer to the water.

I get to the ranch and try the dirt road to the Sentry parking but there's a road closed barrier across one side of the road. Guess I'm not walking to the Springs today. :(

I check for the Great Horned Owls but do not find them -- a little harder to spot with all the leaves now.

Time to head back north.

I stop to look at the Super Herd again

and then head up to the Frary Peak parking. The views are great!

I do find UT Vetch

and mushrooms -- odd thing to find here where it's typically very dry -- but thanks to the May rains.....

Well, its time for my Memorial Day treat, a bison burger. Along the way, I spot another pronghorn.

At the beach, I find what I think are milkweed blooming.

Time to head home. Great day!

And thanks to all the men and women have given their lives for this country and to those who have and continue to protect this country.

May 20 - Dog Lake (It's deer day on the trail)

Finally a day free of rain (but just for the day - returning on Thursday). I have to take advantage of it and go for a hike. Today's destination is Dog Lake in Big Cottonwood Canyon.

The trail starts at Mill D North. The trail starts at 7300ft and after 2.6 miles and 1450 ft I'll be at the lake. I've been to Dog Lake once this past winter.The lake was obviously just a snowy white patch. Today will be different but there's still the chance I will see snow.

It's cloudy out right now but I checked the radar and it looks clear so I think I'm safe (at least I hope).

I'm approaching the trail head when 3 doe walk down the steep slope to the left, cross the road and drop down the steep right side of the road. Well, that's a good start!

I park at the trail head and there's only one other car -- I'll have the trail basically to myself tonight. Yea!

Not 30 feet down the trail, I see another doe in the woods. She looks disheveled - bad hair day after all the days of rain?? :)

I hear other rustling in the brush but can't see any other deer.

I continue up the trail. There are blue violets, Strawberries and OregonGrape blooming.

And I find a Geranium just about ready to bloom! And Wild Lily of the Valley.

There are Bluebells ready to bloom everywhere (and some are blooming).

I spot 3 more doe among the thick aspen grove.

Further up, I spot some Meadow Rue blooming.

And some Forget-me-nots - one has a little moth on it.

I'm hiking above a valley now - below is the winter snowshoe trail to Dog Lake. Soon both trails will become one. Across the valley, the aspen covered slopes have not started to leaf out.

And I'm here, the intersection of both trails which is at a small creek. The creek no the downhill side of the intersection is not flowing. A little further up the trail, it is flowing. They must be routing the water off to some catchment system.

Still scanning for moose or elk -- but nothing yet.

I so spot some Spring Beautys in bloom.

I get to the split in the trail. To right, I go to Desolation Lake; to the left, Dog Lake. Heading left today. About a 1/2 mile to go - and this is the hardest part.

There's snow around here. The trail is pretty clear at first but then I get to the "gully" - a very steep section of the trail. From here to the lake, it's in and out of snow.

I find the rib cage and spine of probably a deer that didn't make it through the winter.

I hear some rustling in the forest to the right. There's a good sized brown animal! It's a porcupine!!

We both stop for a while and then when I move, he starts moving. We're both going in the same direction. After a few stop/moves, he scurries to hide under a large pine tree. And I continue up the last section of the trail before coming to Dog Lake.

I approach slowly in case there are animals around the lake -- but no animals. Just a nice small mountain lake with some wonderful reflections.

The one side still has a lot of snow. I plow through the foot+ of snow to get above the lake. I want to check the area I went to this winter. Mt Reynolds is much different without all the snow.

I believe I can hike up to that peak but I just don't have time today. So, I hike around Dog Lake. There's lots of logs on the far side of the lake -- and a male Mallard too.

I make my way around the lake enjoying the views.

Time to head back down.

I find the porcupine again. He's out in the open. We repeat the same drill as before but instead of hiding under the pine tree (the same pine tree), he climbs the tree. I can see him go up and up.

I leave him in peace and continue down.

The sky is a little darker now and the snowy peaks show up a lot better.

I spot doe number 8, 9 and 10 down the ravine.

I spot some Virgin's Bowers blooming.

And I spot #11 on the trail. I try to sneak up on her but she's slowing grazing up the hill. She disappears into the forest.

I'm nearing the end; Mt Kessler is getting larger.

I'm back to the trail head and it's starting to spit rain -- so much for a rain-free day. Run into heavy rain down the canyon and into valley.

Can't complain, I had an awesome hike!

May 17 - Days Fork (just past the meadow)

Boy am I tired of rain! I know we desperately need it but couldn't Mother Nature just leave the week-ends alone!! After last Saturday's rain we were at our monthly average of 1.95 inches. Well, we got another 1/4in this week and 1.5 inches yesterday (all day rain). High elevation got over 1 foot of snow and Avalanche Warnings are active.

And it was still raining this morning. But it cleared up as predicted around noon. (The rain is coming back on Monday.)

Time to head out for a quick hike. My plan is Dog Lake. I've been there once this winter and it would be nice to see the landscape without snow (well after last night, maybe a little snow).

I took off and as I was approaching Big Cottonwood Canyon, I see big dark clouds coming into the valley and it's raining - ugh! Dog Lake is too far in case it rains --- need something shorter. I settle on Days Fork (something new for me).

Days Fork is a long side canyon leading south towards Alta in Little Cottonwood Canyon. Because of the rain brewing in the valley, I'm heading to the "lower meadow" which is 1.5 miles and 850 ft of elevation (8200ft).

The trail continues on to the Eclipse Mine (2.75 miles), Silver Pass (3 miles), etc. I've read after the lower meadow, the rest is prime avalanche territory. That means some big steep mountains! I know there's the Avalanche Warning today for some areas -- not sure if it applies to Days Fork but I still want a peek at the mountains.

I head up Big Cottonwood Canyon trying to beat that valley rain. Still sunny up here -- peeking thru the puffy white clouds.

The creek is sure flowing strongly today. Highest I've seen it this Spring.

I pull into the Spruces Campground parking lot and there's only a couple cars. I get my stuff and try and find the trail head. It's a little hidden back by the campgrounds (which are still closed). I find it and start up the trail.

There's no snow at the start of the trail - just wet. The trail is heavily wooded (pine/aspen) and at the beginning there's a nice steep 300ft  climb before becoming more gradual. Lots of green vegetation but nothing blooming but a couple of hardy dandelions.

The trail continues thru the forest and I do evenutally run into snow. Mostly, leftover winter snow in patches along the trail and then on the trail. As I get closer to the "meadow", the snow fills in from last night. Just an inch or two.

All the human tracks in the snow seem old; no one has been up here in a while. There are animal tracks in the snow - not fresh. On the muddy parts of the trail, I find deer and moose tracks.

I start to see mountain over the trees so I must be getting closer to the meadow. And there it is, A large meadow snowy meadow.

Lots of green plants peeking up thru the snow.

I decide to continue through the meadow - I have to see the mountains. It's not that much further and the skies are still partly sunny.

I make my way to the "avalanche area" and I can certainly see the reason for the warnings in the snowshoe trail write-ups.

Tall and steep. Lots of old fallen trees in this area -- I assume fallen due to prior avalanches. It's beautiful up here. I continue along the trail until it starts heading up towards the mountains. I can see the trail heading up a ridge on its way to the mine.

But that's for another day. I've gone further than planned and its getting really cloudy back towards the trail head.

I stop to enjoy the area for a bit

before heading back.

As I'm about at the trail head, it starts sprinkling. Perfect timing!!

Great day!