Aug 2 - Mill D South (Cardiff Mine)

Well it's time to get back out into the UT wilderness with a little hiking. Today I'm heading to the Cardiff Mine. Tried a month or so ago and turned back after seeing all the Private Property signs - I wasn't sure if I could be on the roads. I found out I could, so now I need to complete the hike.

Cloudy morning which is OK by me, it'll keep it a little cooler.

I actually park at the actual trail head today instead of the road - figured it was worth a shot since it's only 9:15 and I'm feeling a little lazy this morning. :)

Off I go. As suspected, the summer flowers are on the down swing - it's Aug already - where did the year go?!. But the fall asters are in bloom!

The views are still pretty though.

I see a few chipmunks moving around.

I make my way up the first set of hills and break out into the sunlight and the view of the valley. There are still a few flowers blooming: mint, geranium, yellow composites, a few red paintbrush (including a berry colored one), etc.

And there's still water flowing in the creek below - much lower flow than before.

Seeing Weidenmeyer's Admirals flying and some Margined Whites and Frits.

I get to the first signs of the mine -- a big tailing pile -- last time the trail was a mini-river. Today, surprisingly, there's still water flowing along the trail but I can skirt by on the trail edge.

I find what I believe to be yellow sedum.

I continue pass my stopping point last time and begin looking for the mine. Soon I get my first look at the mine area.

In a open area, I see a yellow bird fly between trees. My first instinct is a Gold Finch but this one has a red head - yes a yellow bird with a red head.

I have no idea what it is but there's a female as well (she has no red head).

I watch for a while before continuing. (I find out later it's a Western Tanager - a first for me!!!)

I also see/hear a pika in the rocks near the road.

There are still some nice flowers up here.

I come across the mine to the right but keep on going.

I'm after the mountain view I saw in an internet posting so I continue. I pass several side roads hoping I can get to those mountains. My trail is fading and soon ends a big basin of spent flowers. Guess it's time to turn around.

I head down and take one of the side trails. Hey, this seems to be heading towards those mountains. (Wish I took this sooner, would've saved me a climb to no where.)

I walk closer passing a little wet area. There are Yellow Monkeyflower, Paintbrush, Monkshood blooming and Policecar Moths flying. Very pretty.

I cross a creek and come upon a setup green canvas tent. This whole time my trail is passing through private property (which according to the hiking books is legal - one of these trails goes to Cardiff Pass) but the tent make me a little paranoid as I'm out here by myself. Time to turn around and see the Cardiff Mine.

I head back to the mine to investigate. This must be an old entrance (I walked right over it on the trail.)

Then what I think is an old mine shaft.

On the way back, not far from the mine, I run into two people looking for Donut Falls - ran into a few "lost" people last time too. But these folks were way far away!

A little further down, I run into another group looking for Donut Falls -- that trail must not be marked very well. Can't believe they didn't figure out something was wrong -- they're 2 miles out - Donut Falls is about a 1/2 mile walk. Oh well?!

On the way back near the water covered trail (and mine tailing), I see a couple of Purplish Copper flying. I also see a blue but it never stopped.

A little further down, I stop to grab my sandwich and hear a noise on the hill above me -- it's a single deer - a doe!

And I see a little moth on a flower

and Blue Copper bfly.

Good day!