July 28 - Snake Creek Pass and above (Big Cottonwood Canyon)

After a cloudy Friday, a cloudy/drizzly morning on Saturday, we'e back to all sun today with temps around 90 degrees.

Heading up Big Cottonwood Canyon to hike up to Snake Creek Pass and then up to the ski and a bit above. The trail to the pass is 4.3 miles round-trip with an elevation gain for around 1300 ft.

I love this hike, it starts on a busy trail up the ski run at Brighton Ski resort until reaching the intersection with the Dog Lake/Clayton Peak trail. That's the trail I want, not the trail heading up to Lake Mary. From there, the little used trail passes thru a meadow past Dog Lake and then heads thru the woods until reaching a service road for the final climb to the pass (~10,000).

I arrive about 8:20am. It's sunny and 52 degrees - actually a bit cool. Time start the climb up the ski run. But first, a stop to check out the cute ground squirrels along the trail.

Then up thru the meadows we should be filled with flowers right now but is still a bit lacking - another week or so. But yes, there are flowers. Some areas but flowery than other especially towards the bottom. I'm seeing Horsemint, Lupine, Bluebells, a few Paintbrush, White Columbine and Geraniums.

There's not a lot of people on the trail...yet.

Before long, I reach the intersection with Dog Lake and I head left and then take the Clayton Peak trail (not the Dog Lake trail). I pass thru the meadow which is still mostly just green plants but there are a few flowers - Buckwheat, Paintbrush, etc.

I make a quick detour down towards Dog Lake to check for moose

No luck on the moose but there a many mosquitoes around. Need to keep the stops to a minimal.

Back on the trail, I continue thru the meadow and into the forest.

Very shady in here as it's still early. I find some White Columbine and patches of Heart-leafed Arnica but again, the flowers are late. I also find several of these orange fungii (I assume)

and a white puff.

The forest opens a few times into meadows - no flowers. One of these meadows still have piles of snow on both the uphill and downhill from the trail. I can tell the sections of trail where the snow has recently melted as there are buttercups and Spring Beauties in bloom.

Soon I reach the service road that will take me up to the Pass. And then I reach the Pass. Lovely views to the east/southeast of Heber City and Mt Timp.

There are flowers at the Pass (and a Painted Lady). Looks awesome but it'll get better.

The sign indicates the Pass is at 10,200 ft but my GPS says 10,035. Time to head towards the Ski Lift. Along the way, I do see a few butterflies Boisduval Blue

Acmon Blue (what a surprise!) According to the range maps in both my butterflies books, it's an Acmon but according to the Utah Lep site, it's a Lupine Blue.

What I believe is a battered Persius Duskywing

Chryxus Arctics (yes, that's TP - people are just rude)

before reaching the lift.

I hear something to the left and look; there are two deer heading down on the other side of the lift. Way cool!

I head in the direction of the deer; I can't find them now. I continue along the trail up until I reach a rocky area where it's time for a rest. It's sunny here and the mosquitoes are not bad but the view of Mt Timp is pretty nice to enjoy!

Before heading down, I check my GPS: 10,225 ft!

Time to start heading down.

Along the way, I see a few Checkered Whites

and a Frit as I head back to the Pass.

Time to head the rest of the way down to Dog Lake.

Thought there might be something flying now since it's warmer and the sun higher but only see a couple of Checkered Whites.

And then down the ski run. I was just thinking that funny how I see butterflies above 10,000 ft but nothing down below but just as I turn the corner on the last long downhill section I see a Duskywing and then almost to the bottom, a Field Crescent.

Awesome day!

July 26 - Catherine's Pass (Little Cottonwood Canyon)

There is the potential for big storms today and it's cloudy out right now so I decide to go for a shorter hike this morning to Catherine's Pass. I'm not too thrilled about the $8 charge they started last year but I've been wanting to go there and walking from the resort is not too exciting for me. I support the reason of the charge - trying to preserve the area because it's become a zoo up there - so up I go.

Cloudy morning with the temperature at 73 when I leave my house before 7am. It even sprinkles a bit on the drive there.

The drive up the dirt "summer" road has a fair numbers of flowers in bloom but definitely not peak season yet.

Before arriving at the parking lot, I seeing a Marmot sprinting across the landscape.

When I arrive at the Catherine's Pass parking around 7:20, there are only a few cars in the lot. It's still cloudy with a temp of 62 degrees. I gear up and start up the 1.5 mile trail to the Pass.

Devil's Castle is looking good with the buckwheat in bloom.

And my one moth of the day.

Along the way, I see many different flowers including Penstemon & Paintbrush

White Columbine, Bluebells, Forget-me-knots, Horsemint

Green Gentian

In one wetter spot, there's White Bog Orchid

Elephanthead (one of my favorites)

and Colorado (Yellow) Columbine!

And in the spots where the snow just melted, Buttercups.

It's pretty but the big bloom is still a week or two away.

I see absolutely zero animals along the way; no deer, moose, chipmunks, squirrels (of any kind). I'm not sure where they all were; perhaps it's the weather. There are a few birds flying especially near the start of the trail.

And one pesky "bird" that's a bit irritating: mosquitoes! Not horrible but there if I stop on the trail.

I'm thru the meadow and stopped looking down on the meadow on the final stretch.

