May 8 - Emigration Canyon Ridge Trail

It's Friday! I finish my work week by 8am and gear up to hike the Emigration Canyon Ridge Trail again today. A week ago, the temperatures were in the low 50s and drizzly; today, it's still in the 50s but it sunny with clear skies.

I get to the trail head around 8:30 and start up the trail.

Pretty much the same flowers in the bloom, Forget-me-knots,

Spring Parlsey, Waterleaf, Larkspur, Arrowleaf Balsamroot, OregonGrape, a few more Phlox,

Vetch and Utah Vetch. Noticeably missing this week are the Yellow Bells and the Glacier Lilies are dying or in seed.

The trail is beautiful as I'm able to clearly see the mountains to the north, the Foothills to the south (actually all around) and the 2 reservoirs.

The flowers are gorgeous.The major flower is the Arrowleaf Balsamroot. But the Largeleaf Balsamroot is up and will be in bloom soon.

Oh, I see a Painted Lady zip by.

New flower alert: Death Camas about ready to bloom.

And Mt Dandelion.

I finally reach my end point last week and continue on. As I continue there's more Scrub Oak areas along the trail.

I'm nearing the first mountain with, finally, a good look into the Salt Lake Valley!

A couple of turns and I'm at the base of a steep climb. I start up slowly.

Here I'm finding little lizards -- this one looks more like a toad.

And there a bigger ones.

Along the way, I find a few Spring Beautys in bloom

and one Glacier Lily still in bloom.

I'm gain over 200-300 ft in elevation with probably a 100ft or so to go. But I'm getting a little freaked out about the steepness of the trail and coming down it. Stupid but real fear of falling so I start trying to convince myself I only have a little more to go and all with be fine. While I'm waiting, I see a White butterfly coming down the hill! I don't see any markings so it's got to be a Mustard White.

I go up a bit farther up the trail and I'm done. I take a seat on the ground and enjoy the view.

Then I see something...it's my 1st Anise Swallowtail of the year!!

I guess my fear paid off; if I kept going up, I would've missed it.

On the way down, I pull of the trail for a family of 3. They ask what I was doing because they were wondering why it was taking me so long to climb the hill. Told them I was freaked and trying to convince myself to keep climbing. The lady quickly responded "steepness"; she understood (I think).

Time to continue. On the way back, I see 5 additional Anise Swallowtail including 2 that were swirling high into the air.

Also see a Stellar's Jay and Spotted Towhees.

On the last stretch back to my car, I see this flower that I have no idea about

and I see another 2 additional Painted Ladies

and 2 more Mustard Whites.

Good day!