Aug 20 - Twin Lakes Loop (Big Cottonwood Canyon)

Sunny, hot day with temps near 100 degrees.

A good day to head for the mountains for my 1st after work hike of the year!

Heading up to Silver Lake to hike the loop to Lake Solitude, Twin Lakes and then back to Silver Lake.

As I head up, I can tell that school has started as the trail heads are very empty. And when I arrive at Silver Lake there are only a few cars - perfect.

It may be near 100 in the valley, it's only 78 up here - ahhh!

I head the usual way down to right side of Silver Lake. Seems like the grasses are starting to turn yellow - Fall is not far away.

Crossing the footbridge, I see a couple of trout.

I reach the intersection of the Twin Lakes/Lake Solitude trails and of course, head towards Lake Solitude. The flowers that were blooming only a week or so ago and pretty much dying. Boy, that was quick!

Pretty quiet walk thru the forest. Only startled by a woodpecker

and by a Pika that squeeked loudly as I walked by. I only see him very briefly though.

Better looking flowers on the hillsides here - no butterflies though. :(

I make it to Lake Solitude and start the long uphill climb. There's still a few flowers over here. I see several Frits flying

and I see 1 Copper

and one Blue Copper.

I reach the top of the hill and head over to my perch for a quick break. Can't believe the lakes are still so high.

Time to head down. There are lots of flowers just above the lake but no flyers -- hey, it's after 5:30pm.

I make a brief stop at the Lake.

There's still water going over the spillway - wow!

And there's still tiny fish along the dam.

Time to head down.

On the switchback, I hear several Pikas and see them sprinting among the boulders.

Great hike!

Aug 16 - Catherine's Pass and above (Little Cottonwood Canyon)

Sunny day with temps around  90s.

Well, I said I wasn't going to pay to go into the Albion Basin again this year. (Last week I hoofed from the town up to Germania Pass.) But this morning, with all the options I have, I really want to go see the flowers especially a top the ridge at 10,400+ ft. So up the canyon I go, pay my $8 at the booth, and drive up the dirt road to find myself a parking spot at the Catherine's Pass parking.

I arrive just after 8am and there are still plenty of parking spaces.

It's in the 50s and the trail is still in the morning shade (as expected).

There's a mix of flowers along the trail. Some still blooming and other dying out. The state of the flowers depends where on the trail I am.

It's not long before I reach the meadow. It's nice and sunny here. Unfortunately, there's no moose or deer visible. But there is a field filled with Elkweed - pretty cool! And lots of these yellow flowers (King's Flax I believe).

After one last hill, I reach Catherine's Pass. There's only one other person here; the lady I followed the whole way but soon it'll be packed as I passed a bunch of folks.

I only stop for a quick look before continuing up towards Sunset Pass.

I make one stop looking down on Lake Catherine (right) and Lake Mary (left)

before reaching the Pass. I don't take a look when I reach the Pass (the lady is there). Instead, I walk along the ridge for about 60ft before I take a look. View is great as are the flowers (especially the Paintbrush).

I continue along the trail; at one point, it's a bit of a drop.

I also find Elegant Death Camas along the way.

Soon I reach the other side and Devil's Castle and the Supreme Lift (10,500ft) are in view. And there are so many flowers - so many Paintbrush. Fields of it!!

As I work my way to the Lift there are other flowers including bunches of yellow flowers.

So pretty up here; this is what I came for - FLOWERS!!

There's also a hawk flying around,

I reach the lift and take a peek down into the Albion Basin.

Time to head back. Many of these birds flying - I think young Western Bluebird??

I stop near the Pass for a break.

Before heading down.

No butterflies so far but on the way down other than several Frits (I think Great Basin Frit)

But plenty of hummingbirds as I walk thru the meadow.

Mission accomplished!

Aug 11 - Sugar Loaf/Germania Pass (Little Cottonwood Canyon)

Sunny day with highs in the 80s predicted.

My plans to hike to Germania Pass are on today as Little Cottonwood Canyon opened again around noon on Saturday.

My plan is to park at the Wildcat base and then hike up the upper meadow until I reach Atz's (a restaurant) and the start of the ski cat road that heads up to the Pass. It'll be around 3 miles and 2000 ft to the Pass. On the way back, I'm taking the Collin Gulch trail (2.5 miles) back to the Wildcat base.

I reach the Wildcat base just after 7am and start the 1/2 mile hike to the trail head. It's in the 50s and the trail is still in the shade. It's a bit nippy.

I reach the trail around 7:30 and start up the trail. The last 2 times I've been here, I've seen 2 doe not far from the start of the trail so I'm looking for them. Just as I start thinking that I won't see them today, I catch sight of them just ahead of me. The run farther up the slope but they're still there - somewhere.

About 100 feet farther up the trail, I scare them again and watch them sprint across the meadow and into the forest.

Not much farther up the trail, I see something high up on the sunny green slope - it's a deer!

And to the left of that one is another! (After checking my photos, there's actually 2 of them - perhaps a Mom and baby.)

Continuing up thru the meadow, there are tons of flowers now - if only the sun was up high enough.

Just as I get to my turn-off, I catch a bit of sun!

Then over to my trail up to the Pass. I've been on the upper part of this trail reaching it from Cecret Lake so this part is new for me. Nothing to exciting other than a Marmot and a Pika.

