May 10 - Desolation Trail to Salt Lake Overlook (Millcreek Canyon)

Beautiful sunny day with highs near 70.

My work week ends at 11am; what should I do: butterflies or Spring flowers?

I've been watching the Desolation Trail for weeks in AllTrails - snow from top to bottom reported just 3 weeks ago. But recently, the trail is reportedly as mostly clear with a few packed snow sectiosn and wildflowers just coming out. I'm going to view some flowers!

The Painted Ladies I saw in CA (and their offspring) have been moving through the Salt Lake Valley since just before Easter. Late last week, their numbers around my house and other places I've been have definitely increased.

Well, driving up Millcreek Canyon today was amazing. Not as many as CA, but wow! Many in view at all times - crossing the road, flitting along the side -- too fun!

At the trail head, there's no snow in sight.

I start up the 1.75 mile trail (1250ft elevation gain to ~7000 ft). There are Waterleaf and Glacier Lilies (actually they are Avalanche Lilies) blooming along the trail from the start. And the lilies continue all the up to the end. Some single plants and then there are large sections of hillside covered in the yellow of the lilies. Awesome!

Also prevalent in little higher up are the Spring Beauties. Definitely not as many as the lilies nor are they from the trail bottom to top but good coverage.

The Heartleaf Arnicas are up but not yet blooming at the bottom and very top of the trail.

Up several switchbacks, I find a few Yellow Violets

and I'm seeing Steer's Head plants up can't seem to find a flower.

And the Painted Ladies, I see quite a few even at the very top (7000 ft).

But, surprise, I see my 1st Anise Swallowtail of the year! (The first of two.)

I should say, the moths are really out today. Those black ones with white spots but more numerous are the little orange ones.

Not bad views out to the east.

About 1/2 way up in one of a few dry, sunny sections, I see a few different flowers. The Yellow Bells are just starting to bloom.

As are the Balsamroot.

Rounding the corner to the next switchback, ooh that's not a moth. It's darker with more rounded wings. It's flying from flower to flower but it finally stops. It's a bad angle but that looks like a Brown Elfin! Yes, it's a Brown Elfin -- only the 3rd one I've ever seen in Utah!!

I continue up the trail over 4 snow packed sections

Finding a few buttercups up here.

Finally, I reach overlook for a glimpse of Grandeur Peak across the canyon.

And the Salt Lake Valley.

Boy, just north of me, there's a lot of snow.

I continue up to the top - lots of moose droppings along the way and a couple of Groundsel plants.

After a quick break, it's time to head down.

One final great find -- Steer's Head!!

Great trip!

May 5 - Cedar Fort and Indian Trail Road

Well I'm heading south again to visit the site that I was thinking about this past Friday (but decided to pass). Told myself I go this coming week-end but for some reason I found myself heading there this morning. The purpose is simply to find some valley Spring butterflies.

I've been to the Cedar Fort rodeo site twice before. I don't remember anything exciting on the first trip but last year on one Skunkbush found a Great Purple Hairstreak, a few Desert Elfin and a Juniper Hairstreak. Hoping to repeat the same though I'm a week later.

I arrive and it's sunny and around 65 degrees. I find Painted Ladies

and a couple of different Whites - one larger and one smaller - flying. They don't stop but I saw a black box on the upper wing on one so I'm thinking Checkered White. The smaller one I didn't see an orange patch.

I make my way over to that Skunkbush and surprise - a Red Admiral. He's beauty!

I don't see many of these since I moved to Utah (common in the Midwest) so I'm pretty excited.

But nothing else on the plant.

I walk the dirt roads, then around the rodeo field and can't find any Desert Elfins, Purple Hairstreaks,...

But do find a pretty flower.

Too early, too late not sure but I tried.

A butterfly friend of mine last year gave me a potential Desert Elfin site at the mouth of Provo Canyon. There used to be colonies there but are they still there after the road was widened years ago.

I decided to head over and give it a shot.

As I head up the short road to the parking lot, I see some Whites flying. So after parking, I head down to check them out -- Cabbage Whites.

I also see a large Skunkbush - nothing.

