Aug 25 - Lake Mary, Martha, Catherine (Big Cottonwood Canyon)

 Yet another sunny day with temps well into the 90s.

Heading up Big Cottonwood Canyon to hike up to Catherine Lake and maybe Catherine's Pass (and beyond).

Empty drive this morning - thank-you for school starting!!!

There's about 15 cars when I arrive at the Brighton lot - a little more than I expected but I honestly know where these people were because I saw 4 people on my up; the 3 folks ahead of me and the lady who ran past me at Lake Martha on her way down.

Wonderful shady walk up the ski run. Most of the flowers are gone but there are still Paintbrush, Lupine, etc in blooming. 

Looking for moose and deer along the way.

And I'm successful seeing a Mom moose and calf about 1/2 way up the slope. 

(The 3 people front were too busy talking and walked right by.)

I arrive at Lake Mary and there doesn't appear to be anyone there.

I scan for moose but don't see any animals but lots of fresh moose scat.

I don't stay long because I want to keep those 3 people that I passed at Dog Lake behind me - they're loud.

So onward to Lake Martha.

No moose here.

And then onto Lake Catherine. Much easier (and less stressful) walk there as there's no snow and ice along the way.

Soon, I arrive at Lake Catherine!

I move down the side of the lake until I find a nice rock to take rest.

So nice and quiet.

I stay until the 3 people arrive. Time to head back.

I see a butterfly near the lake.

More people coming up now including a guy I used to work with until he retired a few years ago. Nice to see him again and meet his wife. 

Then it's down, 

down, 

down to the car.

Awesome day!

Aug 24 - Lambs Canyon

 Well another partly cloudy day with highs in the 90s (and again, above normal).

Had my eyes set at hiking up to Summit Park Peak this morning. It's been a number of years since I did the hike and just looking for something "new" and different. But the place I parked last time is now a "No Parking" area and I just didn't know where to park. So I just headed to Lambs Canyon.

There are already a number of cars there so I parked in the one overflow spot and started up the trail. This is more a "just exercise" hike but hoping to see a moose or maybe a Colorado Hairsteak.

It's already 72 degrees and  humid. It's a hot hikee.

Not much has changed in a week except there might be a little more color in the understory (and less blooming flowers). Here's a puffy Heartleaf Arnica

When I make it to the top, I get to enjoy the view all by myself for the first time in quite a while.

After a brief stop, it's time to head down.

On the return, I see a couple of Frits, several Woodland Skipper 

and then there it is -- a flying Colorado Hairstreak! It lands out of reach.

A little farther along, there's another flying.

Then along the final stretch before the switchbacks to the road, I see another Colorado Hairstreak and this one lands!

Just note that I have since 1 Colorado Hairstreak before in Lambs Canyon but it's been many years ago.

Back at the parking area/road, there's are lots of Woodland Skipper flying.

I also see 1 male Great Spangled and 1 female Great Spangled Frit.

Good day!

Aug 23 - Mormon Trail

Partly cloudy (maybe smokey) with highs in the upper 90s yet again.

Didn't feel like heading to the mountains (and crowds) this morning so I decide to walk the first 2 miles of the Mormon trail again to see what's still flying and generally moving around this morning.

Cloudy morning but temperatures around 65 when I arrive around 8:30. This definitely a sun up there hopefully I'll see it today.

I head off through the dense wooded area and surprised a find a very wet area. Guess it's just the beavers backing up more water :(

But on the other side of the wooded area, it's still very dry and blooms are getting scarce in sections. But the asters and a yellow composite and white yarrow are still decently common depending on where you area. I do still find a few Geraniums surviving.

And despite majority of the Salisfy are big puffs balls

I do find a couple just starting to bloom.

Surprisingly despite the lack of sun, I do find a old beaten Great Spangled male and several females on my way to the pond. (5+ in total and all females except the 1.)

Male

Female

By the time I reach the pond, the sun is out and I start seeing Woodland Skippers.

I also witness a large hawk fly overhead and land in a tree. This could be the one I saw early this year.

When he finally takes off again, he makes loud squawking sounds. Awesome!

Once past, I start seeing Colorado Hairstreaks (I see 6+ total). Such a beautiful bug and so glad I got this experience this season.

Male

Female

I also find a Small Wood Nymph

and one Common Checkered Skipper before reaching the 2 mile mark.

On the return, the sun disappears but I do manage to see one Field Crescent 

and a Weidemeyers Admiral on my return.

Oh,  can't forget the 2 Hummingbirds that buzz by along my way.

Great day!

Aug 21 - Twin Lake Loop (Big Cottonwood Canyon)

 Sunny with highs near 100 degrees today and it's smokey from wildfires somewhere in the West.

Heading up to hike to Twin Lakes this morning. My plan is to  hike the length of the lake to get a view from the other side. First time I'll be over there this year.

I leave my house just after 7am. The valley is really smokey this morning; maybe it'll be better up high.

Heading up the canyon the trail heads are far less crowded than other Fridays this summer (yea!) Must be that fact that schools are starting (finally).

I arrive at Silver Lake and there's plenty of parking in the main lot. I gear up and start around Silver Lake to the trail head.

Smokey view this morning at Silver Lake but still pretty.

On the drive up, I was debating to go my normal way past Lake Solitude or go directly to Twin Lakes. Well, my decision was made by 2 ladies on the trail ahead up me going towards Lake Solitude. My first direct trip to Twin Lakes since early Spring.

As I pass the rock slide on the switchback, I see a couple of Pika. 

Very smokey down there!

And then it's the steep climb up through mostly dead flowers to the lake. There are Asters and a Yellow Composite still in bloom for some "pretty" color.