I reach the new road over to Cecret Lake and decide to take a break and walk over for a look. I'm surprised by the lack of people (but of course, happy).

I don't stay long. Time to continue upwards.

I've got to say, there's not many flowers in bloom. Hmm.

Soon I reach the side trail back to Cecret Lake - above Cecret Lake. This is where I normally come up from the Lake. I've gone to take a peek. As I walking over, this section is still full of buttercups - those are the first flowers up after the snow melt. Now wonder there's hardly any flowers!

I take a quick look from above and then head over to my perch to get a good look at the Albion Basin. After a quick look

it's time to continue up to Germania Pass.

Along the way, more buttercups and Elephanthead.

There's still snow up here in spots - incredible for Aug 11!

There's also a cold strong wind; hopefully I'll be out of it soon.

I reach the ski lift (and the top of Collins Gulch - 10400 ft). Time for a quick look.

Before continuing my way to Sugarloaf Pass.

A few more flowers on the uphill slope and downhill slopes. Actually, there's way more flowers farther uphill than there are near the road.

But I do catch sight of a White and one of my favorites: a Rocky Mt Parnassian! (This is different than the one's I see in Lamb's Canyon/Mormon Trail.)

Many birds flying around up here including the Mt Bluebird.

I also see a Marmot (I think one is a baby.)

and Pika.

The view down into the valley (even without flowers) is still pretty awesome!

I finally reach the Pass. It's super windy up here but Mt Timp and Mineral Basin is incredible! (I'm used to seeing tons of flowers down there but today, not much - strange.)

I walk slowly across to the Ski Lift. I find a Chryxus Arctic and more Parnassians. The flowers are on the ridge are pretty good as I walk along looking for bflies.

I reach the lift and spot a small blue butterfly trying to fly in the wind. It lands and I manage to get a photo -- pretty exciting as it's one I haven't seen often: an Arctic Blue!!!!

I reach the right side of the lift and take a seat and enjoy a snack and the view!

After a bit, it's time to start heading down.

On the way back to the top of Collins Gulch, I see a couple of Frits!

And a seemingly fresh Rocky Mt Parnassian! (It could barely fly!)

I reach the top of the gulch and start a new adventure down towards the Wildcat Base down past a still snowy Bald Mt.

Pretty hike but not much blooming on this side either.

Awesome day!

Aug 9 - Twin Lakes Pass (Big Cottonwood Canyon)

Sunny day with highs in the low 90s.

My intent last night was to walk up to Germania Pass in Little Cottonwood Canyon. However, the rain we had yesterday came in hard and fast and caused many rock/mud slides on the Little Cottonwood Canyon Road. (It also caused mud slide in Spanish Fork Canyon shutting down parts of Hwy 6 and one other canyon all due to last years burn scars.) Little Cottonwood Canyon is still closed today and maybe Saturday so I have to adjust and decided to go back up to Twin Lakes Pass this morning. There should be more flowers and there's sun!!

I actually thought BCC would be crowded this morning as people divert from LCC but quite the opposite; the trail heads (like Lake Blanche) that have been crowded early on Fridays were relatively empty; must have something to due with school starting and travelers are headed home.. Good thing for me!

I arrive just after 8am. Looks a bit empty here as well. :) So I start up the trail. It's wonderfully cool - somewhere in the low 40s - perfect hiking weather to start

Silver Lake looks awesome as usual!

I reach the trail to Lake Solitude and start along. The yellow flowers are definitely in max. bloom as are the Horsemint (and others). And actually, some are already past bloom. :(

I make my way thru the forest and to the 1st rocky area where I see and hear a Pika. He stops for a moment but I'm not quick enough to snap his picture before he scurries away.

A bit further down the trail I practically run into a deer as she grazes behind some saplings. She jumps away and then returns to grazing to that far from me.

Then it's thru the next rocky area before reaching Lake Solitude.

I spot briefly for a look - hey, the mosquitoes aren't so bad today! :)

Then it's around the lake - gotten stop for the blooming coneflower

and then uphill.

About 1/2 way up the hill, I hear a lot of squawking. There are two Stellar's Jay in the trees making the noise.

I then continue up to the Twin Lakes Pass trail and enjoy the sunny walk thru the flowers!

There definitely seems to be more flowers now than last week (as expected).

But still not many butterflies. On the way to the pass I see one Blue Copper

a Melissa Blue

and one Acmon Blue (or Lupine Blue according to the UT Leps). (I think)

Oh, and I see a hummingbird too.

I reach the Pass and take a look down the Little Cottonwood Canyon side - beautiful!

I take a trail leading across the Pass, I think this traverses the ridge perhaps to Catherine's Pass. I walk only a bit of it for a look at where I just walked before returning to the Pass for a break.

Time to head back thru the flowers - perhaps more will be flying now since its after 10am.

I do see a couple more butterflies including a Boisduvals Blue

and a unknown Frit.

But still not nearly as active as I thought it would be.

Chipmunks are active now.

I head down to Twin Lakes but I don't stop; I just continue past. But I can hear water continuing to pass thru the dam's overflow.

Near the dam, I see a Checkered White.

The flowers on the slopes are in bloom and look awesome. Not a lot of butterflies down here but I do find a few Lilac Bordered Coppers

another Melissa Blue, a Weidemeyer's Admiral

and an Acmon Blue

And another unknown Frit

Awesome day!