I look around the parking lot and check the flying trees/shrubs around the lot -- the Painted Ladies sure love the Cherry blossoms. (They do smell awesome!)

I though the trail would head down towards the road. Not they way I think I should be going but game. See 2 Common Checkered Skippers (1st of the year) and Clouded Sulphurs (also the 1st of the year).

And I find my 1st Sphinx Moth of the year enjoying the Milkvetch.

I just keep going up (nice views west over Utah Lake)

and ahead towards the mouth of Provo Canyon.

Along the way I find some Phlox

Primrose

Balsamroot and Paintbrush.

Soon I have great views of Mt Timpanogos (to the north)

and another snowy peak to the east.

Time head down -- there's storm clouds rolling in.

On the way down, I'm thinking perhaps I should have taken the Provo River Trail instead. (Maybe I'll try next week-end; definitely next year.)

On the way down, I also find my first Swallowtail of the year; he flew right up into my face. Not sure which one: Western or Two-tailed.

I check the flowering tree/brush and Skunkbush before leaving - still nothing. And the storms clouds are near.

Good day!

May 4 - Lambs Canyon Road

Continuing my search for butterflies today. A couple of Orangetips, a Mourning Cloak and tons of Painted Ladies is not very satisfying.

Since I can't seem to locate them in the valley, I'm heading up to 6400 ft and walking the Lambs Canyon road. Perfect day for an easy walk (1.5 miles to the trail head); it's sunny and low 70s.

When I reach the mouth of the canyon, the road is closed. I knew that would be the case (it'll open after Memorial Day), so I park just outside the gate and then start up the road.

No surprise, seeing Painted Ladies flying and I haven't walked but a few steps.

Not much in bloom yet - just some Forget-me-knots

- but plenty of green foliage.

Many snowmobiles lining the road near the gate -- that's how people get to their homes in the winter.

And no surprise that the creek is running strong. So nice to listen to on my walk.

Continuing along,

I'm seeing that little black moth with white dots and a little orange moth (I get a good look at him basking in the mud at the trail head).

It isn't until I'm about 1/2 way up to the trail head before I see a butterfly other than a Painted Lady. It's a little Blue; pretty sure it's a Spring Azure but I didn't get a good look. I'm so excited!! It's butterfly season!!

Passing lots of moose droppings along the road and at one point a pile of hair. My guess is that either a deer or moose either died or was killed here. There is a pile what could be the remaining contents of its intestines on the side of the road. On them, I find a Painted Lady

and my 1st Comma of the day!

I continue up checking along the remaining piles of snow for butterflies. (Yes, there are piles here and there on the road. More on the east facing hillside though.) Then I reach this little gully and a bunch of butterflies fly up. They seem to all be CA Tortoiseshells and oooh, there goes a Sara Orangetip!

There's a tree next to the gully where the Tortoiseshells are flying. I check it out and find the source of their interest - sap! And I find a CA Tortoiseshell

and Satyr Comma enjoying the sap! Cool!

Continuing on, I finally reach mud and water running down the side of the road. Finding Spring Azures,

Hoary Commas

and Satyr Commas and Milberts Tortoiseshell!

Jackpot!

I continue up to the trail head where I also see a Mourning Cloak (I've seen them flying but this is the first basking)

and that small Orange moth!

Total on the way up: 3 Orangetips, 5 Mourning Cloaks, 1 Milbert's Tortoiseshell and about 5 Spring Azure. The CA Tortoiseshells definitely outnumber both Comma species but I don't think I saw more than 10 of Tortoiseshells.

The road continues past the trail head but it is still covered in snow.

The footbridge over the creek is snow free but the trail on the other side is snow covered. Fortunately, heading up the trail is not in my plans today but the butterflies are - Success!

May 3 - Ghost Falls Trail (Corner Canyon)

Sunny day with highs near 70 today. Heading down to the south end of the valley to hike the Ghost Trail loop and hopefully see some our Spring butterflies. And if the going is good, head a bit farther south to Cedar Fort for some additional butterfly hunting.

I reach corner just before 10am. Sun is out and the temperature is 59 degrees. Beautiful day for a hike!

My plan is my usual hike up to Ghost Falls and then continue up to the top and then circle back to the other side and down the Clark's Trail to the parking lot.

