2024 Utah Adventure

 Sunny another day near 100 degrees. This was supposed to be Day 1 of my Yosemite (high country) trip BUT my flight got cancelled. At least it was cancelled before I was at the airport AND at least I was able to rebook but the new flight isn't until Tuesday AM so I'm missing 2 Yosemite days. This all thanks to the CrowdSource security patch that was rolled out and caused massive outages to businesses, airlines, banks, hospitals.... heads should roll. So I'm going to hike the Mormon Trail today. It's a beautiful 63 degrees when I arrive with a light wind around 8am. I need to start coming later because the sun is coming up later. Lots of birds singing this morning but as expected the trail is devoid of butterflies this early. The flowers are slowly fading now. I do see tons of little white moths - they must've hatched. Very confusing times when looking for butterflies with all these little flyers around. And the Police car moths are also out. I arrive in the meadow a...

 Another sunny day with temps in the high 90s. Just a couple of hours of worked today and I'm officially on vacation - yea!! Heading up to Twin Lakes today. Had other ideas but decided to do the ole standby hike this morning. I leave my house just after 7am. Early start always my plan but today, I just want to get thru that nasty road construction 4 miles in that was causing havoc when I went up earlier this week. My lucky day! That road construction was gone - wow that was quick! Great start! Just after Willow Lake, I see a car stopped on the downhill and I get a glimpse of the moose in the aspen that they were looking at. Then as I'm passing Solitude I see a sign saying all trail closed to due Archery competition July 18 - 21. I wonder if I can get to Lake Solitude as it's in the resort. Guess I'll find out. I arrive at Silver Lake and start along the boardwalk. Lots of guys fishing to the right - not sure if they should be there but no one is saying "no". I...

Mostly sunny and 93 degrees when I leave my house at 3pm to hike to Willow Lake. It's been a while since I've been there so it's time. Ugh! More BCC one-lane road construction; that's 3 years in a row. (Luckily I find it before 3:30 because the traffic jam when I was leaving around 5:30 - wow!! I arrive and a few cars parked but the canyon seemed pretty empty. It's around 80 degrees and cloudy when I start up the trail. Lots of Geraniums, Jacob's Ladder, Horsemint and a few Bluebells all the way up the trail. Oh, the Fireweed is blooming!! The little waterfall is still flowing. See several Northern Flickers early on the 1st switchback (counter-clockwise). Spittlebugs are out here as well. On the 1st switchback, I see deer prints on the trail. Either they are fresh or there simply haven't been many folks up the trail today. I'm seeing Police Car Moths,  a few Frits, Lilac Bordered Copper, N Checkerspot and Clodius Parnassian (saw several on the whole hike...

Sunny day with record setting temps around 104. Whew! Heading out to hike the Mormon Trail to see what's still out there. I arrive around 8am and I'm the only car at this time. (Lots of folks out on the road though.) It's sunny and clear as I start off. When I break out of the trees, I hear this bird constantly screeching. I find a smaller bird at the top of a tall tree; it's a Kestrel. I leave him be but he follows me just down the trail into a tall tree still screeching. Thankfully, I just move on and he stays. I'm assuming there's a nest within that section of trail. Lots of birds flitting a bout. And the clover, at least in the beginning part of the trail, is starting to fade. And it's getting very dry out - we've had little to no rain since May. Even that second water crossing is now dry despite having water last week. I do find some Monkshood in bloom. And the Spittlebugs are still out. And I find more sleeping bees. Very quiet morning butterfly-wi...

Sunny days with mid-90 temps forecast. Heading up to Twin Lakes Pass today to check out the flower situation. Typically, it's peak time but with above average snowfalls, I'm just not sure the status. Leave around 6:45 and arrive around 7:30. Plenty of spots since in the parking lot. It's sunny and 46 degrees as I start along the boardwalk. At the footbridge, I stop to watch a family of Mallards. And stop to check out the view from the pier. Lovely as always. The Iris is in-bloom now. I decide to head up via Lake Solitude this morning. Flowers are still not there but the Thimbleberry are in bloom. Pass by what appears to be fresh coyote poop on the trail. Trail is clear. Pass, in the opposite direction, 2 people who saw deer earlier. At the first rock pile, I see and hear a Pika. Passing Bluebells, MeadowRue, Baneberry (still in bloom) on the way to Lake Solitude. I reach Lake Solitude and take a quick look (there's a duck out there) before continuing on the road to abov...

Sunny day with highs in the low 90s. It's a cool morning with temps in the mid-50s. Heading out this morning to hike up to the top of Lambs Canyon for the 1st time this year. (I got 1/2 way up the 2nd to last switchback a couple of weeks ago but a nature call pushed me back down.) I have to finish work finish so I left around 8am. Hoping I get a parking spot because its is the day after the 4th so I image that lots of folks are off. I arrive around 8:30 and there's only car - I'm shocked but happy. I start up the trail. Tons of Thimbleberry in bloom with many forming berries already (I can't wait). Also lots of Pink/White Gernaniums, as are MeadowRue, Roses, White Columbine, Bluebells, Purple Fleabane, Horsemint, Cow Parsnip, Salsify and many others. And the lupine are in full bloom. The trail is surrounded by lush green vegetation. I find a white moth early on. And then Western Tailed Blue. I see Frits flying around but hard to get they to stay in any one place. Also, ...

Happy 4th! Sunny day with temps in the mid-80s. Heading up to hike the Mormon Trail today. Hoping for more butterflies so I leave at 7:30 for a later start in hopes to catch the bflies on the way back (for the most part). It's only in the low 50s when I arrive and only one truck camper in the lot. I gear up and start along the trail. Not expecting any butterflies as it's very cool and very shady in most spots. Which makes seeing a Small Wood Nymph in the opening section (it's sagebrush and sunny) super surprising and awesome! The rest of the trail is just a nice walk. Lots of birds singing and chipmunks moving around. Finally start getting some action when I reach the meadow with a couple of European Skippers. And then it's quiet again. I finally get a good shot of that yellow-ish bird I've been seeing the last few weeks. I thought it was a Yellow Warbler. Turns out to be a female Western Tanager!! The male is incredible looking so I need to keep my eyes open. I slo...