Before long, I've made it to the dam. I head around the dam to some wonderful views.

Then I start the walk down the lake to the other side enjoying the views along the way.

And see a few Pika along the way.

The flowers along the way are dry here as well but I do see a Clouded Sulphur on my way down.

Lots of deer tracks along the trail; a regular highway of deer prints!

I reach the other side and find a large rock for a brief rest.

It's time to head back to the dam. Along the way I see a single Ruddy Copper.

After reaching the dam, I make my way to the trail heading up to my perch over the lakes. I pass a couple of deer/moose beds and some good blooms of flowers with several Frits (probably Mormon) enjoying the flowers.

Time to head up above the lakes 

and then make my way down to Lake Solitude.

As I round one of the final switchbacks to Lake Solitude, I get a glimpse of a deer running up thru the woods.

Then it's down to Lake Solitude and back to Silver Lake.

Good day!

Aug 16 - Lambs Canyon

 Sunny with a high of 102 degrees today. Heading up to hike Lambs Canyon today; it's been over a month and I want to avoid the crowds in the mountains.

Hoping to see butterflies on the way down as I know I'll be in the shade on my way up but I'm just not sure if the sun will be high enough to get over the mountain peaks. I'll find out shortly.

I arrive sometime after 7:30 and find the last official parking spot. It wouldn't have been the last if people knew how to park for maximum cars. Grrrr!

I start me way up. It's a bit cool this morning. It feels great though!

The flowers are starting to fade but there are still plenty. Tall white asters, Purple asters, Yarrow, etc all the way up to the top.

There's a few Thimbleberry to pick and enjoy. And I did - 5 of them! :)

And there are some pretty non-edible berries as well including Twisted Stalk/Solomon's Seal

Dolls Eye or Baneberry

As to flowers, there are:

Phlox

White Aster

Paintbrush

Heart-leafed Arnica (yes, August and still blooming)

Same can be said for the Geraniums

Fleabane

And Fireweed

And a pollen covered bee on Coneflower.

Despite the shade, I do see a couple of male Great Spangled Frits.

Before long, I'm at the top. I don't stay long as there's a couple at the top. I turn and head back down.

On the way down, there are peeks of sunshine but it's still mostly shade - no the sun does not come up high enough - at least in the morning.

Lots more people coming up now.

I do see a female GSF - just one.

At one point, I see a female deer just start to cross ahead of me but she gets scared and she noise-ily heads back up the mountain through the brush. I see another one with her. Pretty cool!

Then its back down to my car.

Good hike!

Aug 11 - Mormon Trail

 Mostly sunny day with highs in the mid-90s.

Struggled this morning on where I'm going. Mountains should be the obvious choice but I'm a little disappointed by all the dry flowers around Twin Lakes. Lots of choices but I finally decide to go to the Mormon Trail to 1) see the female Great Spangled Frits (they are beauties) and 2) see if there are really Colorado Hairstreaks flying there. Last time I went, I thought I saw one but it was flying and only ever seeing one once (in Lambs Canyon),  I couldn't be sure. But there lots of Gambel Oaks on the hillside so it's possible.

I arrive around 9am. Parking lot is empty (nice)!

It's arouond 70 degrees but there's a cloud in front of the sun. Makes for a nice walk (cooler) but not good to get the butterflies flying.

At the start, I find some Goldfinch enjoying the seeds (and fluff) from the thistles.

Despite the lack of sun, I do see a few Frit (mostly Great Spangled including females)!

Very dry out here and the still blooming flowers are Yarrow, Purple Asters (but these are fading), lots of yellow flowers, etc.

At one point on my way to the pond, I hear movement in the grasses above me. And then a galloping sound. Whew, it's not a moose; just a doe.

The sun finally escapes the clouds just before I arrive at the meadow. As I pass by the pond, just seeing a Frit here and there. But the thistles are in-bloom here. These are usually Frit magnets but another on them yet. (Plenty of Frits on them on my return.)

But after the pond, I start seeing more Frit and what looks like Colorado Hairstreaks. One finally lands and yes! Colorado Hairstreak. It's pretty beaten but it's what I've came for. I even get the wonder flash of purple. It's a male!

He flies and a few steps later I see another. And this one is quite cooperative :)

I continue on seeing more of the Hairstreaks. Funny how I can walk this trail for 8 summers and finally see them. Same with the Tailed Copper from last time but I only saw one of them. The hairstreaks are not common but they're around!

I'm also seeing a bunch of Common Checkered Skippers

A Bousduval's Blue

And Woodland Skippers

I reach the 2 mile mark and turn around.

On the way back, I get yelled at by a squirrel

And see more Hairstreaks including this female. 

She's much fresher. I wonder if the females are just emerging. Also wondering why there are so many of them. They are usually in Oaks and I'm seeing them on the ground. Maybe they're down for some early morning dew?

Also seeing more GSFs including a couple of mated couples

a few Small Wood Nymphs, 

a Ruddy Copper, a Field Crescent, 

a Juba Skipper, and a Weidemeyers Admiral. Quite good selection of flyers for this time of the year!

And I can't forget the snake skin on the trail - it wasn't there when I started.

I'm finish the trail and take a step or two into the woods alongside the creek and heard lots of splashing. and see a flash of dark brown. I scared a moose! Exciting but scary as I still need to walk by. 

I walk super slowly peaking thru branches knowing there's an opening soon.

I reach the opening and there I see a bull moose (maybe he's the same on as last time) standing in the water looking at me through the branches that separate us. Fantastic!

I enjoy the moment (quickly) and continue on my way back to my car.

Awesome day! But I'm going to see if I can see the moose from the road as I exit.

Success!!