I reach the Pass with a beautiful Lake Catherine below. Then up to Sunset Pass I go.

On the backside, I find Sulphur Paintbrush

and beautiful views below.

I reach the ridge. It nice with Mt Timp out there but honestly, without blue skies and flowers, it's a bit lacking.

But it's beautifully dead quiet up there!

I start across towards Devil's Castle but eventually get stopped by some snow. I could go up and over a peak to bypass the snow but everywhere I look are rain-looking clouds. I think its time to head back. I'll be here again in Sept once the trail is free again. I do love it up here!

Many people trekking up now - and they all smell like bug spray!

Back at my car, I start the drive down the dirt road. I'm not far from the parking lot when I see something dark on the green slopes below. I back up to check it out -- it's a Mom and calf!! Awesome!

What a way to end my day!

July 21 - Lambs Canyon

Heading to Lambs Canyon this morning; just haven't been there in quite a while.

A sunny day is predicted with temps in the high 90s.

I arrive around 8:30 am.

The canyon is still in the shade so there's no need to check the mud. So I start up the trail crossing the footbridge (and the creek). I see my 1st butterfly of the day: Weidemeyer's Admiral!

Love the remnants of the Virgins Bowers flowers!

Wow! It's so nice and lush. Lots of Geraniums and Cow Parsnip in bloom! And some Monkshood.

The creek is still flowing and there's still some muddy patches on the trail. Can't wait for the return trip; hopefully, there will be plenty of butterflies are flying.

I do see a few orange flyers in the more sunnier spots including Northern Checkerspots

the beautiful Great Spangled Frits (males).

The Baneberry flowers I saw weeks ago are now have seeds.

In one flowery section, I see Mustard White, Clodius Parnassian, Northern Checkerspots, Lilac Border Coppers.

The last switchback is full of White Columbine!

And a Common Ringlet!

Soon I reach the ridge over looking the Salt Lake Valley!

There's no butterflies flying up here so it's time to head back down.

On the way down, I do see more butterflies including a potential soon to be mated pair. (Her one wing did not appear to form early on.) They're Frits - not Great Spangled - thinking NW Frits?

A Spring Azure

and more Lilac Bordered Coppers.

I'm looking forward to checking out the muddy section of the parking area. As I reach the foot bridge, I notice that thankfully there's no car parked there but the parking area is full as there are cars parked along the road. I stop to watch a White Line Sphinx Moth

and then cross the bridge. As I start towards the muddy area, 5 cars all arrive (I've never seen that many cars arriving here at one time!) and one immediately backs into the muddy area to a poof of flying butterflies (including a Pale Swallowtail). Ugh! (Too many people these days!)

Instead of going to my car and leaving, I take a walk down the road to check out some of the other smaller wet areas. I do find some butterflies including Western Tailed Blue, Painted Lady, a couple of Russets Skipperlings

and an Anise Swallowtail. (I thought they only fly in the Spring time. Hmm!)

I head back to my car and check what's remaining of the muddy area finding 2 Western Swallowtails.

Good day!

July 19 - Twins Lake (Big Cottonwood Canyon)

Heading out to Twin Lakes again today - the weekly trip.

Another sunny day with temps in the high 90s.

When I arrive at Silver Lake, it's 54 degrees and surprisingly empty at around 8am.

As I trail counter-clockwise along the lake, the lake is getting lower but there is still slow into a creek under the foot bridge.

Still not many blooming flowers but there are several chipmunks running around.

I reach the Twin Lakes/Lake Solitude and start up. When I reach the intersection, I start along towards Lake Solitude (doing the loop).

Again no mass flower bloom yet but it is getting close as I'm seeing plenty of buds. There are 2 new bloomers though - the Heartleaf Arnica and Horsemint (but not in good quantities yet).

There's a few more Paintbrush and other flowers. Maybe next week.

There's no critter activity along the shady trail and soon I reach Lake Solitude.

Looks much the same as a week ago except some of those Phlox are drying up.

As I start around the trail, there's something strange coming up the ski cat road - a Salt Lake Cop. What?!

Somehow I think I ruined his morning by being on the trail. The car drives to the other side of the lake, turns around and stops. After a bit, he starts heading back down the trail. I have never seen a cop on any trail....until today - strange.

Now it's time to head uphill. I see a few flyers: Checkered White, Painted Lady and more Chryxus Arctics.

(They appear to be having a great year as are the Checkered Whites!)

The Blue Flax is now blooming!

Before I know it, I'm above Twin Lakes. And continuing up to the Twin Lakes Pass trail head.

I'm seeing more Checkered Whites, Chryxus Arctics, a Large Marble, a Hoary Comma and a Two Banded Skipper. This guy lands on the underside of a plant

and then slowly move around to the top. Pretty cool!

Continuing upwards, there are more Paintbrush in bloom

and a Fleabane/Aster?

I reach the snow field indicating the trail and realize that I forgot my YakTrak - darn! I make an attempt up the slippery snow field but give up when I sink knee deep in snow. :(

Heading down I see a Pika

and a Ground Squirrel.

I head to my perch for a short break

Before continuing down to the Lake.

There's no one at the small beach area. The water seems higher even though the overflow is definitely less today.

Then it's down the hill and through the still mostly green plants. There are some Lupine in bloom.

 Then it's across the switchback

and then home.

Nice day!