The 2022 Utah Adventure

Partly cloudy/rainy day with temps near 90 degrees. Finally spending the $10 and heading up to Catherine's Pass. I like it better when it was free -- I actually went up there a lot more but it's getting pricey. Maybe this summer of low volume tourism will change things (wishful thinking but probably not). It's cloudy when I leave just after 7am. But there is still blue sky to the east so there's a shot that I'll still be walking in the sun (for some period of time anyway). Checking out the parking for Red Pine Lake and surprised that it's only about 1/2 full - low tourism. Perhaps I'll do next Friday! I arrive at the summer road entrance, pay my $10 and head up to a 1/2 full parking lot. It's cloudy here too. :( It's also 56 degrees. I gear up and start up the trail. Still some good patches of flowers - Purple Fleabane, Geraniums, Paintbrush, Yarrow, Yellow Composites, etc. But lots of dead/dying flowers too. The views are good as always as I walk th...

Only 93 degrees today so heading up to hike Lambs Canyon - it's been awhile since I've hiked there. I arrive around 3:30 and there's only 1 car in the lot. I find those people crossing the bridge; they were laid out on the bridge just chilling. The trail is mostly sun but a good portion of shade; will be mostly shady on the way back down. Tons of vegetation; typical overgrown by this time of year including Cow Parsley Monk's Hood and many more. The Thimbleberries are forming fruit now. I see Western Tigers, Mustard Whites and Mormon  and other Frits flying on the lower portion. It deadens as I get higher but I do find a very productive flowery spot about mid-way. There I add a Blue Copper,  Parnassian. There are other things flying but they are flying. It's a quiet hike as I only see 1 downhill guy - not sure where he's parked because the girls have the car (maybe they are waiting for him). And I see another guy as I reach the top. (I also see him on my way down...

 Another 100 degree day in the forecast. I'm up early and heading up BCC to hike up to Catherine's Pass via Lake Mary, Martha, and  Catherine. First time I've done this hike this year. I arrive at the trail head just after 7am. Not too many folks around except construction folks. I gear up and start up the trail. Tons of flowers blooming right now - Lupine, Bluebells, Paintbrush, Horsemint, Geraniums, Columbine, etc. So beautiful even though there is no sun. There are some Pink Monkeyflowers in a water spot about 1/2 way up. Steady climb but my legs are pretty heavy this morning for some reason. But before I know it I arrive at Lake Mary. Definitely don't want to stand still too long because the mosquitoes will get you. I continue around the lake and onto Lake Martha - no moose today. Then it's into the woods where there are Heart-leafed Arnica and more Bluebells (and Asters) blooming. On the next switchback, I'm out in the open again with lots of flowers. Soon ...

 It's a "cool" day at only 95 degrees. It's time for an after work hike to either Twin Lakes or Willow Lake. Aiming for Twin Lakes but it all depends what the storm clouds look like. Heading up the canyon, the trail heads are amazingly empty; perhaps people are just done for the day (beating the heat). Unfortutnately there are some big thunder heads as I near Silver Fork. Definitely choosing the shorter Willow Lake today. And hey, I haven't been up there in quite some time. Lucky me, I'm the only one at the trail head. As I start up the trail, I'm surrounded by Horsemint and Geraniums mostly. I quickly spot a pair of Downy Woodpeckers. Mated pair or parent/child I'm not sure but they were sticking together. I see a bunch of white moths as I start up the 1st (and hardest switchback). There are also Ringlets flying. The rest of the way up, I see Mustard White, Parnassians, a Western tiger Swallowtail and Northern Cloudywings. Also a Northern Flicker befo...

Sunny day with highs in the mid-90s. Heading up to hike the Mormon Trail this morming. The road is wet this morning; we need the rain and it should help with the butterflying - perhaps. The trail from the bridge to the actual trail is horrible this morning. The rain/dew has the tall grasses soaked and fallen over the trail. Hard to see where to step and I'm getting soaked. Trying to rescue my key fob from my front pants pocket from the water. When I exit the grasses into the muddy forest, my pants and shirt are soaked - so glad it's not too chilly this morning. All that water and the shade is not going to help any butterflies trying to get going this morning. And yes, very quiet morning. But the 1st butterfly species I find is a GSF (male); one of many today. In fact, it's the Frits and Northern Checkerspots (in a lesser role) that rule the trail this morning. Even the meadow is quiet. There's a little pickup past the meadow but not much. I definitely need to start comi...