As always, hoping to see butterflies/flowers. It doesn't take long before I see more first a Painted Lady. And there's another and another. They've been migrating thru for a few weeks now and I've seen them before but not in these numbers. Not as incredible as the CA trip numbers, but still pretty awesome! In fact, I see them on my entire loop hike even at the apex more than 1000 feet higher.

As for flowers, they are behind here as well. The Waterleaf are in bloom, I find 1 Phlox flowering

many, many Bluebells

and OregonGrape (in bloom)

one nasty invasive Spurge plant (yes, it's pretty but it doesn't below here)

on my way up.

Also, unlike my hike at the same time last year, there's water in the creeks as there's still a lot of snow up in the nearby peaks.

Add that to the singing birds, it's a great day!

I reach Ghost Fall and yes, there's a waterfall! (Last year it was totally dry.)

In the more open sections before the top, I find those little pink flowers from Antelope Island

some Milkvetch

and a couple of Balsamroot plants (with the butterfly of the day)

When I reach the top

I've only seen Painted Ladies - no other butterflies (Blues, Duskywings, Anglewings). I'm a bit shocked but ok.

I reach the road and loop around the canyon to the other side. Even more Painted Ladies here! Hold on there's something different, but it's a moth.

Again something different - bright orange. I only got a quick look and I think it's a CA Tortoiseshell (but it could have been a Milbert's).

Before it's time to head down, I stop for a singing Towhee (saw quite a few today)

and take a look at the mountains behind me.

I'm on the north facing side now and the flowers are a bit different as it's a bit behind the other side due to less sun. There are tons of Waterleaf; most without blooms yet. Also seeing Glacier Lilies and Spring Beauties in bloom.

And more Painted Ladies. I'm coming up on a patch of bluebells and finally, a Sara Orangetip!! (Only one of the day.)

At one point, I stop to find the birds chirping just off the trail - Chickadees! I turn my head and see 3 deer moving through the woods. Cool!

Great hike! (And because of the lack of Spring butterflies, I decide to not continue south to Cedar Fort - perhaps next week-end.)

May 2 - Little Cottonwood Trail (Little Cottonwood Trail)

Heading out for an afterwork hike today. It's a sunny one with temperatures in the low 60s.

Doing a butterfly recon mission to the Little Cottonwood Canyon Trail (2.8 miles and 1100 ft).

Happy to see the lower parking lot is open. Just a few cars in the lot and I start up the trail hoping for some butterflies and flowers.

I figure out quickly that there are no flowers in bloom yet - except the Waterleaf.

But I do get a glimpse at a Rocky Mt Duskywing flying and one male Sara Orangetip on the lower section.

As I continue, there is no sound of water; the creek is dry. All that run-off must be getting re-directed to reservoirs. I'm sure I'll find water farther up the trail - it all depends where the diversions happening.

After the water plant, the water start flowing fast but it'll get much higher as there's still a 130+ inch base up in the higher elevations.

I reach the first bridge and stop to check out the water.

This is supposed to be my destination for today but I just continue up listening to the roaring water. (Drowns out all those cars going up/down the canyon.)

The trail was clear below but after that first bridge it becomes very sporadic. In fact on one snow pile, I find a Mourning Cloak.

But the farther I increase in elevation, there's more snow to be dealt with. Still in patches as it's all sun-related - more sunshine no/less snow.

I cross the  footbridge and then the 2nd bridge

and then another water diversion and stop for a peek.

Farther ahead, I see one fresh CA Tortoiseshell. Yea!

Below the 2nd parking, I see my friendly Balsamroot - he's a little smaller than I expected but he's been there every year since I moved here.

Below the trail to the 2nd parking, there's a stream of water running down the trail. It's still just a small stream but I know it'll be growing in the coming weeks.

I continue up until the end of the trail. That old white building across the stream is still there - probably missing a brick or two. And still is surrounded by ~3 feet of snow.

After a short break, it's time to head down.

So surprised that I didn't see many butterflies especially the overwinterers (Commas, M. Cloaks). Perhaps they've already flew and they caterpillars now. Hmm.

Good hike!